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Let us come to you! We offer a variety of outreach programs for schools and community groups. Our updated outreach programs are hands-on, designed for small groups of students, and aligned with state and national science standards. Our community outreach programs connect your group to the Oregon coast and are perfect for libraries, school science nights, or other community events. We also offer virtual programs.
Interested in Aquarium outreach? Please fill out our outreach request form below and a member of our education staff will be in touch to finish booking your program. Have questions? Email outreach@aquarium.org.
Marine Storytime
30-45 minutes
5-25 participants
Explore the critters of the Oregon coast through a fun and interactive read-along program. Dive into an ocean-themesd book with an aquarium educator. Then learn about an animal from the story as we investigate the lives of our scaly, furry and feathereds friends.
Kelp Forest Hide and Seek
45-60 minutes
10-35 participants
What do otter pups, urchin and kelp have in common? Find out as we investigate one of our ocean’s most diverse habitats – a kelp forest! Study the similarities and differences between each incredible organism that call this place a home.
Octopus Survival
45-60 minutes
10-35 participants
Eight arms, three hearts and nine brains! Explore these and other octopus adaptations through hands-on activities and discussion. Work together to identify structures and behaviors that octopuses and their relatives use to survive in their habitats.
Ocean in Motion
45-60 minutes
10-35 participants
From crashing waves, to the calm tides, we will investigate the different ways sea animals survive the exciting movements within the ocean.
Fill the Bill
45-60 minutes
10-35 participants
Tearing, scooping and sifting. Through hands-on investigation, we will study the different ways seabirds get their food!
Ambassador Animal Enrichment Design
Virtual Sessions 30-45 minutes
Virtual Session: No limit on participants
The animal enrichment design project provides an opportunity for students to connect a variety of course topics to an authentic engineering design challenge. Over the course of the project, students will learn about enrichment and its importance to animal welfare for animals in aquariums, zoos, or even in their own home.
The project can be completed independently in your classroom or as a collaborative project with the Oregon Coast Aquarium. If collaborating with the Aquarium, you will have access to 2 – 3 virtual sessions with an Aquarium Educator to support your students as they design an enrichment item for one of our amazing Ambassador Animals. The project can include the opportunity to receive video feedback of the animal interacting with the item and/or onsite activities as part of an Aquarium field trip.
Human Impacts
45-60 minutes
10-35 participants
Connect the actions of humans to the environment around you. This program has three hands-on options to choose from, Food Web, Uh Oh Oil and Puffin Family. Each of these activities connect a specific human interaction with the impact it has on the ocean.
Outdoor School Activity
20-40 minutes
5-15 participants
Is your school organizing your own Outdoor School? The aquarium is happy to come and join! We can lead an activity during the day that connects the students to the ocean and environment around them.
Career Exploration
45-60 minutes
10-35 participants
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is answering the age-old question “When will we ever use this information?”. This presentation connects core subjects to specific jobs that use that same information while working at the aquarium.
Career Exploration
45-60 minutes
10-35 participants
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is answering the age– old question “When will we ever use this information?”. These presentations connect specific high school subjects to aquarium jobs that use that same information. Each program below connects to the subject titled.
Chemistry | Chemistry is a necessity here at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. We will explore the different ways each department uses chemistry in their everyday tasks. |
Biology | Using biology, Oregon Coast Aquarium staff create diets, design enclosures, and more! We will explore each way different departments use Biology in their everyday tasks. |
Physics | Understanding Physics is critical to moving water through different filters and tanks. We will explore the ways the Oregon Coast Aquarium uses Physics every day. |
Arts | From designing our signs and website, to the layout of our temporary exhibit, we will explore how the Oregon Coast Aquarium uses the Arts every day. |
Math | Math is the basis of almost everything we do at the Aquarium. From the probability of increased traffic through an exhibit, to the salinity of each tank. We will explore how each department uses Math in their everyday responsibilities at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. |
Looking for virtual school programs options? Check out our virtual programs page for online specific options for schools & classrooms!
Preschool & Kindergarten
30 minutes
10-35 students
Explore the critters of the Oregon coast through a fun and interactive read-along program. Dive into an ocean-themed book with an aquarium educator. Then learn about an animal from the story as we investigate the lives of our scaly, furry, and feathered friends.
Grades 1 & 2
45 minutes
10-35 students
What do otter pups, urchin larvae, and kelp spores have in common? Find out as we investigate one of the ocean’s most diverse habitats—a kelp forest! Study the similarities and differences between the incredible organisms that call this place home.
Grades 3 & 4
60 minutes
10-35 students
Eight arms, three hearts, and nine brains! Explore these and other octopus adaptations through hands-on activities and discussion. Work together to identify structures and behaviors that octopuses and their relatives use to survive in their habitats.
All ages
30-60 minutes
10-250 participants
Would you like to dive a little deeper into a specific topic? Contact us about building a custom presentation for your group.
All ages
1-4 hours
No maximum participants
Let Oregon Coast Aquarium bring a little bit of the coast to your next event. Our information table includes biological artifacts (skulls, furs, and more) from our favorite ocean animals and general information about the Aquarium.
Custom Presentation
30-60 minutes
10-250 participants
Would you like to dive a little deeper into a specific topic? Contact us about building a custom presentation for your group.
Information Table
1-4 hours
No maximum participant
Let Oregon Coast Aquarium bring a little bit of the coast to your next event. Our information table includes biological artifacts (skulls, furs, and more) from our favorite ocean animals and general information about the Aquarium.
Summer Program
45-60 minutes
No maximum participant
Each summer the Oregon Coast Aquarium will offer a new program that connects with our temporary exhibit at the aquarium. Contact us to get more information!
STEM Nights
1-3 hours
No maximum participant
This is an opportunity for the Oregon Coast Aquarium to come to your school’s STEM night! Along with biological artifacts (skulls, furs, and more) we will bring pretend veterinary supplies for students to practice caring for our aquarium animal stuffies!
See below for our regional calendar to see when we’ll be in your part of Oregon!
Have questions? Email outreach@aquarium.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Ready to book? Fill out the form below!
Ready to book? Fill out our outreach request form and a member of our education staff will be in touch to finish booking your program. We offer a discount for Title I schools. Program fees are waived for Lincoln County schools.
Have questions? Email outreach@aquarium.org
Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.
