Guess whoooooo’s going to greet visitors at the Grand Opening of Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari this Thursday, May 12th at 10:30 am?
A wise and friendly raccoon who has inspired generations of readers to explore and protect the natural world.
Be among the first to meet Ranger Rick and many of his animal friends at the Tennessee Aquarium. Experts will deliver animal programs in Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm every day. Come with a sense of adventure. Leave inspired to care for the wildlife in your own backyard!
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Brief description of event/activities: The Aquarium is bringing together kids, nature and fun in a whole new way this summer with the opening of Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari. This unique experience, located in River Journey, will lead guests to tune into, and appreciate, nature from their backyard to the backyards of creatures from around the world.
Experts from the Aquarium’s husbandry and education departments have been creating a whole new menu of programs for this safari. After marveling over amazing aquatic creatures in the Seahorse Gallery, visitors will traverse three zones of up-close animal encounters. Guests will be thrilled to meet fascinating creatures such as a Eurasian eagle owl or Happy Jack, the talking Amazon parrot. Both the young and young at heart will smile as they’re introduced to additional birds, furry creatures and other animals with scales and shells.
The Aquarium has enlisted the service of Natural Encounters Incorporated (NEI), a premiere animal training and presentation company, to make Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari a dazzling experience. NEI has produced animal programs and consulted at more than 80 zoos worldwide.
The animals will be the safari’s stars, both the Aquarium’s dynamic collection and new birds coming in with NEI’s staff. “There are a lot of really nice, charismatic animals at the Tennessee Aquarium that I’m really excited about working with,” said Steve Martin, NEI’s founder and president. “We’re going to knock the socks off guests with energetic programs that have an underlying conservation message.”
Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari will officially open to the public on Thursday, May 12th. Guests will meet animals in this new gallery daily from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari is free with Aquarium admission.
