Get up close and personal with the animals of Turtle Back Zoo!
TBZ is proud to offer two education programs where guests get a unique look at some of their favorite animals, learn valuable conservation education, and meet the keepers that make it all possible.
- Animal Encounters
- Behind the Scenes Tours
Animal Encounter Programs are hour-long conservation education programs that feature one of our animals and includes an animal encounter, either in a Berson Family Center classroom or out in the zoo. Your tickets includes an education presentation, meet and greet with an animal, and light breakfast coffee. Zoo admission is not included in the ticket price. Program guests do not enter the exhibits or touch the animals. Programs are held at the Berson Family Center on the east side of the zoo complex (the building next to the TreeTop Adventure Course), outside the zoo proper. Attendees must be at least 6 years old. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets are $65/person.
Summer Dates & Themes
Sloth Social | June 13 and August 15 @10 AM
Wild America Breakfast | July 4 @10 AM
Capybara Breakfast | July 12, July 18, and July 26 @10 AM
Meet at the Berson Family Center between 9:50-10am.
Behind the Scenes Tours offer a sneak peek at what happens inside at your favorite Turtle Back Zoo exhibits. Your ticket includes a 30 minute guided tour of one of our animal facilities and a meet and greet with the animal keeper. Zoo admission is not included in the ticket price; non-zoo members must purchase separate zoo admission in order to enter. Tour guests do not enter exhibits with or touch the animals. Not all animals are guaranteed to be visible during your tour. Group sizes are limited based on the tour location. Attendees must be at least 6 years old and children under 18 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets are $65/person.
Summer Dates & Themes
Animal Wellness Center | Sundays in May @2pm
Capybara | Sundays in June @2pm
Amazing Asia | July 9, July 23, Aug 6, and Aug 20 @6pm
African Penguins | July 2, July 16, July 30, Aug 13, and Aug 27 @6pm
**For all tours, meet your tour guide at the Amphitheater in front of Reptile House**
Behind the Scenes Tours and Animal Encounters are for ages 6 and up only, children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. All members of the party must purchase a ticket. Photographs are not permitted, except when directed; all attendees will sign a photo waiver prior to entering. Face coverings may be required in some facilities during the tour.
All Behind the Scenes Tours Meet at the Amphitheater in front of Reptile House. Please bring your confirmation email to one of the ticket booths in order to enter the zoo. All Animal Encounters begin at the Berson Family Center at the East end of the zoo complex.
Some buildings contains stairs. If you have questions or concerns about accessibility please contact us so that we may better address your needs at 973-731-5800 ext.103 or [email protected].
Your program ticket does not provide entrance into the zoo. While animal encounters taking place at the Berson Family Center do not require separate zoo admission, all Behind the Scenes tours do require zoo admission. Tour attendees should meet their guide at the designated location 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. Tours start promptly at the agreed-upon time; late arrivals may lose part of the tour by being late, or lose the entire tour without refund. Tours will commence regardless of weather, unless cancelled by the Zoo due to unsafe conditions for our animals, staff, or guests. If we cancel a tour due to weather we will notify you as soon as possible and will reschedule a date and time. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions and for walking around the zoo. Tour and Program guests do not enter the exhibits or touch the animals. In some cases, animals will not be in the building during behind the scenes tours.
For more information, contact the Education Department at 973-731-5800 ext.103 or email [email protected].