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Regular Hours
10 a.m.–6 p.m. Daily Closed Dec. 25
Summer (May 26–Sept. 1)
9:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Summer Weekends
(July 5–Sept. 1) Sat. & Sun. 9:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Holidays 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. E-MAIL NEWSLETTER
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School Programs Choices
2008–09 School Year Calendar
September 16, 2008–
May 29, 2009
September 2, 2008–June 14, 2009
February 2–13: Entry time on or after 11:15 a.m. only December 18, 2008–January 4, 2009, April 4–19, 2009
No Field Trips
School Programs Choices
Discovery Lab Classroom Programs
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 Programs45 minutes Spanish available A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Discovery Lab. *Recommended for special needs groups Group Size
Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)
Program Start Times 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 11:45 a.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 ChoicesRocky Shore ExplorationsLet'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: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3e, 4a, 4f Kelp Forest ExplorationsPut 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 Grade 2: 2a, 2b, 2d, 4a, 4f A Walk on the BeachHave you ever wondered what lives just below the sand? There's more than meets the eye when you visit the beach. The sandy shore is a habitat for a myriad of interesting animals. Through hands-on investigation, students will learn all about these creatures and discover how sandy shore animals survive the challenges of their seashore home!
California Science Standards
Kindergarten: 2a, 2c, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c, 4d Grade 2: 2c, 2d, 3a, 4a, 4c, 4f, 4g 3–5 Grades Discovery Lab Classroom Programs45 minutes Spanish available A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Discovery Lab. *Recommended for special needs groups Group Size
Program Start Times (Mon–Fri.)9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.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 11:45 a.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 ChoicesHabitat MysteriesSticky 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: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 5a, 5b Grade 4: 3a, 3b, 3c, 5c, 6a, 6c, 6d Grade 5: 3a, 6b, 6h Kelp Forest ConnectionsWhat 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, 5a, 5b Grade 4: 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 6a Grade 5: 2a, 3a, 6c, 6h What's for Lunch?It's lunch time! But what would be a tasty treat for a sea star? How would your lunch compare to that of a sea urchin? Find out the answers to these questions and learn what ocean animals really eat. Through hands-on investigation and observation of feeding strategies, students will identify consumer types and learn what's for lunch for some of the amazing animals of the Monterey Bay.
California Science Standards
Grade 3: 1a, 3a, 3d Grade 4: 2a, 2b, 2c Grade 5: 2a, 2c, 2f 6–8 Grades Discovery Lab Classroom Programs45 minutes Spanish available A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Discovery Lab. *Recommended for special needs groups Group Size
Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.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 11:45 a.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 ChoicesFrom Stingers to SpinesDive 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 Coastal ChallengesLife on the coast isn't easy. From crashing waves, and changing tides to hungry predators, the animals that inhabit the rocky and sandy shore face numerous daily trials. Come investigate the physical challenges of life on the edge of the sea and compare how animals from two different habitats, the rocky shore and the sandy beach, have adapted uniquely to survive and thrive.
California Science Standards Grade 6: 5c, 5d, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7d, 7e Grade 7: 3a, 3b, 3e, 4f, 5g, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7e Grade 8: 9a, 9b Plankton: Current CruisersWhat do microscopic algae, baby crabs and sea slug eggs all have in common? They might all be found in a single gulp of sea water! The ocean is teeming with an incredible diversity and abundance of microscopic life, drifting freely with ocean currents. Students will explore the plethora of plankton found within the ocean and analyze the importance of plankton to both aquatic and terrestrial life.
California Science Standards
Grade 6: 4a, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5e, 6b, 6c, 7b Grade 7: 1b, 2a, 3e, 7a Grade 8: 1b, 8d, 9a, 9–12 Grades Discovery Lab Classroom Programs45 minutes Spanish available A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Discovery Lab. *Recommended for special needs groups Group Size
Program Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.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 11:45 a.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 ChoicesBiodiversity of Monterey BayWhat contributes to the remarkable biodiversity of the Monterey Bay? What is our connection to biodiversity? In this class students will be introduced to the subject of biodiversity through the eyes of a diver, interacting with marine life that few ever get to see without a mask and fins! Students will observe unique animal adaptations, discuss conservation issues, and discover how they can have a positive impact on the ecosystem.
California Science Standards Earth Science: 5d Life Science: 6a, 6g, 7d, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b Investigations: 1d Invertebrates of Monterey BayDive 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 Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs
Enjoy the "inside stories" of the Monterey Bay Aquarium in these dynamic programs. Our story unfolds in the auditorium, where Aquarium educators provide an "exclusive scoop" on the theme you've selected for your group. The story continues in our exhibit areas as 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 Programs25 minutes Spanish available A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Ocean Explorers Auditorium Program. Group SizeMinimum 32 students, maximum 120 studentsProgram Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)9:45 a.m. and 10:15 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 ChoicesBusy Sea OttersIn 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.
Download "Busy Sea Otters" Aquarium Exploration Booklet
 (Spanish version) Build your own Exploration Booklet.
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 Feathers or FinsThe 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. The Exploration Booklet for this program will be available in August.
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 3–5 Grades Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs25 minutes Spanish available A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Ocean Explorers Auditorium Program. Group SizeMinimum 32 students, maximum 120 studentsProgram Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)9:45 a.m. and 10:15 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 ChoicesSharks: The Real StoryYou 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 Freaky FishWhat 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! The Exploration Booklet for this program will be available in August.
California Science Standards
Grade 3: 3a, 3b, 3d Grade 4: 3a Grade 5: 2a, 6a 6–8 Grades Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs45 minutes Spanish available A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Ocean Explorers Auditorium Program. Group SizeMinimum 32 students, maximum 120 studentsProgram Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)9:45 a.m. and 10:15 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 ChoicesDive into the DeepIf 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 Kelp Forest CommunitiesPigs 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! The Exploration Booklet for this program will be available in August.
California Science Standards
Grade 6: 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5e, 7h Grade 7: 1b, 2a, 5a Grade 8: 8c 9–12 Grades Ocean Explorers Auditorium Programs45 minutes Spanish available A maximum of three consecutive grade levels can be accommodated in one Ocean Explorers Auditorium Program. Group SizeMinimum 32 students, maximum 120 studentsProgram Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)9:45 a.m. and 10:15 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 ChoicesSea Otters: Your Connection to ConservationOf 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 Booklet
Build your own Exploration Booklet.
California Science Standards
Earth Science: 9c Life Science: 6a, 6b, 6c, 7d Investigations: 1a, 1d, 1h, 1k, 1l, 1m Splash Zone Program
60 minutes
Spanish available Pre K–2 *Recommended for Special Needs Groups 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
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
Visit the Aquarium for one of five special Home School Days. 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 living there.
This year's theme "Splash Zone: Ocean Homes" will compliment messaging in the re-imagined Splash Zone: Ocean Homes exhibit that opened in March 2008. Close observations of animals in our Discovery Labs will help families learn about the physical and behavioral characteristics of marine animals living in kelp forests, rocky shores and coral reefs. Special presentations throughout the Aquarium and opportunities to explore the exhibits will highlight the marine environment and ocean conservation. Group SizeYou can bring a home school group of up to 120 students or participate in a family group. One adult chaperone will receive complimentary admission for each K–12 student.Home School DaysOctober 13, October 27, November 10, December 1, December 15, 2008Home School Day activities will be scheduled at various times and places in the Aquarium throughout the day. As with other education groups, home school groups are eligible to participate in only one free field trip 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 and can accommodate a maximum of three consecutive grade levels in a single program. In Discovery Lab and Ocean Explorers Programs one chaperone receives complimentary admission for every four K–12 students, while in Home School Days one adult chaperone receives complimentary admission for each K–12 student.
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 SizeMinimum 12 students, maximum 120 studentsProgram Start Times (Mon.–Fri.)10 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, and 1:30 p.m.February 2-13: Entry time on or after 11:15 a.m. only |
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Inspiring conservation of the oceans
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