Waves of Learning FAQs

The Waves of Learning program is designed for students who do not attend a traditional seat-based school and might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in a field trip. It’s intended for individual families seeking educational experiences that enrich and complement their children's at-home learning. 

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Students enrolled in a home-based private school with a Private School Affidavit
• Students enrolled with a private school satellite program
• Students receiving instruction by a credentialed, private tutor
• Students enrolled in an Independent Study Program

The PreK–12 field trips are designed for PreK–12 classes at public, private, or charter schools that meet the following minimum student and grade band requirements:

• Discovery Lab Programs
  • Minimum of 15 students
  • Grade bands: K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
• Tide Talk programs
  • Minimum of 60 students
  • Grade bands: PreK–TK, K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
• Self-Guided programs
  • Minimum of 10 students
  • Mixed grades

If your group meets the minimum student requirements and matches the grade band for the program selected, you are eligible to book one of our PreK–12 field trip programs. 

Waves of Learning field trip reservations are opening soon.

In addition to Aquarium admission, the Waves of Learning program offers several different experiences to enhance your student’s learning. These experiences are staff-led and designed to meet a variety of learning objectives, interests, and Next Generation Science Standards.

Each experience has a recommended age group that it was designed for, but all are welcome to attend. The whole family does not need to attend the experience, but at least one adult must attend with their student(s). View the descriptions of the optional experiences.

No. The Aquarium entry and all optional experiences are free of charge with a reservation.

The Aquarium does not have designated parking. Review our public parking options and instructions, including bike parking, public transportation options, and electric vehicle charging.

• Ensure that your travel time to the Aquarium allows for traffic, parking, and any stops that might be necessary.
• Dress in layers as the weather in Monterey can be cold and warm on the same day.
• Familiarize yourself with the Aquarium map and make a plan for what exhibits you want to visit.
• For visitors with sensory sensitivities, consider reviewing our exhibit sensory guides and sensory map.
• Explore our website to familiarize yourself with the exhibits and animals you will see during your visit, as well as the auditorium and feeding program schedule.
• Check out our lesson plans, online courses, and printables for pre-visit activities.

The Bechtel Education Center is the Aquarium’s educational building. It is located at 625 Cannery Row, two blocks from the Aquarium. Entry is on the Cannery Row side of the building.

We're committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where individual differences are accepted, respected, appreciated, and valued. Review our Accessibility and Inclusion guide to ensure you’re best prepared for your visit.

Visit the Membership and Tours Center inside the Aquarium to pick up a sensory map. Our sensory map identifies high and low sensory stimulation. It’s labeled with information on light, noise, smell, and opportunities for free play within the Aquarium. 

You can check out sensory bags and noise-canceling/reducing headphones free of charge at the Membership and Tours Center. 

If the experience you want is full, you can drop in at the experience location before the start time to see if there are any cancelations or no-shows. Keep in mind that this may mean walking two blocks with no guarantee of a spot if the experience is located at the Bechtel Education Center.

Each experience has a limited capacity; in order to ensure that you have a spot, you'll need to add them to your cart during the reservation process.

If you need to cancel or update your reservation numbers, please contact schoolprograms@mbayaq.org as soon as possible so that space can be opened up for other participants.

You're welcome to drop in to the experience location before the session starts and wait to see if there are any cancelations or no-shows. Keep in mind that this may mean walking two blocks with no guarantee of a spot if the experience is located at the Bechtel Education Center.

No, your whole family does not need to attend the experience. We understand that some of your children might not be interested in certain experiences, and it is ok to have only some family members attend experiences based on student interest. There must be at least one adult present during the experience.

Yes. Upon check-in, all adults will receive a chaperone sticker that will serve as their ticket for the day. Just make sure that sticker is visible, and you can exit and re-enter as needed throughout the day. If you lose your sticker, you can also stamp your hand at our main exit. When you return, you'll join the re-entry queue at the entrance.

No outside food or drink may be consumed inside the Aquarium or the Bechtel Education Center, except for guests with medical conditions that require access to food. Small snacks for children are OK.

Refillable water bottles or other resealable containers are allowed. 

Yes. Our Cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 30 minutes before closing and will be open for dine-in meals during your visit. Cafe seating is available to patrons of the Cafe in the dining area. 

Yes. There's a picnic area located on the Recreation Trail just behind the bus turnaround. A staff member will be happy to point you in the right direction.

There are also a number of great picnic sites within walking distance from the Aquarium, including Lovers Point, Berwick Park, and San Carlos Beach.

Please follow posted signs, be mindful of wildlife, and dispose of all waste in the proper receptacles.

Strollers and wagons are permitted throughout the Aquarium, except in the Aviary, the mezzanine of the Sea Otters exhibit, and the Auditorium. We have designated stroller parking areas throughout the Aquarium. We ask that you be considerate of other visitors as they navigate dark galleries to see the exhibits.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium welcomes trained service animals that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard. 

Service animals must be under control at all times—either harnessed or leashed—unless these devices interfere with the service animal's work or your disability prevents the use of these devices. In these cases, you must use voice, signal, or other effective methods to maintain control of the service animal.

Service animals aren't allowed in the Aviary, the All About the Animals Tour, the Family Adventures in the Animal Care Tour, or during the Albatross Encounters at the Kelp Forest exhibit.

If a service animal becomes disruptive (jumping, barking, growling, biting, attempting to bite, or relieving itself), you'll be asked to remove the animal from the Aquarium.

A card with this information will be provided by Security staff for each guest with a service animal upon entry.

If a service animal needs to relieve itself during your visit, there are outdoor spaces nearby the Aquarium along the Recreation Trail and by the bus turnaround. Remember to get a handstamp before exiting to re-enter the Aquarium.

For the safety and welfare of our animals, we don't allow pets or emotional support animals inside the Aquarium. However, we do offer reentry, so you can leave during your visit to spend time with your emotional support animals and return after. Remember to grab a hand stamp at the exit before you leave.

There are several pet boarding facilities and pet-sitting services available in the Monterey area. Call the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 831.657.6400 for recommendations.

Refer to our Aquarium Behavior Guidelines for more information.

Have a different question? Check out our Kelp Desk by selecting the blue and white chat bubble in the lower right-hand corner of your screen.

Still need help? Please email schoolprograms@mbayaq.org or call us at 831.648.4800 and leave a message. A member of our team will reach out to you within 72 hours, excluding holidays.