Plan your field trip

Field trip programs are designed for:

• PreK-12 classes at public, private, or charter schools that meet student participation requirements
• College classes

Each individual class is eligible for one free trip per school year. 

In order to book a PreK-12 field trip:

• The group must meet the minimum student numbers for the program type
  • 15 students for Ocean Connection Lab programs
  • 10 students for Self-Guided programs
  • 60 students for Tide Talk programs
• All students must match the grade band for the program selected

If your school has not joined us for a field trip in the past, you must create an account, affiliate your school with that account, and wait for our team to verify your school is eligible for field trips. Visit our educator account FAQs page for more detailed instructions.

Our field trip programs are free of charge! 

For in-person programs, this includes complimentary entry into the Aquarium for all participating students, teachers, and chaperones. Your whole group must be present at check in to receive admission badges. Any additional group members who arrive after your entry time will need to purchase a ticket to enter the Aquarium.

We offer 3 types of free in-person field trips for PreK-12 and college classes. Explore field trip descriptions for more specific details about each program type. 

Ocean Connection Lab + Self-Guided

• 45 or 60 minute hands-on lab plus Aquarium visit

Tide Talks + Self-Guided

• 25-minute interactive talk plus Aquarium visit

Self-Guided only

• Lead your class through the Aquarium exhibits at your own pace

PreK-12 field trip programs are offered at set times Tuesday through Friday during the school year. College field trips are available Tuesday through Saturday during the school year. 

Field trip programs are not offered on Mondays, during the summer, or on holidays.

If you would like to visit on a Monday, a weekend, a holiday, or at a different time, you may consider purchasing tickets or utilizing other ways to visit. We do not offer group discounts at this time.

Want to be notified when programs go live? Sign up for education notifications to keep up-to-date with all of our programs.

Homeschool groups are eligible for PreK-12 field trip programs if:

• The group meets the minimum student number requirements 
  • 10 for a Self-Guided program, 15 for an Ocean Connection Lab program, 60 for a Tide Talk program
• All of the students in the group match the grade band for the program selected
  • PreK-TK, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Before you book one of the PreK-12  programs, please consider the following requirements: 

• The group lead for the field trip must create an account, affiliate their school to their account, and register for the field trip as the “lead teacher” in the My Schools portal.
• The lead teacher is responsible for checking in the whole group and providing the Behavior Contract. 
• The entire group must check in together before the program can begin.
• Students participating in the field trip program must match the grade band of the selected program. 
• Siblings are not permitted to attend lab programs, but can attend the self-guided portion of the field trip.
• Chaperone guidelines for lab programs must be followed (see Chaperone guidelines below).

Field trip reservations typically open at the end of summer, near the start of the school year. 

Once reservations are open, you may book any date that is available through the end of that school year. All reservations must be made at least two weeks before your desired visit date. 

Want to be notified when programs go live? Sign up for education notifications to keep up-to-date with all of our programs.

To book an in-person field trip, you will start by logging in to the My Schools portal.

•  Log in to the My Schools portal.
  • If you have not yet made an account, enter your first and last name and email address and then select “Create Account.”
  • If you have already made an account, select “Log in” and enter your email address.
• You will be sent a login link to the email address affiliated with your account.

Next, you will affiliate your school.

•  Once you have logged in to the My Schools portal, you will see our field trip booker. Select “Add New School Affiliation” in the top right corner.
• Search for your school by name, address, or NCES number.
• Select your school from the drop down list and select “Save.”
• Your school will now be listed under “School Affiliations.”
  • If you’ve never visited before, it may take a few days for your school to be verified.
  • Don’t see your school? Email us at schoolprograms@mbayaq.org. 

Finally, you will be able to select and book your field trip.

• In the My Schools portal, next to your school’s name, select “Book field trip.” You will be directed to our calendar.
• Enter the number of students you intend to bring and your group’s grade band to view availability. You can further filter the results by selecting your preferred dates and/or preferred field trip type.
• Available dates will appear as selectable boxes. If you cannot select a date, it has been fully booked. If a particular field trip type or time slot does not appear, it has been fully booked.
• Once you have chosen your trip type, progress to the next page and enter your information and progress until the form is completed.
• Your trip is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from us with your reservation details including order number. You will also be able to view and manage your field trip reservations on the “My Field Trips” tab within your My Schools portal. 

Field trip program capacity varies. The maximum group size may not always be available if some of our spaces or time slots have already been booked.

Ocean Connection Labs

• Rocky Shore Explorations: 15–70 students
• Habitat Hunters: 5–15 students
• Bechtel Education Center Labs (Kelp Forest Connections, STEM at Sea, Oasis in the Deep Sea): 15–120 students

Tide Talks: 60–140 students

Self-guided: 10–140 students

If you need to update any of the information on your field trip reservation, please reach out to schoolprograms@mbayaq.org or call 831.648.4800 with your reservation details as soon as possible. 

Group size increases may not be possible due to program capacities and availability.

You can view your field trip reservations on the “My Field Trips” tab within your My Schools portal.

Canceling your field trip reservation:

• If your reservation is more than two weeks away:
  • Log in to your My Schools portal.  
  • Switch to the “My Field Trips” tab to review your reservations.
  • Select the blue cancel button on the reservation you no longer need. 
• If your reservation is less than two weeks, please email schoolprograms@mbayaq.org or call 831.648.4800 with your reservation details: order number, date of the reservation, school name, and your name.

Rescheduling your field trip reservation:

• Log in to the My Schools portal.
•  Book a new program at your desired time/date. (see Booking instructions above)
•  Cancel the previous reservation that you no longer need.

For PreK–12 field trip programs, at least one chaperone for every ten students is required. Please bring the number of chaperones that will allow you to most effectively guide your day.

For college field trip programs, the class must have at least one professor or member of faculty from the institution reserve and attend the field trip. 

All attending teachers, chaperones, and 1:1 support aides will receive complimentary entry into the Aquarium. Chaperones must arrive with your group at your designated check-in time, or they will not be able to enter the Aquarium without purchasing a ticket. 

Chaperone requirements

• Chaperones must be at least 20 years of age.
• Chaperones may not be students in the participating class.
• Chaperones should be supporting student learning and must stay with their student groups at all times while in the Aquarium.

While we no longer have a limit to the number of chaperones who can attend the field trip, individual lab classrooms do still have limited capacities. Any chaperones who are unable to enter the lab classroom will still receive complimentary entry to the Aquarium upon check in, and can re-join their group at the conclusion of the lab. 

Chaperone limits for lab programs

• Ocean Connection Labs hosted in the main Aquarium
  • Rocky Shore Explorations, Habitat Hunters: one teacher (required) and five additional chaperones per lab classroom
• Ocean Connection Labs hosted in the Bechtel Education Center
  • Kelp Forest Connections, STEM at Sea, and Oasis in the Deep Sea: one teacher (required) and four additional chaperones per lab classroom

Have more than the allotted number of adults?  Please decide who will enter each classroom before arrival and ensure each individual adult knows if they will be going in the lab or not. In addition to those chaperones, we will allow as many 1:1 aides into the classroom as physical space allows. 

Please plan to arrive at the Aquarium or Bechtel Education Center to check in for the day 15 minutes prior to the start of your program to allow for check in procedures.

Our Ocean Connection Labs run for 45–60 minutes, depending on the program type. TideTalk programs run for 25 minutes in our auditorium. Self-guided groups begin their Aquarium exploration immediately after checking in. 

Each PreK–12 field trip program has a scheduled 30 minute lunch time in which you may use the Aquarium picnic area. Utilizing this space is optional, but groups may not use the picnic area outside of their scheduled time.

Each group is welcome to stay and explore until we close for the day. You will be able to exit and re-enter the Aquarium throughout the day as needed. Students must be with a chaperone to exit and re-enter.

Lunch time and picnic area

Each PreK–12 field trip program has a reserved time slot in the Aquarium picnic area. This time will be listed on your field trip confirmation. Times are also listed on the description pages of each field trip program type. The picnic area is a shared space and multiple groups may be present at the same time. Utilizing this space is optional, but groups may not use the picnic area outside of your scheduled time.

Join us in the journey toward a cleaner, greener planet by remembering to sort your waste into the designated bins in our picnic area: recyclables, compostables, and general waste.

Outside food and drink cannot be consumed in the Aquarium or the Bechtel Education Center, but water bottles are permitted and refill stations are available. 

Storing lunches

Lockers are provided free of charge to field trip groups outside of the main Aquarium for storing lunches. Locker dimensions are 16" W x 23" H x 31" D. Any ice chests used for lunches will not be permitted in the main Aquarium. Any items that do not fit into the lockers will need to be stored on buses or in cars.

For groups with labs at the Bechtel Education Center, all lunch items can be brought inside during the lab program and will need to be taken at the conclusion of the lab.

Lockers are provided free of charge to field trip groups outside of the main Aquarium. Locker dimensions are 16" W x 23" H x 31" D. Any ice chests used for lunches will not be permitted in the main Aquarium, but may be stored in the lockers. Any items that do not fit into the lockers will need to be stored on buses or in cars.

Students are encouraged not to bring their backpacks unless they are needed. Any bags brought into the Aquarium are subject to search by Security staff and may add to your entry time. The Aquarium utilizes a low-frequency magnetic scanner during guest entry to reduce unnecessary bag checks. This is not an X-ray machine and is safe for all guests and staff. 

Prior to your field trip, please review the Behavior Contract with your students. This outlines behavior expectations for students while at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and a signed copy is required at check in. 

Additionally, the Aquarium requires all visitors to follow our guest behavior guidelines.

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled program time.

For Rocky Shore Explorations, Habitat Hunters, Tide Talks, and Self-guided programs, please check in at the Hovden Way entrance at the main Aquarium. 
Main Aquarium
886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940

For Kelp Forest Connections, STEM at Sea, or Oasis in the Deep Sea, please check in at the Bechtel Education Center. This building is around two city blocks away from the main Aquarium entrance on the corner of Cannery Row and Hoffman Avenue.
Bechtel Education Center
625 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
 

View our directions an instructions for bus drivers for driving instructions to both locations.

Arriving by bus?
Bus pick-up and drop-off zones are available outside the Aquarium and the Bechtel Education Center. Check out our directions and instructions for bus drivers. 

Arriving by car?
There are no designated parking lots for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Visit our parking information.

Please let us know if your group is delayed on the day of your field trip as soon as possible by texting or calling our field trips phone: 831.648.4808. 

Reminder, your check in time is 15 minutes before your scheduled program start time. If you arrive more than 10 minutes after your scheduled check-in time, your Ocean Connection Lab or Tide Talk program may be shortened or canceled. 

All in-person programs groups will still have access to the main Aquarium for the self-guided portion of the field trip.

Note: The field trips phone 831.648.4808 is only monitored for day-of communications from field trip groups. Have questions or need assistance leading up to your field trip? Contact the Education team at schoolprograms@mbayaq.org or 831.648.4800.

During the self-guided portion of your field trip, you are welcome to explore the Aquarium at your own pace. Students must be accompanied by a chaperone at all times.

Our amazing staff and volunteers are available throughout the Aquarium for questions and guidance. When you arrive, stop by our Membership and Information Desk, located by the main entrance for maps, accessibility tools, and show information.

• Before coming onsite, review the different exhibits you’ll see at the Aquarium.
• Take your students to watch our daily feedings & auditorium programs.
• Print out self-guided booklets to guide student learning as you explore.

Accessibility requests for field trip programs can be included when creating your reservation. Please include any and all details you have at that time. 

If you have new information that needs to be added to your field trip reservation, contact us with your reservation details and accessibility information at schoolprograms@mbayaq.org or 831.648.4800.

For Ocean Connection Lab and Tide Talk programs: You will receive an email prior to your visit inquiring about updates to your reservation. Please include any accessibility questions or needs in your reply.

For general Aquarium accessibility information review our accessibility and inclusion guide.

• Spanish language or Spanish and English bilingual program facilitation is available upon request, pending staff availability.
• Spanish language written materials are available in each lab, and presentation text is provided bilingually where possible.

Our Security team is on-site 24/7. In the event of an emergency, please notify the nearest staff member. For more information, review our guest behavior guidelines or contact us at 831.648.4800.

The Aquarium, Bechtel Education Center, and our covered picnic area are open rain or shine. You will still be able to attend your lab and explore the Aquarium in inclement weather. 

Note: In the event of rain please be prepared. Transit paths between the Bechtel Education Center, the picnic area, and the Aquarium are uncovered. The Aquarium viewing decks and outdoor spaces are also uncovered. 

Continue the learning after your field trip! 

For students

• Expand your sense of wonder and connection to the natural world through online courses for students grades PreK–12.
• Dive into creative ocean-themed crafts, coloring pages, stencils, and printable activities for all ages.
• Investigate our Change & Impact page to see ways we can all help preserve the ocean for future generations.

For educators

• Find inquiry-based lesson plans, online courses, short video lessons (in both English and Spanish)
• Check out our free institutes and workshops that let you explore coastal habitats, incorporate technology into your lessons, and dive deeper into issues like climate change and plastic pollution. 

For any feedback about your field trip or assistance for the future, please reach out to us at schoolprograms@mbayaq.org or call 831.648.4800.

To keep up-to-date with our programs, sign up for education notifications!