School-Aged Programs and Tours for Groups
Plan your next marine mammal field trip with us for Spring 2013! Contact us today to be part of our busiest patient season!
The Marine Mammal Center is a wonderful field trip destination for schools and organized community groups such as scouts, camps, and after-school programs. Enhance your curriculum with an interactive program in our marine science classroom and/or a guided tour of our hospital facility. All Classroom programs and tours feature a theme for different grade levels (from preschool through college).
The Center is located in the beautiful Marin Headlands, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Please see the right sidebar for our recommendations of other places to go while you are in the Marin Headlands.
General Information (please scroll down to find a reservation request form)
Our Classroom Programs and Tours:
- Support the California State Science Standards at specific grade levels
- Include unique activities, plus 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
- Highlight our work with seal and sea lion patients
Classroom Programs take place indoors and do not include a tour. Tours occur outside with some protection from the weather. Tours are led by our instructors through the public areas of the Center's state-of-the-art hospital facility. Students view the food preparation room, chart room, the lab and animal pools and pens, and possibly see seal and sea lion patients as well as staff and volunteers at work.
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.
Group size:
- Up to 35 people, including chaperones // 30 people, including chaperones for Kindergarten
- Suggestion for Two Groups - We recommend the Tour/Class Combo for both groups at the same time. During the first hour, one group participates in a classroom program while the other group is on the tour; then in the second hour the groups switch.
Fees*/Length:
(All prices are subject to change without notice.)
- Classroom Programs are $130 and last one hour
- Tours are $130 and last one hour
- A Tour/Class Combo is discounted to $225, when you book both a classroom program and tour for the same group on the same day.
- Research Discovery Day is $420 and lasts four hours (for high schools and colleges)
- Payment is due one month before your scheduled program or tour date
Available Days and Times:
Mondays to Saturdays and possible Sundays on request:
1:00pm and after. Very limited morning availability through Friday, June 7th, 2013.
**Pre-School programs are no longer offered on-site at the Center, please see our Whale Bus Outreach opportunities for Pre-School programming at: http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/school-aged-programs-tours/whale-bus-outreach.html#.UT4fENaG3To
Description of Tours and Classroom Programs by Grade
Quick Chart: Click on the grade level to read the detailed descriptions and go to the Reservation Request Form.
|
GRADE |
CLASSROOM PROGRAMS |
TOURS |
|
Comparing Mammals- Land and Sea |
Ocean Explorers |
|
|
Elephant Seals- Pup to Adult |
Ocean Explorers |
|
|
Moving Up the Food Chain |
Ocean Explorers |
|
|
Marine Mammal Exploration |
Vet Detective |
|
|
Research Discovery Day |
Vet Detective |
|
|
3R's for Marine Mammals -or- Marine Mammals of CA -or- Trash to Treasure |
Ocean Explorers Self-Guided Visit |
Reservation Information
Please fill out the Reservation Request Form after reading the Description of Tours and Classroom Programs by Grade using the Quick Chart below. You will receive a reply by phone or email within two weeks of your request. Once we confirm your reservation request, you will receive a confirmation packet and invoice by email or mail. We require payment or receipt of a purchase order one month before your scheduled tour/program date.
Grades K to 1st
Comparing Mammals: Land and Sea
Classroom Program
Engaging activities, video clips, and fascinating specimens help students compare land and marine mammals. They look for similarities and differences in harbor seals and humans and explore how both move, eat, and keep warm. The instructor dresses up a student volunteer to adapt them for life in an ocean habitat and prepares a toy seal for life on land. Students visit touch stations in which they compare the features of different marine mammals, study pelts and skulls (teeth), and review ways in which they can help protect ocean habitats.
Ocean Explorers
Tour
From fish milkshakes to ocean trash, students learn about our current patients and how to help their ocean environment. Stories of our current patients, simulated tube feeding and rescue demonstrations bring the Center's animal care functions to life. Touching the furs and skulls, allows students to learn the differences between seals and sea lions. Seeing and hearing our animals, evokes compassion in the students. From this, we give them ways they can help with ocean environment.
Frequently Asked Questions | Reservation Request Form | Back to Chart
Grades 2nd to 3rd
Elephant Seals: Pup to Adult
Classroom Program
Through an engaging series of discussions, video clips, short activities, and examination of specimens, students track the life cycle of the elephant seal throughout the year. They learn when the animals come ashore for breeding and molting and how the seals live and hunt in the open ocean for months at a time. Special attention is paid to pups and weaners, and students try to "beat the odds" as they act out elephant seal pups facing the challenges of their first year on land and at sea.
Ocean Explorers
Tour
From fish milkshakes to ocean trash, students learn about our current patients and how to help their ocean environment. Stories of our current patients, simulated tube feeding and rescue demonstrations bring the Center's animal care functions to life. Touching the furs and skulls, allows students to learn the differences between seals and sea lions. Seeing and hearing our animals, evokes compassion in the students. From this, we give them ways they can help with ocean environment.
Frequently Asked Questions | Reservation Request Form | Back to Chart
Grades 4th to 5th
Moving Up the Food Chain
Classroom Program
Students explore the ocean food web and review the roles of producers and consumers. They participate in a simulation that demonstrates how toxins introduced into the food system can become magnified in species further up the food chain (which they relate to domoic acid poisoning, a natural toxin afflicting sea lions). During a second simulation activity, students analyze the effects on animals of ingesting trash (which often looks like food to marine mammals). Stories of successfully rehabilitated patients enhance students' understanding that human actions can both harm and help marine mammals.
Ocean Explorers
Tour
From fish milkshakes to ocean trash, students learn about our current patients and how to help their ocean environment. Stories of our current patients, simulated tube feeding and rescue demonstrations bring the Center's animal care functions to life. Touching the furs and skulls, allows students to learn the differences between seals and sea lions. Seeing and hearing our animals, evokes compassion in the students. From this, we give them ways they can help with ocean environment.
Frequently Asked Questions | Reservation Request Form | Back to Chart
Grades 6th and up
Marine Mammal Exploration
Classroom Program
Students rotate through five stations, working together to explore the adaptations and features of different marine mammals and formulate ways to reduce threats to marine environments. Students compare pelts and skulls, plus examine baleen and teeth. They study structures and behaviors that help mammals keep warm in the cold ocean and assess common reasons that seals and sea lions are admitted to The Marine Mammal Center.
Vet Detective | Marine Mammal Case Studies and Observations
Tour
This tour gives older students a hands-on approach to learning about our rescue techniques, rehabilitation process and research projects. Using case studies, students learn how to diagnose patients based on lab results and observations. They will discover the common problems and diseases found in our seal and sea lion patients.
Frequently Asked Questions | Reservation Request Form | Back to Chart
High School and College
Research Discovery Day
Classroom Program and Tour
This program gives older students an in-depth look at The Marine Mammal Center's research and veterinary science techniques. Students receive a comprehensive tour of our state-of-the-art facility, discovering how the pools are designed to accommodate animals' different structures, and see where thousands of gallons of salt water is cleaned and circulates from filtration tanks via pumps back to patients' pools. They learn how volunteers prepare food for the animals and feed them. In the post-mortem and clinical lab, they see where we collect and examine samples, exploring the causes of illness and injury of our patients. Video clips enhance their understanding of animal husbandry procedures. Students rotate through five research stations: skull morphology, telemetry, radiology, hematology, and parasitology. Students have the opportunity to examine skulls and x-rays and practice using tracking technology to get a better understanding of the work of a marine biologist.
Vet Detective | Marine Mammal Case Studies and Observations
Tour
This tour gives older students a hands-on approach to learning about our rescue techniques, rehabilitation process and research projects. Using case studies, students learn how to diagnose patients based on lab results and observations. They will discover the common problems and diseases found in our seal and sea lion patients.
Frequently Asked Questions | Reservation Request Form | Back to Chart
All Grades
3 Rs for Marine Mammals
Classroom Program
Enter our marine science classroom and be surrounded by exciting marine mammal specimens. This program gives participants an in-depth look at the work of The Marine Mammal Center. Students learn about the tools and techniques used by the veterinarians and volunteers to care for our patients - from Rescue, to Rehabilitation, and Release. Video clips of an actual rescue, animal care and handling procedures, and a release, allow students to "experience" the sides of our work that they are not able to see on a tour. Using a seal model, they see a demonstration of tube feeding and restraint procedures; and using hands-on specimens, they explore the differences between seals, sea lions, and otters. Students examine x-ray images and marine debris entanglements (trash) that were removed from former patients in order to understand how connected our lives are to these intelligent creatures of the sea. Our goal is that by sharing the amazing stories of our patients, your group will become more informed ocean stewards.
Marine Mammals of California
Classroom Program
Learn about the most common marine mammals that frequent the California coast. Grades 1st to 5th enjoy a PowerPoint presentation that highlights recent patients at our hospital and take part in an identification game. Kindergarten classes enjoy age appropriate activities to learn about seals, sea lions, sea otters, and whales. All grades touch real specimens and participate in a rope-length activity that demonstrates the various sizes of marine mammals.
Trash to Treasure
Classroom Program
In this artsy and engaging class, students learn how plastic trash can hurt marine mammals and what actions they can take every day to help them. Students use small pre-washed plastic trash found on a local beach to create colorful mosaics. The mosaics are photographed and the trash becomes treasured artwork pictures that students can share with their friends and families. Please plan to bring at least one digital camera for photographs.
Ocean Explorers
Tour
From fish milkshakes to ocean trash, students learn about our current patients and how to help their ocean environment. Stories of our current patients, simulated tube feeding and rescue demonstrations bring the Center's animal care functions to life. Touching the furs and skulls, allows students to learn the differences between seals and sea lions. Seeing and hearing our animals, evokes compassion in the students. From this, we give them ways they can help with ocean environment.
Self-Guided Visit
Reserve a time to lead your own group (of more than ten people) on a self-guided visit through 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 to answer questions. Enjoy watching seal and sea lion patients. 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 working on medical charts; and you may see technicians doing laboratory analyses.
Please note: Self-Guided Visits are only available:
Sunday and Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday 12 p.m. to 4 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.
Frequently Asked Questions | Reservation Request Form | Back to Chart
-
Explore the Marin Headlands
Golden Gate National Rec. Area »
Rodeo Beach »
Nike Missile Museum »
Point Bonita Lighthouse »
Marin Headlands Visitor Center »
Bay Area Discovery Museum »
Cavallo Point » -
Have the Whale Bus come to your school!
