At the Center

Adult and Family Group Programs and Tours
 

Make your reservation soon for a guided tour during our most active pup season (and hear our sounds of the season - the cackle of elephant seal babies)!

The Marine Mammal Center is an interesting and inspiring destination for all!  Bring your group to learn about our work, see our seal and sea lion patients and be inspired by the dedication of our volunteer workforce.  

General Information

Our Classroom Programs and Tours:

• Include hands-on exploration with pelts and skulls
• Are one-hour long
• Are designed to stand alone or can be combined for two hours of instruction
• Adult and Family groups of 10 or more must make a reservation in advance for a paid program or tour and for the Self-Guided Visits as we need to control the numbers of visitors at the Center.
• It is best if you make a reservation several months in advance as our schedule fills quickly. Please read all of the information below before completing a Reservation Request Form.
   

Quick Chart: Click on the titles to read the detailed description and to go to the Reservation Request Form.

Please Note: This is a hospital; the number and species of patients on view varies from season to season. Not all animal patients are in public view.

Tours are led by our instructors through the public areas of the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital facility. Classroom Programs take place indoors and do not automatically include a tour. Tours occur outside with some protection from the weather. Our facility is completely ADA accessible. Please see the right sidebar for our recommendations of other places to go while you are in the Marin Headlands.

Reservation Information:

Please read the descriptions of Tours and Classroom Programs listed below and easily navigated to by our Quick Chart above. You can link directly to the Reservation Request Form from the description that interests you. Within two weeks of submitting your request form, you will receive a reply by phone or email. Once we confirm your reservation request, you will receive a confirmation packet and invoice. We require payment or receipt of a purchase order one month before your scheduled program date.

Private Tour

Enjoy a “private,” one-hour guided tour of our state-of-the-art facility.Our educator will escort your group through this unique outdoor animal rehabilitation hospital, answering questions and sharing current patients’ stories.You will view seal and sea lion patients and learn how our hospital functions. Look into key areas such as the fish kitchen, chart room, laboratory and post-mortem (optional). Depending on the number and type of patients we have onsite, you may be able to watch animal care crews in action preparing and offering food, cleaning pens, and helping with medical procedures, and observe technicians doing laboratory analyses. Hands-on experiences with rescue equipment and touching pelts enhance the tour and highlight the characteristics, behavior, and adaptations of our seal and sea lion patients.

Fees*/Length:

• Private Tour is $160 and lasts one hour
• Senior Fees: $110 per group per hour

*All fees are subject to change without notice.

Group size: Up to 20

Days and Times Available: Monday through Friday and some Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions  |  Reservation Request Form  |  Back to Chart

3Rs for Marine Mammals

Classroom Program

Watching video clips of an actual rescue, animal care, feeding, surgery, and a release allows you to "experience" aspects of our work that you may not see on a tour. Touch pelts and bones to explore the differences between seals, sea lions, and otters. See marine debris entanglement (trash) that was removed from former patients to better understand how connected our lives are to these intelligent ocean mammals.  Our goal is that by sharing the amazing stories of our patients, your group will be more informed ocean stewards.

Trash to Treasures

Classroom Program

In this artsy and engaging class, families learn how plastic trash can hurt marine mammals and what actions they can take every day to help them. Families use small pre-washed plastic trash found on a local beach to create colorful mosaics. The mosaics are photographed and then the trash becomes treasured mosaic pictures that families can share with their friends and relatives. 

Marine Mammals of California

Classroom Program

Learn about the most common marine mammals that frequent the California coast including seals, sea lions, sea otters, and whales. Using a PowerPoint presentation, our instructor will teach your group about the natural history and behaviors of selected marine mammals. Recent patients cared for at our hospital will be highlighted. Touch pelts, skulls, and whale baleen and participate in an activity that demonstrates the various sizes of marine mammals. See marine debris entanglement (trash) that was removed from former patients to better understand how connected our lives are to these intelligent ocean mammals. Our goal is that your group will be encouraged to become ocean stewards after learning about these amazing animal’s adaptations to their natural environment and hearing the stories of our patients. 

Please note: These programs do not include a tour - you must book that separately.

Rates*/Length:

• 3Rs for Marine Mammals, Trash to Treasures and Marine Mammals of California are each $160 and last one hour
• Senior Rates: $110 per group per hour

*All rates are subject to change without notice.

Group size:  Up to 20

Days and Times Available: Tuesday through Friday and some Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions  |   Reservation Request Form  |  Back to Chart

Self-Guided Visit for Groups

Reserve a time to lead your own group (of more than ten people) through a self-guided visit of The Marine Mammal Center's public areas. Exhibits throughout the facility inform your group about our work. Docents stationed at the Info Desk and Upper Viewing Area are available most days to answer questions. Enjoy viewing seal and sea lion patients, and look into key areas such as the fish kitchen, chart room and laboratory. Depending on patient care activities, you may be able to watch animal care crews in action preparing food, feeding animals, cleaning pens, and doing other animal care activities.

Please note: Although there is no charge for a Self-Guided Visit, we need to limit the overall number of people visiting the Center at one time.  Therefore, if you have more than ten people in your group, reservations are required at least two weeks in advance to reserve a one-hour block of time for your group's Self-Guided Visit. A donation of $5 per person upon arrival at the Center is appreciated.

Self-Guided Visit Length: one hour

Group size: 10 to 20 people

Available Days and Times:

Sunday and Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours vary on Saturdays
Weekday mornings may be available, if requested no more than two weeks in advance by calling (415) 289-7330.

Pet Policy:

For the health and safety of both Center patients and domestic pets, pets (except fully immunized service dogs) are prohibited in the Center buildings and public areas of the facility.   Service dogs are allowed to enter in the public areas only.

Frequently Asked Questions  |   Reservation Request Form  |  Back to Chart

You may download a flier by clicking here: