Behind the Scenes
Experience the GSC like never before with our exclusive behind-the-scenes adventures. Dive into the depths in an Aquarium Adventure, come nose-to-beak with our penguins during a Penguin Encounter, or learn about animal care, enrichment, and conservation efforts in a Zoo Trek. Book your adventure today below!
Inside Tracks: Aquarium Adventure
Go behind the scenes of the Wiseman Aquarium and learn how we bring a world-class aquarium to the center of North Carolina! See our Shark Reef tank from a new view, feed our cownose stingrays a special treat and touch a jellyfish!
Experience Info
Cost: $34.99 members / $54.99 non-members
Guest ticket includes GSC admission. Greensboro Science Center Members will be required to provide their membership card when checking in.
Availability: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; 1:15 – 2:00 pm
Capacity: 8 participants
Minimum age: 6 years old
Age restrictions: Children under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Participants under 18 must have a program liability waiver signed by their parent/legal guardian.
Advanced reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets may be available on the day of your visit and can be purchased at the Information Desk in the lobby until 11:15am the day of your adventure.
Rules
- No high heels or flip flops permitted; preferably closed-toe shoes.
- All experiences are subject to change due to animal medical procedures or other unforeseen circumstances.
Please note: Due to narrow passageways, stairs, and uneven floors located behind the scenes, experiences cannot fully accommodate those with mobility restrictions such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches.
FAQs
Our program begins at Hands-On Harbor, where we will feed fish to our stingrays. Please let staff know if they should be aware of any known fish or shellfish allergies.
Trade your printed ticket for an Aquarium Adventure button at the Information Desk. Our group meets inside the aquarium at the sign posted between the iguana and otter exhibits.
Advance tickets are strongly suggested and available online. Check for available spaces on the day of your visit at the Information Desk in the lobby. Tickets must be purchased before 11:15am on the day of the adventure.
Makes a Great Gift!
Gift certificate note: You can email the gift certificate directly to the recipient or download a gift certificate to fill out and give in person!
Inside Tracks: Penguin Encounters
Come nose to beak with our engaging African penguins in a special encounter space during this private 45-minute program! Learn about our penguins and meet one of their keepers who will explain the ins and outs of African penguin feeding, care, and overall management. Then, get the chance to interact with ambassador penguins from our colony before ending the encounter with a great photo opportunity.
Encounter Info
Cost: $59.99 members / $79.99 non-members
Guest ticket includes GSC admission. Greensboro Science Center Members will be required to provide their membership card when checking in.
Availability: Saturdays and Sundays; 3:15 – 4:00 pm
Additional summer and holiday encounters may be available. Click the “book now” button for dates.
Note: ticket sales end four hours prior to the experience’s listed time.
Capacity: 6 participants
Minimum age: 8 years old
Age restrictions: Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, with a maximum of 2 children per adult. Participants under 18 must have the program liability waiver signed by a parent/legal guardian.
Advanced reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets may be available on the day of your visit and can be purchased at the Information Desk in the lobby.
Guidelines
- Closed-toe shoes are required. Surgical booties will be provided to participants to maintain our birds’ healthy environment.
- Long pants are strongly suggested. (Our birds sometimes like to explore with their beaks!)
- All encounters are subject to change due to animal medical procedures or other unforeseen circumstances.
- Photography is allowed and encouraged, but no tripods or selfie sticks, please.
Makes a Great Gift!
Gift certificate note: You can email the gift certificate directly to the recipient or download a gift certificate to fill out and give in person!
FAQs
We’ll start in food prep to see what’s on the menu for our whole colony and learn more about our African penguins’ routine here at the GSC. Then we’ll catch a few minutes of our afternoon feeding before stepping behind the scenes into our encounter room. Here you’ll learn more about African penguins with one of our very knowledgeable keepers while we interact with one of our ambassador birds.
Participants will have the opportunity to interact with our penguins using a variety of enrichment toys, but there will not be any direct contact or touch. Our penguins, however, sometimes like to explore guests’ shoelaces and other items with their beaks.
Please wear solid, closed-toe shoes (sneakers or boots, not athletic sandals) and long pants. The room is a comfortable 68 degrees, so no coat is required to meet these African penguins. Be sure to bring a camera/cell phone for pictures!
Our program begins in the food prep area, with a wide range of seafood. Our African penguins eat fish; please let staff know if they should be aware of any known fish or shellfish allergies.
Trade your printed ticket for a African penguin token at the Information Desk. Our encounter groups meet inside the aquarium at the sign stand posted between the iguana and otter exhibits.
Advance tickets are strongly suggested and available online. Check for available spaces on the day of your visit at the Information Desk in the lobby. Tickets must be purchased before 2pm on the day of the encounter.
The group meets at 3:10 and will go behind the scenes promptly at 3:15; there is no guarantee that a late person can be connected with the group. Tickets are non-refundable.
We want to be as accommodating as possible, so please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Wheelchairs cannot navigate all of our planned stops, but we will work with you for alternatives. Masks must be worn by all participants at all times. Contact us at 336-288-3769 ext. 1357 with questions.
Inside Tracks: Zoo Trek
Get an up-close look at some of our zoo animals alongside our incredible animal keepers during our behind the scenes experience – Inside Tracks: Zoo Trek! Learn from our experts as we provide enrichment and treats to animals from an exclusive, behind-the-scenes setting. You’ll have a great time and may end up meeting our meerkats, cassowaries, lemurs, Aldabra tortoises, or trumpeter hornbills. Explore the zoo as we trek and learn about all of these species, their life at the GSC and conservation initiatives for their wild counterparts.
Encounter Info
Cost: $54.99 members / $74.99 non-members
Guest ticket includes GSC admission. Greensboro Science Center Members will be required to provide their membership card when checking in.
Availability: Saturdays and Sundays; 11:00 am
Available though November 2, 2025
Note: ticket sales end four hours prior to the experience’s listed time.
Capacity: 6 participants
Minimum age: 8 years old
Age restrictions: Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, with a maximum of 2 children per adult. Participants under 18 must have the program liability waiver signed by a parent/legal guardian.
Advanced reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets may be available on the day of your visit and can be purchased at the Information Desk in the lobby.
Guidelines
- This is an active experience and closed-toed shoes are required.
- Dress for the weather! Bring a jacket if light rain is in the forecast or cooler weather, in summer you may want sunscreen and a hat!
- Cameras are welcome and encouraged, but please refrain from selfies sticks and tripods.
- All encounters are subject to change due to animal medical procedures or other unforeseen circumstances.
Makes a Great Gift!
Gift certificate note: You can email the gift certificate directly to the recipient or download a gift certificate to fill out and give in person!
VIP Animal Experience
To accommodate our guests’ various interests, the GSC offers custom private animal encounters upon request. Experiences may include meeting a keeper, learning more about our individual animals, observing training or enrichment demonstrations, and/or assisting with a feeding.
VIP Experience Info
Availability: 11am or 1:30pm (may vary depending upon species choice)
Duration: approximately 45 – 90 minutes
Capacity: 4 guests
Minimum age: 8
Age restrictions: Children under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Experiences must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance of desired date. Contact Jessica at jgouge@greensboroscience.org for more information.
Guidelines
- This is an active experience, so closed-toed shoes are required.
- Dress for the weather! Bring a coat for rain or cooler weather. In warmer months, we recommend sunscreen and a hat.
- Though there are some exceptions, contact with animals is generally not permitted.
- Photos are welcome; please refrain from selfie sticks or tripods.
- Animal availability is subject to change without notice.