What is the minimum age to participate?

Participants must be at least 5 years old; anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

How many people are allowed per private encounter?

Group size is limited to six people to keep interactions calm and safe for animals.

Are feed buckets included?

Feed buckets for farm animals are available for purchase onsite for $10; staff will explain appropriate feeding.

Closed-toe shoes are required; dress for the weather and for brief outdoor walking.

Can encounters be canceled for weather?

Yes — encounters may change or be canceled due to weather; contact the farm if conditions look severe.

Is the encounter wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility information is not provided in the listing; contact Scatter Joy Acres directly for specific accommodations.

Water & Woodland Encounter: Otter & Porcupine Meet-and-Greet in Murray, Nebraska

At Scatter Joy Acres, a compact educational zoo on the edge of Murray, Nebraska, the Water & Woodland Encounter brings river-born curiosity and farmyard charm into one hour of hands-on discovery. Meeting at 4107 Waverly Rd Murray, NE 68409, families and solo travelers age five and up spend a private hour with trained keepers and a rotating cast of animal ambassadors — otter, porcupine, sloth, kangaroo, capybara, and bushbaby among them — plus approachable barnyard residents like llamas and goats. The setting sits amid southeast Nebraska’s working farmland and patches of tallgrass prairie; the contrast of wetland-adapted otters with dry-country porcupines makes for a memorable ecology lesson. The experience is intimate by design: groups are limited to six people, each encounter guided by staff focused on animal welfare and education. Expect keeper-led introductions, supervised touches where appropriate, and stories about each animal’s natural history and care. Encounters are private to your group, which gives photographers and curious kids room to engage without crowd stress. After the program you’re welcome to explore other public areas of the Acres at your own pace. What makes this stop special for outdoor-minded visitors is the blending of exotic species used as outreach ambassadors with genuine farm interactions. You’ll move from watching the sleek, water-slick movements of an otter to learning how a porcupine uses quills for defense, and then beneath the slow-motion grab of a sloth’s limbs you’ll find a chance to discuss habitat loss and species rescue. The keeper-led format ensures information is accurate and framed around conservation and responsible animal care. Practical details matter: closed-toe shoes are required, the program runs about one hour, and children under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Bookings are private and limited, and encounters can be rescheduled per the farm’s policy. This is a low-impact way to deepen a family’s relationship to animals without the crowds of larger zoos, and an excellent add-on when you’re visiting Lincoln or exploring southeast Nebraska’s open landscape. Scatter Joy Acres turns a brief stop into a hands-on classroom where curiosity leads the way — an accessible, magnetizing sidestep from the region’s typical outdoor itinerary. Plan ahead: arrive at 4107 Waverly Rd Murray, NE 68409 several minutes early to check in, wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, for animal-directed pacing. Feed buckets for farm animals are available onsite for $10, and staff will advise what animals can be handled that day. Programs may change due to weather and all participants must be paying guests; groups larger than six require prior arrangements. For families exploring the region, this encounter pairs well with a day along local gravel roads and short prairie walks, offering tactile learning that sticks longer.