School Programs Choices

Reservations for the 2011-2012 school year are now closed. We are only accepting requests for changes to existing reservations via phone 866-963-9645. Due to limited availability we may not be able to accommodate all requests.
The application for summer self-guided school reservations for June 11
through August 31, 2012 is now available online. Apply now.

2011-12 School Year Calendar

Reservations for the 2012-2013 school year begin May 8, 2012.
SOLD OUT

All programs through May are now booked. Reservations for the 2012-2012 school year begin May 8, 2012.
SOLD OUT
Online reservations for fall 2012 Home School Days begin August 7, 2012.




2012 Summer Calendar

June 11 through August 31, 2012.



School Programs Choices

Aquarium Staff-Facilitated Programs (Mon.–Fri.)


Discovery Labs
  • K–12
  • Programs start at 9:15 a.m.,
    10:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
  • Mon.-Fri. 60 minutes in length

Discovery Lab Classroom Programs provide students with a fun, hands-on introduction to some of Monterey Bay's most precious habitats and the animals that live there. Participants have opportunities to touch, feed and closely observe live animals.
 
Ocean Explorers
  • K–12
  • Programs start at 9:40 a.m.,
    10:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.
  • 25 minutes in length

These programs set the stage for a fun, focused visit! Enjoy the “inside stories” of the Monterey Bay Aquarium starting in the auditorium, where our educators use rich media to provide an “exclusive scoop” on the theme you’ve selected for your group. Then continue on to our exhibit areas where students and chaperones use an Aquarium-provided Exploration Booklet filled with activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits.
 
Splash Zone
  • Pre-K-2
  • Program start time 9 a.m
  • 60 minutes in length

Waddle with the penguins in the rugged rocky shore. Hide with the leopard sharks in the enchanted kelp forest. Explore with the fish in the coral reef kingdom. An Aquarium educator will lead your group through activities in the Splash Zone exhibit before opening hours. Students are introduced to the unique animals of the coral reef, rocky shore or kelp forest habitats, and discuss how the animals survive in these ocean homes.
 
Home School Days
  • Pre-K-12
  • October 17, October 24, October 31, November 7, and November 14, 2011

    SOLD OUT
    Home School Day reservations for Fall 2012 will open in early August of 2012
These flexibly structured, open-ended discovery opportunities are designed to help home school families and groups investigate their connection to marine habitats and the animals that live there.

 

Aquarium Non Staff-Facilitated Programs


Self-Guided School
Programs
Pre-K-12

Start times between 10:00am and 1:00pm
Lead your students on an exploration of the Aquarium's ocean wonders. You and your chaperones set the pace and facilitate your students' Aquarium journeys.


Discovery Lab Classroom Programs

Discovery Lab Explorations
Discovery Lab classroom programs provide students with a fun, hands-on introduction to some of Monterey Bay's most precious habitats and the animals that live there. Participants have opportunities to touch, feed and closely observe live animals.

 

K–2 Grades Discovery Lab Classroom Programs


60 minutes
A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Discovery Lab. Siblings not enrolled in the class with the reservation are not allowed to participate in the program.
*Recommended for special needs groups

Group Size

  • Minimum 15 students, maximum 32 students
  • Maximum of 12 adults, including teachers allowed in each classroom (extra adults may meet the group after the program ends).
  • *For special needs groups, we can accommodate a maximum of 22 students and 22 aides per class.

Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)

  • 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m.
Check-in time is usually 15 minutes before each program starts. If your schedule permits and earlier check-in times are available, we will assign you a check-in time that allows the students to explore the Aquarium before an 12:15 p.m. Discovery Lab.

If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled.

To avoid cancellation of your program, please select a realistic arrival time that accounts for travel time, slight delays and bathroom stops. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Program Choices


Rocky Shore Explorations
Let's get ready to rock! Come on a virtual exploration of the crashing surf and ever changing tides while learning how sea stars, hermit crabs, and other intertidal animals eat, move, and protect themselves to survive in their rocky shore habitat.
California Science Standards
Kindergarten: 1a, 2a, 2c, 3a, 4a, 4b, 4d, 4e
Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d
Grade 2: 2d, 3e, 4c, 4f, 4g

Learn more in our Rocky Shore exhibit section.


Kelp Forest Explorations
Put on your mask and snorkel and use your imagination to dive into the amazing underwater world of the kelp forest! Explore the features that make the kelp forest a habitat rich with ocean life. Through hands-on observation, students learn how kelp forest animals thrive in their beautiful, underwater home.
California Science Standards
Kindergarten: 1a, 2a, 2c, 3a, 4a, 4b, 4d, 4e
Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e
Grade 2: 2d, 3e, 4c, 4f, 4g

Learn more in our Kelp Forest and Sea Otter exhibit sections.


 

3–5 Grades Discovery Lab Classroom Programs


60 minutes
A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Discovery Lab. Siblings not enrolled in the class with the reservation are not allowed to participate in the program.
*Recommended for special needs groups

Group Size

  • Minimum 15 students, maximum 32 students
  • Maximum of 12 adults, including teachers, allowed in each classroom (extra adults may meet the group after the program ends).
  • We have two teaching classrooms and can accommodate two groups totaling 64 students maximum per time slot.
  • *For special needs groups, we can accommodate a maximum of 22 students and 22 aides per class.

Program Start Times (Mon–Fri.)

  • 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m.

Check-in time is usually 15 minutes before each program starts. If your schedule permits and earlier check-in times are available, we will assign you a check-in time that allows the students to explore the Aquarium before an 12:15 p.m. Discovery Lab.

If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled.

To avoid cancellation of your program, please select a realistic arrival time that accounts for travel time, slight delays and bathroom stops. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Program Choices


Habitat Mysteries
Sticky tube feet, burrowing legs, and a clever disguise are all clues for solving our habitat mysteries! Through close-up observation of rocky and sandy shore animals, students will decide which habitat is home for a variety of interesting animals. Come be a detective and uncover these amazing animal adaptations!
California Science Standards
Grade 3: 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d
Grade 4: 3a, 3b, 5c, 6c
Grade 5: 6a

Learn more in our Rocky Shore and Sandy Shore exhibit sections.


Kelp Forest Connections
What an amazing food web we weave as we dive in and explore the beautiful and complex world of the kelp forest! Through close observation of kelp and the animals that live within the kelp forest, students will observe the adaptations that keep this entire ecosystem in balance. Discover the incredible connections that allow energy to flow through this lush and intriguing underwater world!
California Science Standards
Grade 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e
Grade 4: 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 6c
Grade 5: 2a, 2f, 6a

Learn more in our Kelp Forest and Sea Otter exhibit sections.




 

6–8 Grades Discovery Lab Classroom Programs


60 minutes
A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Discovery Lab. Siblings not enrolled in the class with the reservation are not allowed to participate in the program.
*Recommended for special needs groups

Group Size

  • Minimum 15 students, maximum 32 students
  • Maximum of 12 adults, including teachers, allowed in each classroom (extra adults may meet the group after the program ends).
  • We have two teaching classrooms and can accommodate two groups totaling 64 students maximum per time slot.
  • *For special needs groups, we can accommodate a maximum of 22 students and 22 aides per class.

Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)

  • 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m

Check-in time is usually 15 minutes before each program starts. If your schedule permits and earlier check-in times are available, we will assign you a check-in time that allows the students to explore the Aquarium before an 12:15 p.m. Discovery Lab.

If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled.

To avoid cancellation of your program, please select a realistic arrival time that accounts for travel time, slight delays and bathroom stops. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Program Choices


From Stingers to Spines
Dive into the world of the spineless wonders! Stinging cells, suction cups and spiny skin are all characteristics students will observe as important components to invertebrate classification. Through hands-on investigation, students will gain a deeper understanding of a variety of marine invertebrates and their organization into animal phyla.
California Science Standards
Grade 6: 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6b, 7b, 7d
Grade 7: 3a, 3b, 3e, 5a, 7a, 7c, 7e
Grade 8: 9a, 9b

Find more Classroom & Learning Resources.

Surfers to Seastars: The Science of Waves
From Maverick’s in Half Moon Bay to Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, surfers harness the raw power of ocean waves along California’s coast. These waves shape our coastline and define a way of life along rocky and sandy shores. Join us as we explore the science of waves and investigate the influence of waves on creatures living at the ocean’s edge. Through close observation of live animals, students will identify the unique strategies of animals designed to survive the intersection of land and sea. Students will also explore how people impact coastal environments and will consider other ways to harness the power of ocean waves.
California Science Standards
Grade 6: 2c, 3a, 4a, 5e, 6b, 7b
Grade 7: 7a
Grade 8: 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 8a-d

Learn more in our Rocky Shore and Sandy Shore exhibit sections.




 

9–12 Grades Discovery Lab Classroom Programs


60 minutes
A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Discovery Lab. Siblings not enrolled in the class with the reservation are not allowed to participate in the program.
*Recommended for special needs groups

Group Size

  • Minimum 15 students, maximum 32 students
  • Maximum of 12 adults, including teachers, allowed in each classroom (extra adults may meet the group after the program ends).
  • We have two teaching classrooms and can accommodate two groups totaling 64 students maximum per time slot.
  • *For special needs groups, we can accommodate a maximum of 22 students and 22 aides per class.

Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)

  • 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m.

Check-in time is usually 15 minutes before each program starts. If your schedule permits and earlier check-in times are available, we will assign you a check-in time that allows the students to explore the Aquarium before an 12:15 p.m. Discovery Lab.

If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled.

To avoid cancellation of your program, please select a realistic arrival time that accounts for travel time, slight delays and bathroom stops. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Program Choices


Biodiversity in the Kelp Forest
Why are the kelp forests of Monterey Bay considered one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth? What is biodiversity and why is it important to us? Students will explore the biodiversity of the kelp forest through hands-on animal observations, interacting with marine life that few ever get to see without a mask and fins! Students will consider the important ecological roles played by a myriad of interconnected kelp forest organisms and will discuss ways that we each can have positive impacts on biodiversity—and globally.
California Science Standards
Earth Science: 5d, 9a
Life Science: 6a, 6b, 6e, 7d, 8b

Learn more in our Kelp Forest and Sea Otter exhibit sections.


Invertebrates of Monterey Bay
Dive into the diversity of invertebrates that makes the Monterey Bay so unique. Students become scientists for the day as they make observations and classify live specimens of a variety of different ocean animals. Students will identify the defining characteristics of five major phyla of marine invertebrates. Through hands-on exploration, students will put their knowledge to work and classify organisms based on their similar characteristics.
California Science Standards
Life Science: 6a, 6g, 7d, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Investigations: 1d


Find more Classroom & Learning Resources.




Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs

Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs
These programs set the stage for a fun, focused visit! Enjoy the “inside stories” of the Monterey Bay Aquarium starting in the auditorium, where our educators use rich media to provide an “exclusive scoop” on the theme you’ve selected for your group. Then continue on to our exhibit areas where students and chaperones use an Aquarium-provided Exploration Booklet filled with activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits.

 

K–2 Grades Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs


25 minutes

A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Ocean Explorers Auditorium Program. Siblings not enrolled in the class with the reservation are not allowed to participate in the program.

Group Size

Minimum 32 students, maximum 120 students

Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)

9:40 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.

Check-in time is 15 minutes before each program starts. If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Program Choices


Busy Sea Otters
In this program, students get the "inside scoop" on sea otters here at the Aquarium! Your trip begins with a 25-minute introduction by an Aquarium educator in our auditorium where you'll peer into the rolling and tumbling world of sea otters and consider their active behavior from a biologist's perspective. You may even watch one of your chaperones (or teachers) "turn into" a sea otter! Together, we'll discuss what people can do to help keep otters healthy and thriving.

Students and chaperones take on the role of sea otter biologists as they make first-hand observations of our exhibit otters using an Aquarium-provided Exploration Booklet filled with activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits.
California Science Standards
Kindergarten: 2a, 2c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e
Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 4a, 4b, 4d
Grade 2: 1a, 1b, 2a, 2d, 4c, 4d

Learn more in our Sea Otter and Kelp Forest exhibit sections.


Feathers or Fins
The Monterey Bay Aquarium exhibits a variety of animal life. In this program, students will explore the adaptations of two animal groups exhibited in the Aquarium: fishes and birds. Join us in the auditorium as we compare and contrast the unique characteristics that make a bird a bird to those that make a fish a fish. During this 25-minute introduction, students will also hear insider's stories about our most popular and lovable feathered friends, the penguins! Together, we'll discuss what people can do to keep both our feathered and finned ocean friends healthy and thriving.

From there, students will explore the Aquarium with their chaperones, making first-hand observations of animals and taking on the role of scientist for the day using an Aquarium-provided Exploration Booklet filled with activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits.


California Science Standards
Kindergarten: 1a, 2a, 2c, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e
Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c, 4a, 4b, 4d, 4e
Grade 2: 2a, 2b

Learn more in our Sandy Shore, Monterey Bay Habitats and Splash Zone exhibit sections.

 

3–5 Grades Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs


25 minutes
A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Ocean Explorers Auditorium Program. Siblings not enrolled in the class with the reservation are not allowed to participate in the program.

Group Size

Minimum 32 students, maximum 120 students

Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)

9:40 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.


Check-in time is 15 minutes before each program starts. If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Program Choices


Sharks: The Real Story
You may have heard about our white shark visitors, but do you know the real story? Begin your journey in the auditorium with an Aquarium educator who will give you the "inside scoop" and share some behind-the-scenes footage of the Aquarium's work with white sharks.

During this 25-minute introduction, we'll also look at the world's great diversity of sharks, compare other sharks to white sharks and learn about different sharks we exhibit here at the Aquarium. Are they frightening—or fascinating? From here, your group heads into the Aquarium to discover real-life sharks and make some observations using an Aquarium-provided Exploration Booklet filled with activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits. By the time you leave, you'll be able to share a shark's "real story" with everyone back home.
California Science Standards
Grade 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 5b
Grade 4: 2a, 2b, 3b, 6a
Grade 5: 2a, 6a

Learn more in our Monterey Bay Habitats exhibit section.

Freaky Fish
What really makes a fish a fish? From tails to scales, join us in the auditorium to explore the awesome adaptations fish have to survive in their underwater world! Understand the characteristics that all fish share, while learning about the two major groups of fish we exhibit at the Aquarium. Through incredible underwater photography, during this 25-minute introduction, we'll focus on the truly bizarre, "freaky" fish whose unique adaptations allow them to survive in some of the most challenging habitats in the world.

Then it is time for students to explore the Aquarium with their chaperones using an Aquarium-provided Exploration Booklet filled with activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits. You will see (with a fish-eye view) the roles and adaptations that make fish such fascinating and fantastic creatures!


California Science Standards
Grade 3: 3a, 3b, 3d
Grade 4: 3a
Grade 5: 2a, 6a

Find more Classroom & Learning Resources.

 

6–8 Grades Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs


25 minutes
A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Ocean Explorers Auditorium Program. Siblings not enrolled in the class with the reservation are not allowed to participate in the program.

Group Size

Minimum 32 students, maximum 120 students

Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)

9:40 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.

Check-in time is 15 minutes before each program starts. If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Program Choices


Dive into the Deep
If aliens exist, do they only live in outer space? Join us on a virtual dive to the bottom of the Monterey Canyon, where we'll reveal the bizarre creatures that live in the darkness of the deep. During a 25-minute introduction in the auditorium, we'll use amazing images and video footage to "dive" into the cold, dark waters of the Monterey Canyon. Using the latest technologies from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), we'll peer into the largest, most mysterious, habitat on earth. Together, we'll discover the unique adaptations deep sea animals have for surviving the extremes of the depths, and learn about the connection between ourselves and what lies beneath the deep sea. Students and chaperones then head to the exhibits to compare the adaptations of nearshore organisms to those living in much deeper water using an Aquarium-provided Exploration Booklet filled with activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits. You can also visit our Mission to the Deep exhibition and complete a deep sea mission of your own.
California Science Standards
Grade 6: 1f, 3a, 5a, 5c, 5e, 6b
Grade 7: 6a, 6b, 6e
Grade 8: 8c, 8d

Learn more in our Mission to the Deep exhibit section.


Kelp Forest Communities
Pigs in pipes, three-story tall animal apartment buildings, and fish that transform from males into females—what is going on at the Monterey Bay Aquarium? Students find out during a 25-minute introduction in the auditorium, as they take a visual dive into a three-dimensional underwater work of art found both in Monterey Bay and in the Aquarium—the KELP FOREST! The complex physical setting of the kelp forest, including the communities of crazy creatures that live within it, will be explored, and students will learn how Aquarium staff members face the challenge of maintaining a live kelp forest on display.

Students will then explore with their chaperones and view the kelp forest through the eyes of a diver at our innovative live kelp exhibits. An Exploration Booklet filled with activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits will be provided to students. Visit the Aquarium's newest exhibit, the newly redesigned Splash Zone, and participate in interactive activities while observing the beautiful animals that make the kelp forest their home!

Download "Kelp Forest Communities" Aquarium Exploration BookletPDF
California Science Standards
Grade 6: 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5e, 7h
Grade 7: 1b, 2a, 5a
Grade 8: 8c

Learn more in our Kelp Forest and Sea Otter exhibit sections.

 

9-12 Grades Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs


25 minutes
A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Ocean Explorers Auditorium Program. Siblings not enrolled in the class with the reservation are not allowed to participate in the program.

Group Size

Minimum 32 students, maximum 120 students

Program Start Times (Mon.-Fri.)

9:40 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.

Check-in time is 15 minutes before each program starts. If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Program Choices


Sea Otters: Your Connection to Conservation
Of all ocean animals, sea otters are a perennial favorite. But a foray beyond the fur reveals an animal facing complex challenges. Southern sea otters once ranged from Baja California to the Pacific Northwest, but today they're found only on California's Central Coast and at a fraction of their historic numbers. The population grows slowly, when it grows at all. What's behind this mystery? Do we suspect disease, parasites or coastal pollution?

Join an Aquarium educator in the auditorium for a 25-minute introduction to the research being conducted by the Aquarium's Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program. Learn how the Aquarium's studies of wild and exhibit otters help us all to better understand the complex issues facing sea otter populations.

Your group then heads to the Aquarium's exhibits to get a close look at both sea otters and freshwater otters. There you'll observe these charismatic animals for yourselves and gain an understanding as to why these animals are some of our greatest ambassadors for ocean conservation.
Download "Sea Otters: Your Connection to Conservation" Aquarium Exploration BookletPDF

Learn more in our Sea Otter and Kelp Forest exhibit sections.


California Science Standards
Earth Science: 9c
Life Science: 6a, 6b, 6c, 7d
Investigations: 1a, 1d, 1h, 1k, 1l, 1m

A Tale of Tuna
Tuna are one of the most remarkable fishes in the sea, yet our taste for tuna threatens their future. Join an Aquarium educator in the auditorium for a 25-minute tale of tuna! During this program students learn about one of the ocean's greatest animal athletes, and how staff at Monterey Bay Aquarium care for them. Educators use visual media to share current research from the Aquarium's Tuna Research and Conservation Center and show how tracking tags reveal tuna secrets from around the world.

Your group then heads to the Aquarium's exhibits to get a close look at tuna and over 200 other species of fish. There you'll observe these ocean giants for yourselves and gain an understanding as to why these animals are some of our strongest ambassadors for ocean conservation. An Exploration Booklet containing activities designed to promote interesting conversations and focused observation at exhibits will be provided to students.
Download "A Tale of Tuna" Aquarium Exploration BookletPDF

California Science Standards
Life Science: 6b, 6c



Splash Zone Program

Splash Zone Program
Waddle with the penguins in the rugged rocky shore. Hide with the leopard sharks in the enchanted kelp forest. Explore with the fish in the coral reef kingdom. An Aquarium educator will lead your group through activities in the Splash Zone exhibit before opening hours. Students are introduced to the unique animals of the coral reef, rocky shore or kelp forest habitats and discuss how the animals survive in these ocean homes.

Group Size

  • Minimum 15 students, maximum 40 students
  • (40 students will be separated into two groups of 20.)

Program Start Times (Mon.-Fri.)

9 a.m.

Check-in time is at 8:45 am. If you arrive after your designated arrival time, your program may be cancelled. Your group is one of many scheduled each day and we cannot accommodate late arrivals.


Home School Days


Home School Open Sea
Out to sea and on the go—life's in constant motion in the open ocean! Join us for Home School Days 2011 and learn more about animals that travel vast distances across the open oceans as you explore the Aquarium and the newly renovated Open Sea exhibit. Our flexibly structured Home School Days are designed for families to learn together while exploring the Aquarium's exhibits and programs.

SOLD OUT
Home School Day reservations for Fall 2012 will open in early August of 2012

Home School Days 2011:
October 17, October 24, October 31, November 7, and November 14, 2011.

ONLINE RESERVATION PROCESS FOR HOME SCHOOL DAYS 2011
We're no longer accepting group reservations for Home School Days. Families are welcome to make a reservation for up to 10 participants (youth and adults combined). Youth are students ages 3-17 and adults are 18 years and older. Children 2 and under are admitted free of charge and should not be included in your reservation. As with other education groups, home school families are eligible to participate in only one free visit each school year.

Special note: Home school groups are welcome to participate in our Discovery Lab or Ocean Explorers School Programs. Please note that Discovery Lab and Ocean Explorers School Programs are highly structured, can accommodate a maximum of three consecutive grade levels in a single program, and are subject to program capacity minimums and maximums. In Discovery Lab and Ocean Explorers school programs one chaperone receives complimentary admission for every four K-12 students.

Self-Guided School Programs

Self-Guided School Programs
PreK-Grade 12
Recommended for special needs groups

You determine the focus and set the pace. The average visit time is two to three hours, but you are welcome to stay as long as you like and investigate all the habitats found in the Aquarium. Weekend and summer reservations are available.

Group Size

Minimum 12 students, maximum 120 students

Program Start Times (Mon.-Fri.)

10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., noon and 1:00p.m.

Check-in time is 15 minutes before each program starts. If you're interested in coming in at 10 a.m. as the Aquarium opens, be sure to indicate that you can arrive by 9:45 a.m. on your application.

To help prepare for your trip, visit our Classroom & Learning Resources page to access information on Aquarium exhibits and activities for your classroom. To access crucial information pertaining to field trip logistics (lunches, maps, driving directions, behavior expectations, etc.), please read our helpful Field Trip Planner.

Our suite of Self-Guided Exploration Guides provides students with fun and educational activities at the Aquarium. We've categorized these by grade level, but choose the one that will work best for your students!




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