Animal Encounter Specialist Amanda Pippin gives Boo the African grey parrot a reward for performing to an audience at the Tennessee Aquarium.The staff of the Tennessee Aquarium is launching a new environmental education event Saturday that gives Girl Scouts a behind-the-scenes peek at operations and offers aquarium tours and fun animal encounters.
Fifteen activities and four auditorium programs are scheduled for visiting Scouts, as well as special admission pricing. To be eligible, Girls Scouts and their leaders must wear either their uniform or Scout sash.
“Because this is the first year to hold the program, and we don’t know how many Scouts will participate, we’ve scheduled auditorium programs so that if the behind-the-scenes activities fill up, we’ll have events in the auditorium for the overflow,” said Thom Benson, Aquarium public relations manager.
Benson said the auditorium programs will be led by the animal encounters staff along with the staff veterinarian, Dr. Chris Keller.
“When Dr. Keller has done these programs, he’s been very popular because he has a great sense of humor. People enjoy getting to know him and asking questions. He’s really a fascinating guy to have a question-and-answer session with,” said Benson.