Sea Center Field Trip FAQ

Jump to a category from the links below. This information applies to the 2024–25 school year. For our sister campus in Mission Canyon, see Museum School Group Field Trip FAQ.

Register for a Field Trip >

Offerings and Capacity
Booking and Payment
Visit Logistics

Offerings and Capacity

When are field trips offered?
Field trips are offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, October 2, 2024–May 30, 2025.

How many students can I bring?
Class groups can be up to 30 students. We can accommodate one class group on a field trip per day at the Sea Center. Want to book only a tour, without a program? The capacity for tour-only school visits is greater. Contact SeaCenterBookings@sbnature2.org for more information.

Can I combine my small classes to make one class group?
You may combine small classes to book as one class group of up to 30 students.

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 field trip fee includes up to six adult chaperones (not including teachers or aides) per class group. Any adults attending beyond this capacity will be asked to pay full admission price before entering the Sea Center.

Can I bring my class for a self-guided visit (without field trip programs)?
Self-guided visits can only be accommodated on weekday afternoons or on the weekends. Self-guided visits are booked with a different group rate. For more information, please contact SeaCenterBookings@sbnature2.org or 805-962-2526 ext. 108.

Booking and Payment

How and when can I book a field trip?
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. 108 for more details.

For field trips September 30, 2024–January 31, 2025, online registration is now open.
For field trips February 3, 2025–May 30, 2025, online registration opens Tuesday, November 5.

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
Which program you would like to do—see our menu of programs (link coming soon)
How you will be arriving (bus, car, walking)
Any accommodations your students may need during their visit

How much does a field trip cost?
The field trip fee is $100 per class group (10–30 students, as described above). If your school is a Title I school, your class is eligible for a discount of $50 per class group. We confirm Title I status with data from the California Department of Education before finalizing a booking.

When do I pay?
The field trip 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. 108. If paying by check, book at least a month in advance to ensure that we receive your payment and can confirm your visit. Your visit 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. 108 or seacenterbookings@sbnature2.org to determine an alternative date. Reschedules are not guaranteed.

Visit Logistics

What time do we need to arrive?
All field trips begin at 10:00 AM. We suggest that schools arrive 10–15 minutes early to ensure we begin programs on time.

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 your group 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 can take as long as 10 minutes, so please schedule your bus drop-off for 9:45 AM to ensure timely arrival for your 10:00 AM program. 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.

What is the itinerary for a field trip?

10:00 AM–10:45 AM – Program Lesson
10:45 AM–11:00 AM – Seaside Snack Time
11:00 AM–Noon – Sea Center Tour

All field trips include a short break between activities within our program area on Stearns Wharf, when students can have a quick snack if they brought one, take a drink of water, stretch their legs, and use the restroom. During breaks, teachers and chaperones will be responsible for making sure students stay in the break area. Students may leave to use the public restrooms located at the exterior southern end of the Sea Center building in groups of no more than three children with one adult.

Can we have lunch on site after our programs have ended?
Unfortunately, the Sea Center cannot host onsite lunches for school groups. School groups may choose to eat lunch in nearby public locations such as Chase Palm Park and East Beach after the conclusion of their program at noon, 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 programs have concluded at noon. All students will receive free tickets to return with their families, and we will be very happy to welcome them again on another day.

Ready to book?

Use our online booking system to register for a field trip. Have more questions? Contact SeaCenterBookings@sbnature2.org or call 805-962-2526 ext. 108.