Students learn about purple sea urchins during a Discovery Lab class.

School Programs

Welcome to Birch Aquarium at Scripps’ school programs.

Registration is now open for the 2011-12 school season (download the PDF brochure).  You may register online or call 858-534-7336 Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For e-mail inquiries, please use birchaquariumprograms@ucsd.edu.

Upcoming Special Events

Homeschool Discovery Day. Our second homeschool day of the year is set for February 7, 2012.  We'll provide a morning-long customized program that includes a free-flow, station-based learning with parent and aquarium instructor interactions. Fee is $7 per person, children 2 and under are free. Activities are grouped by skill and ability and target ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 14. Enroll online under "Special Programs" or call (858) 534-7336. 

Birch Aquarium Mission

We are dedicated to our threefold mission: to provide ocean science education, to interpret Scripps research, and to promote conservation. Our school programs are structured to provide interactive, inquiry-based science programming infused with current Scripps Oceanography research. Classroom lessons are aligned with the California State Science Content Standards and with National Science Standards.

As you explore our web pages, you may click on any  “Register Online” button to get to your personalized store-locator page to book a reservation. Choose your school name and use the password we have provided for your organization. If you do not know the password, please call 858-534-7336. If this is the first time your school will be visiting Birch Aquarium, click on ‘Apply Now’ to create your school profile. 

Thank you for choosing Birch Aquarium at Scripps' education programs.