Sea Center Field Trip FAQ

Jump to a category from the links below. This information applies to the 2026-27 school year. For our sister campus in Mission Canyon, see Museum Field Trip FAQ.

Offerings and Capacity
Booking and Payment
Visit Logistics

Offerings and Capacity

When are school visits offered?

Guided exhibit tours and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-aligned school visits can be booked for one-hour or two-hour time slots, Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 AM–Noon, September 23–December 18, 2026. Our 2-hour programs are offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, whereas our 1-hour exhibit tours are offered on Thursdays and Fridays. More details on our Fall program offerings and all registration periods can be found on our Program Menu.

• Fall registration begins on August 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM.
• Winter registration begins on November 4th, 2026 at 3:00 PM.
• Spring registration begins on January 13th, 2027 at 3:00 PM.

How many students can I bring?

School visits are available in two formats

• One-hour guided exhibit tours (Thursdays and Fridays), accommodating up to 30 students per time slot. 

• Two-hour programs (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), which include an NGSS-aligned lesson and guided exhibit tour, accommodating up to 30 students per class. 

Groups with more than 30 students will need to book an additional one-hour tour slot.

For two-hour programs, schools may register two classes (up to 30 students each) for the same session, provided both classes are from the same school and grade level. During the program, the classes will rotate activities halfway through the session, allowing up to 60 students total to participate.

Can I combine my small classes to fit into a single slot?

You may combine small classes to book up to 30 students in one time slot.

Can I request that a lesson plan be adapted for a different age group?

Yes, we can often adapt our lessons to suit your grade level. However, accommodations are subject to staff availability, weather conditions, and other logistical considerations. As a result, we cannot guarantee that every adaptation request can be fulfilled.

How many parent chaperones can attend?

We ask that your class has one adult chaperone for every five students. Students are split into small groups of up to five, and each small group must have an adult accompany them. Your school visit fee includes up to six adult chaperones (not including teachers or aides). Any adults attending beyond this capacity will be asked to pay the group rate price before entering the Sea Center.

Booking and Payment

How and when can I book a guided school visit?

If you can pay by credit card, you can book online and must book at least two weeks in advance. If you must pay by check, you cannot use our online booking system and must book a month in advance; contact SeaCenterBookings@sbnature2.org or 805-962-2526 ext. 107 for more details.

What information will I need before booking?

• A few dates in mind that would work for your visit–have your school calendar ready, as reschedules are not guaranteed  

• Name, email, and cell phone number of each teacher attending the visit  

• Number of students and adults attending  

• How you will be arriving (bus, car, walking)  

• Any accommodations your students may need during their visit  

• Please review our Program Menu and know your program preferences prior to booking 

When do I pay?

The school visit fee is due at the time of booking using our online registration system.

What forms of payment do you accept?

• Credit card payments are conveniently accepted by our online booking system. 

•  If you must pay by check, online booking is not available. Contact SeaCenterBookings@sbnature2.org or call 805-962-2526 ext. 107. If paying by check, book at least a month in advance to ensure that we receive your payment and can confirm your booking. Your booking will not be confirmed until full payment is received. 

What is your cancellation policy?

All payments are final and non-refundable, barring cancellation by the Sea Center due to extenuating circumstances or natural disasters. If you must reschedule, please contact us immediately at 805-962-2526 ext. 107 or seacenterbookings@sbnature2.org to determine an alternative date. Reschedules are not guaranteed.

Visit Logistics

What time do we need to arrive?

Please arrive promptly for your booking time slot. We recommend arriving early to allow some time for restroom use. You may need to walk 10–15 minutes from your bus drop-off location to the Sea Center.

Where should we park?

Buses may not enter the dolphin statue roundabout or drive onto Stearns Wharf, so please do your bus drop-off at the Chase Palm Park parking lot. This is located at the intersection of Garden Street and Cabrillo Boulevard (right next to the skate park along the water). Following drop-off, the bus driver may park in the designated bus parking area on the north side of Cabrillo Boulevard.

After disembarking from your bus, you will walk up to the foot of Stearns Wharf at the end of State Street. Walking along Stearns Wharf will take you to the Sea Center. This walk typically takes 10–15 minutes, so please schedule your bus drop-off accordingly. A Sea Center staff member will greet you at the entrance to the Sea Center at your prearranged arrival time.

Car parking is available on Stearns Wharf. Parking is free for the first 90 minutes and is $4 per hour thereafter. If arriving by car, we strongly recommend carpooling.

Where should we arrive for beach programs?

If your school books a 2-hour program and requests a beach program, our staff will contact you to confirm whether your group will meet at the beach or at the Sea Center. Please be sure to check your spam or junk folder for emails from us.

Can we have lunch on site?

The Sea Center cannot host onsite lunches. Schools may choose to eat lunch in nearby public locations such as Chase Palm Park and East Beach after their visit, but this must be done independently of the Sea Center.

Can we enter the Sea Center after our programs?

School groups may not re-enter the Sea Center or its Store after the booked time slot has concluded. All students will receive free tickets to return with their families, and we will be very happy to welcome them again on another day.