School Programs
Teachers! Immerse your kids in the underwater world with Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s fun and interactive programs. Through our many live and interpretive exhibits, seawater laboratories and surrounding seashore habitats, your students have the opportunity to explore the wonders of our neighboring ocean.
A variety of free and fee-based programs are available to choose from: introductory tours such as Sand to Sea Odyssey and Explore the Shore to in-depth, customizable programs like Sea Search. We can bring the ocean to you with our Ocean Outreach program or take your kids to sea for fun wildlife and whale watching trips.
All school programs are designed to be hands-on, with a focus on local southern California marine life, and are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Attention educators and parents: Please note that Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s main Exhibit Hall will be unavailable due to major renovations of our Life Support System until Fall 2025, The rest of the Aquarium will remain open for our educational programs, tours, and activities, ensuring your students can still enjoy hands-on learning experiences with marine life during this time!
Download our yearly Education Poster 2024-2025 - Blue Whale.
CMA Docents give students a fun and interactive introduction to marine science!
Trained Aquarium Docents introduce students to local southern California marine habitats through fun, interactive experiences. Learn about the diversity of local marine life, how these animals are specially adapted to the challenging conditions of their unique habitats, and what your students can do to help protect our ocean animals.
This 90-minute tour will visit education stations, live exhibits, specimen collections, the Aquatic Nursery and our tidepool touch tank.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
MAXIMUM supervision is one adult per five students.
- Program Length: 90 minutes
- Month(s) Offered: October to March
- Day(s) Offered: Tuesday - Friday
- Time(s) Offered: 10 - 11:30am
- Grades: K - 12
- Program Cost: FREE!*
Attention educators and parents: Please note that Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s main Exhibit Hall will be unavailable due to major renovations of our Life Support System until Fall 2025, The rest of the Aquarium will remain open for our educational programs, tours, and activities, ensuring your students can still enjoy hands-on learning experiences with marine life during this time!
For self-conducted Exhibit Hall visits, please call 310-548-7562, Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Bus Scholarships are available. For more Information, please call (310) 548-7562.
*We are no longer collecting recyclable aluminum cans. In lieu of any costs for this tour, please support our important campaign: CMA wants a clean LA! Your students can help us with this goal through in-class activities or service-learning projects in support of our free programs. Information will be provided upon registration.
Our programs can be made accessible to all audiences. Persons with disabilities are welcome to participate. Reasonable accommodations will be made with prior arrangements.
All programs are adaptable to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Join CMA's Education Team in exploring the outdoors!
Challenge your students to investigate science concepts along the seashore using the tools of a naturalist. During our 90-minute program, your students will be engaged in hands-on investigation of our local habitats and marine organisms outside in the Coastal Park.
Students work together to learn about the challenges facing life along the shore and our role in its conservation. During their visit, students explore and answer questions integrating physical, life, and earth sciences. Each program is designed to address grade-level standards and promote inquiry based learning.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
- Program Length: 90 minutes
- Month(s) Offered: October to June
- Day(s) Offered: Fridays only
- Time(s) Offered: 10 - 11:30am
- Grades: K - 12
- Maximum number of Participants: 60 (Limit of 1 adult per 5 students)
- Program Cost: FREE!*
Attention educators and parents: Please note that Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s main Exhibit Hall will be unavailable due to major renovations of our Life Support System until Fall 2025, The rest of the Aquarium will remain open for our educational programs, tours, and activities, ensuring your students can still enjoy hands-on learning experiences with marine life during this time!
Learn how you can be the “Key to the Sea!”
This beach-based program encourages students to learn about watershed stewardship, coastal ecology and how we are all connected to the ocean. Teachers are required to attend a "Key to the Sea" Workshop prior to their field trip.
For more information, and to sign up for a workshop, please visit: www.healthebay.org/key2sea/
PROGRAM DETAILS:
- Program Length: 90 minutes
- Month(s) Offered: October to June
- Day(s) Offered: Fridays only
- Time(s) Offered: 10 - 11:30am
- Grades: 1-5
- Maximum number of Participants: 60 (Limit of 1 adult per 5 students)
- Program Cost: FREE!*
Attention educators and parents: Please note that Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s main Exhibit Hall will be unavailable due to major renovations of our Life Support System until Fall 2025, The rest of the Aquarium will remain open for our educational programs, tours, and activities, ensuring your students can still enjoy hands-on learning experiences with marine life during this time!
*We are no longer collecting recyclable aluminum cans. In lieu of any costs for this tour, please support our important campaign: CMA wants a clean LA! Your students can help us with this goal through in-class activities or service-learning projects in support of our free programs. Information will be provided upon registration.
Our programs can be made accessible to all audiences. Persons with disabilities are welcome to participate. Reasonable accommodations will be made with prior arrangements
All programs are adaptable to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
OCEAN OUTREACH SCHOOL VISIT
Bringing the ocean to your school!
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's Ocean Outreach program is designed to enhance your students educational experience through hands-on exploration, specimen investigation and student participation. All of our topics are tailored to grade-level and designed to spark your students' curiosity for the ocean and the extraordinary life in it!
PROGRAM LOGISTICS:
- Program Length: Up to one hour; maximum of four (4) sessions with up to three (3) topics per site per day; After-school programs: maximum of two (2) sessions with up to two (2) topics per site per day.
- Month(s) Offered: Year-round
- Day(s) Offered: Tuesday - Friday
- Time(s) Offered: Between 9:30am and 2:30pm; after-school programs until 3pm (Pick start time option below)
- Maximum Participation Limit (per session): 30 students*
- Fee**: $170 for the first session, $70 for each similar session at same site on same day. After-school programs (after 2:30pm): First session $230, second session $90 (maximum of two (2) sessions)
- Travel Range: schools within 60 miles of the Aquarium.
CLASS TOPICS: For more descriptions on our available programs, please click here.
| The Adventures of C. Weed the Snail and His Friends***,<> | Pre-K (3 Years and Older) |
| At Home in the Sea <> | Grades K-1 |
| The Greatest Fish Story Ever Told | Grades K-4 |
| “Thar She Blows” – A Whale of a Lesson | Grades 2-8 |
| Treasures in the Tidepool <> | Grades 2-8 |
| Shark! It’s O.K to Go into the Water | Grades 3-8 |
| Ocean Drifters: What’s Plankton Anyway? <> | Grades 3-8 |
| The Art of Fish Printing: Gyotaku in the Classroom | Grades 3-8 |
| No Guts, No Glory: A Fish Dissection | Grades 3-12 |
| Ten Arms and an Attitude: A Squid Dissection | Grades 3-12 |
*** C. Weed the Snail program is not available in March, April or May
<> These classes feature a touch tank and live animals during the visit. PLEASE NOTE: these four topics include a live animal tray setup; a saltwater tank setup is for three or four sessions at a school site on the same day.
All programs are adaptable to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Hands-on lab and field experiences to spark interest in science for students of any age!
Sea Search Marine Biology Workshops provide hands-on laboratory and field research experiences on a wide range of marine biology topics. Laboratory activities include the use of microscopes and examination of live marine animals and other specimens. Field activities include students’ use of scientific tools as well as observations of animals, plants, and algae in the tidepool, salt marsh and sandy beach habitats adjacent to the Aquarium. Conservation issues are incorporated in all classes.
Your students' Sea Search experience will include:
- A visit to our saltwater laboratory-classroom with live marine animals, an extensive collection of local coastal organisms, stereo and compound microscopes, video camera system for group demonstrations;
- Staff guided field activities, observations, research all within easy walking distance from the Aquarium;
- Opportunities to explore the Aquarium and tidepool touch tank, and also examine the collections of invertebrate, fish, reptile, bird and mammal specimens.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
- Program Length: 2.5 hours
- Month(s) Offered: October to June
- Day(s) Offered: Tuesday - Friday
- Start Time(s) Offered: 9am, 9:30am, or 10am
- Maximum Participation Limit (per day): 45 students
- Fee*: $350 for up to 35 students, $10 for each additional student.
*Grant-funded support and scholarships are available for financial assistance.
CLASS TOPICS: For more descriptions on our available programs, please click here.
| What Lives on the Sandy Beach | Grades K-12 |
| Life on the Rocky Shores * | Grades K-12 |
| Habitat Comparison | Grades K-12 |
| Salt Marsh and Plankton | Grades 3-12 |
| Ichthyology ** | Grades 5-12 |
*Life on the Rocky Shores is only available on low tide dates; please see specific options on the Reservation Form.
** Max of 35 students.
Attention educators and parents: Please note that Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s main Exhibit Hall will be unavailable due to major renovations of our Life Support System until Fall 2025, The rest of the Aquarium will remain open for our educational programs, tours, and activities, ensuring your students can still enjoy hands-on learning experiences with marine life during this time!
Our programs can be made accessible to all audiences. Persons with disabilities are welcome to participate. Reasonable accommodations will be made with prior arrangements
All programs are adaptable to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Bringing our classroom outside for hands-on fun in the sun!
With our ideal location, the beach is transformed into an outdoor classroom for children to learn about sea life! Through talks and activities students learn about different types of marine animals and our ocean environment.
Conducted by docents in a dynamic beach and harbor setting with colorful displays, this 90-minute outdoor program introduces students to tidepool creatures, whales, grunion fish and other marine animals. Activities include grunion hatching and our famous interactive Do-it, Do-its!
PROGRAM DETAILS:
- MAXIMUM supervision is one adult per five students.
- Program Length: 90 minutes to 2 hours
- Month(s) Offered: April to June*
- Day(s) Offered: Tuesday - Friday
- Time(s) Offered: Program begins at 10am
- Grades: PreK - 5
- Program Cost: FREE!**
*The first two weeks of April is the most suitable time for young children (PreK and K) as well as students with special needs. This program takes place on the grass, making it easier for the children to move station-to-station. The remainder of the program April, May and June will take place on the sandy beach, weather permitting. Specific dates can be found below, within the form.
**We are no longer collecting recyclable aluminum cans. In lieu of any costs for this tour, please support our important campaign: CMA wants a clean LA! Your students can help us with this goal through in-class activities or service-learning projects in support of our free programs. Information will be provided upon registration.
Attention educators and parents: Please note that Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s main Exhibit Hall will be unavailable due to major renovations of our Life Support System until Fall 2025, The rest of the Aquarium will remain open for our educational programs, tours, and activities, ensuring your students can still enjoy hands-on learning experiences with marine life during this time!
Our programs can be made accessible to all audiences. Persons with disabilities are welcome to participate. Reasonable accommodations will be made with prior arrangements
All programs are adaptable to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Go Whale Watching!
Go to sea any day of the week in search of migrating Pacific gray whales, as well as humpback and fin whales, a variety of dolphin species, sea lions, pelicans and other marine life. Cabrillo Whalewatch volunteer naturalists accompany you on two-to-three-hour boat trips from various landings.
Month(s) Offered: Daily through mid-April
Program Cost: Varies by landing