Sleep in the Deep: Policies & Guidelines Waiver

Thank you for your interest in attending our overnight program at the Tennessee Aquarium!

All attendees must be listed on a submitted waiver to participate in this overnight program. Parents and legal guardians may submit a waiver for minors. Please list all attendees' names and ages at the end of this waiver.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Shawn Brim (sbrim@tnaqua.org) or (423-785-4072). 

In order to ensure staff, guests, and animal safety, all participants are asked to abide by the following Policies & Guidelines:

• Participants may not enter the Aquarium grounds until overnight staff arrive at the River Journey entrance to escort them. It is still necessary to wait for overnight staff, even if the Aquarium is open.
• Parents, guardians, and chaperones are responsible for the supervision and the behavior of all members of their group. Please make sure no attendees are disturbing others or scheduled activities. Consult your group leader if you need assistance.
• Be courteous to others, this includes animals and plants. Remember to treat others as you would like to be treated. Keep your hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.
• All participants must respect the rules explained to them by their Educators at the beginning of the program.
• We ask that all parents and chaperones assist and support Aquarium Educators by actively participating in activities, enforcing rules, encouraging participants to participate, and maintaining headcount.
• No weapons or firearms are permitted.
• No handheld electronic games are permitted.
• No alcoholic beverages are allowed.
• The Tennessee Aquarium is a smoke-free facility.
• Participants must stay with their assigned chaperones and overnight staff at all times.
• If verbal warnings do not stop inappropriate behavior, participant(s) may be escorted off Aquarium grounds by Aquarium Security at the discretion of the overnight staff. Parent(s) or guardians(s) will be responsible for picking up their child promptly upon dismissal.
• Always talk to overnight staff if you have a question or a problem during the program. We are here to help!
• All overnights have the potential of being mix-gender groups. When possible, an alternate sleeping location can be provided
  by request.

COVID Protocols

• Aquarium education programs are following CDC recommendations. This means that indoor mask requirements will be determined by current covid community transmission levels. When COVID transmission levels are green or yellow, masks will not be required for education programs. At orange levels, masks may be required indoors for all education programs regardless of vaccination status. You can check community transmission levels at this website: COVID-19 by County
• We ask all participants to stay home if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or if they have been in contact with a COVID-positive individual in the past 2 weeks.
• Failure to follow these expectations will result in an unsafe or unenjoyable atmosphere for you and others during your overnight program. The Tennessee Aquarium has the right to remove a participant from an education program at any time.

Note: There are no refunds when a participant’s own behavior requires removal from an education program.

Tennessee Aquarium Release from Liability

Dear Participant or Parent/Guardian of a Minor Child Participant: You and/or a minor child you are responsible for is enrolled to participate in the Sleep in the Deep overnight program at the Tennessee Aquarium. It is your responsibility to inform the Aquarium about any medical condition(s) that may affect in any way your ability, or that of your minor child, to participate in the program. By signing this Release from Liability, you are waiving your right, or the right of the Minor Child you represent, to hold the Tennessee Aquarium liable for any injury or loss suffered by you or that minor child during the program. By signing this Release from Liability, you are giving up the right, to the extent allowed by law, to make demand upon the Tennessee Aquarium and its respective officers, agents, instructors, and employees for payment of any damages suffered by you or the minor child during the program, whether such damages are caused by physical injury, loss of or damage to property, acts of a third party, or any other cause of whatever description. By signing this form, you release the Aquarium from any liability for any damage or injury suffered by that Minor Child while participating in Sleep in the Deep.

Tennessee Aquarium Photo and Video Consent Release

I hearby authorize the Tennessee Aquarium to use pictures of me (or my child) taken in a photograph, digital image, videotape, motion picture and/or testimonial (written words). Submission of this waiver releases the Tennessee Aquarium its agents or employees, as well as all users and exhibitors of said pictures, from all claims, demands, accountings, and causes for which the aforesaid image or likeness may be used pursuant to this Consent and General Release. It is also my understanding that I will receive no compensation for my or my child’s likeness, image, or testimonial.