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Chaperone field trip guide

Being a chaperone is a great way to enjoy a visit to the Aquarium, but is an important responsibility. As a chaperone, you are responsible for a group of students during their visit to the Aquarium, and you are an essential part of creating a positive experience for all involved.

Get ready to chaperone!

Smiling young child reaching into an Aquarium touch exhibit with an educator's guidance, while family members watch and smile in the background

Your role as a chaperone

  • The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a place of learning, fun and discovery! Help the students explore the Aquarium and make sure they behave appropriately.
  • Stay with the students who have been assigned to you. The Aquarium requires that students stay with their chaperones at all times, regardless of the age of the student.
Young child leaning in to closely observe a sea urchin in a touch exhibit, with a chaperone guiding the interaction from behind

Wear your badge

Your chaperone badge must be visible at all times. Your badge is your pass for exiting and re-entering the Aquarium with your group of students.

A young girl in a blue tie-dye shirt looks up in awe at a towering, sunlit kelp forest exhibit through a large glass window at an aquarium

Help your students learn

  • Download a self-guided booklet before you arrive for interactive, educational activities like games.
  • Let the students know that you are visiting to have fun and to learn at the same time.
  • Encourage exploration with open-ended questions like ‘What do you notice?’ and ‘Why might that be?
  • Help students find answers by observing exhibits together and reading exhibit labels.
  • Talk with our friendly Aquarium Guides. They're happy to help and always have interesting facts to share.
Student reaching into a touch exhibit to pet a ray while a group of students looks on at the Aquarium

Follow our behavior guidelines

  • Stay with your group.
  • Be courteous and respectful of all visitors.
  • Be respectful of the Aquarium exhibits and building.
  • Help protect the animals.
  • Keep food, drinks and gum outside the Aquarium.
  • Teachers and chaperones are responsible for students.
  • Please respect our Aquarium neighbors. 

Read full behavior guidelines

A volunteer assisting guests at the information kiosks showing them the Visitor Map

Safety

  • If a student gets lost, go to the Information Center near the entrance.
  • If a student gets injured, ask anyone wearing an Aquarium name badge to call Security and an Aquarium officer will report to the location of the injured person.
  • For shopping, use the Ocean Discovery Store near the gray whale model. It carries popular, affordable items. You must accompany your students in the store.
  • Restrooms and drinking fountains are inside by the Ocean Discovery Store and outside on Hovden Way.
  • The group picnic area is outside on the Recreation Trail. Your group leader will provide the details for lunch.
A view of the modern Bechtel Center from across the street corner on a foggy day

The Bechtel Education Center

The Bechtel Education Center is located just a few blocks from the Aquarium on Cannery Row. Discovery Lab programs for students in grades 3–12 take place in the Center's four learning lab classrooms. 

Quick tip: Re-enter the Aquarium through the entrance with a chaperone wearing a badge.

Learn more about the Bechtel Education Center

Keep exploring

Learning programs

Field trip orientation video

Find out what to expect during your Aquarium field trip.

Read more – Field trip orientation video

Learning programs

Field trip behavior contract

Download the field trip behavior contract to review with your students.

Read more – Field trip behavior contract