| Sea Search | Ocean Outreach | Exploration Center | Aquatic Nursery | Tours and Independent Visits |

Exploration Center

The Exploration Center is a hands-on learning lab where visitors use microscopes, dress in costumes of marine researchers or animals, travel through a worm's eye view of the mud, make watershed decisions, examine sand and water dynamics, zonation, breakwater life and more. Students learn about the challenges facing life along the shore and our role in its conservation. During their visit, students explore and answer questions integrating physical, life and earth sciences. Each program is designed to address grade-level standards as students do hands-on investigation. Groups are scheduled for 50 minute sessions beginning at 10 am and 11 am Tuesday - Friday. Custom programs are designed to meet your students' and curricular needs by working with the Education staff.

Pre-K - K
Students are guided by staff in discovering ocean animals, incuding where and how they live. They also investigate how the water cycle affects ocean survival.
1st-grade
Students sre led by staff in conducting simple experiments and observations while learning about animal adaptations including strategies for feeding.
2nd-grade
Students are facilitated by staff to learn about the rock cycle from fossils to sand, find different animal life cycles and develop their observation skills.
3rd-grade
Students discover how adaptations affect animal survival in different seashore habitats; they investigate life cycles and learn about the movement of energy. Students work in small teams guided by a passport.
4rd-grade
Students investigate the flow of energy through the food web incuding photosynthesis and decompostion. Through hands-on exploration they determine the living and non-living components of seashore ecosystems. Students experiment with the rock cycle and the role of wind, water and waves in the watershed.
5rd-grade
Students delve into the structures that animals along the shore use for respiration, digestion, waste disposal and movement. They determine their impact on the watershed through basic water testing and even write their own weather report.
6th - 8th-grade
Students apply science skills as they conduct experiments, investigate earth, life and physical science concepts at their grade level including ecology, evolution, density, bouyancy and more.
9th - 12th-grade
Students have an opportunity to put their previous exposure in science to work as they explore ecology, evolution, climate, oceanography and other facets of marine science. This workshop pairs well with a field investigation in the Cabrillo Beach Coastal Park.

Logistics for Exploration Center visits:

Offered: Year-round
Program length: 50 minutes
Grade level: Pre-K - Adult
Offered: Tuesday through Friday (weekends by special arrangement)
Fee: One large bag of aluminum cans per class.
Reservations: Call 310/548-7562, 8 am -5 pm, Monday through Friday

Sea Search - A Field/Laboratory Program

Ocean Outreach - Brings the Ocean to You!

Aquatic Nursery

Tours, Independent Visits, Whalewatch for Schools and Groups - Something for Everyone!