Program Options

This program takes place completely at our facility and gives you the option of choosing from the following topics: squid dissection, plankton, sink or float plankton competition, water chemistry, marine mammals, rocky intertidal animals and adaptations, fish and sharks, and much more! Depending on how long of a program you want, you can pick up to 5 or 6 of the options below.

• 2 hour program for up to 25 students $240 ($8 per student over 25)
• 4 hour program for up to 25 students $420 ($13 per student over 25, includes 20 minute break for lunch, lunch not included)

Squid Dissection
By far one of the favorites — Students will learn about mollusks, their adaptations and various types, including the squid, of course. Working in pairs, the students will have a small squid to explore and identify various organs and parts to the squid and learn how this animal lives, eats and moves. 1/2 hour

Plankton, the Invisible Drifters
Students delve into the world of microscopic organisms as they view the diverse plankton life found in Avila’s waters on our micro-video system. They will also learn about the upwelling phenomenon common off the California coastline and all about food chains and how important plankton are to the global ecosystem. 1/2 hour

Sink or Float Competition
Combines nicely with the Plankton section in that students will construct their own plankton model based on the needs of actual plankton. Students learn how plankton need to be near the ocean’s surface and the various adaptations they have to achieve that. Adaptations are then incorporated into their model to see which works best. 1 hour

Water Chemistry
Students use real ocean water for experiments in water density, temperature, salinity and pH. They’ll learn how important the ocean’s chemical balance is to the life below. 1/2 hour

Rocky Intertidal
Invertebrates are the stars of this show. Students will have the opportunity to meet Tide pool invertebrates up close and even touch some of them. They’ll learn about life on the rocky shores that California is so famous for and find out how animals have adapted to living in such a stressful environment. Another favorite! 1/2 hour

Marine Mammals
Everyone loves what we call the “cute and fuzzies” of the ocean world. Students learn what makes a mammal a mammal and what makes marine mammals so special. A slide show displays the many different types of marine mammals are out there and student will get to view &/or touch various artifacts such as baleen and whale bones.1/2 hour

Sharks and Rays
Sharks are the number one attention getter at most aquariums. This class will separate fact from fiction and show students what makes a shark especially different from other fishes.1/2 hour

Nautical Knot-Tying
Students learn how to tie knots like a sailor. Bowline, square, figure-8, slipknot and hitches are some of the knots they’ll learn. With the one-hour program, they’ll learn how to make a friendship bracelet by — you guessed it — tying knots! 1/2 hour to one hour