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Lionfish at Greater Cleveland Aquarium

School Field Trips

In-Person Class Learning

Program

  • Every program includes interactive materials to encourage inquiry-based learning
  • Run 60-90 minutes depending on program choice. Specific times are listed for each program
  • Most include a guided tour led by Aquarium Educators

Group Size

  • Limited to 45 people total
  • Groups of 15 – 30 people will split into 2 tour groups, groups of 30 – 45 people will split into 3 groups

Arrival

  • Group leader should check-in with the Education team in the lobby upon arrival to:
    • provide the final headcount
    • provide payment
  • Please designate tour groups prior to arrival
  • Aquarium educator(s) will escort the group from the lobby to begin the program

Lunch

  • Limited lunch space is available inside the building. Please let us know when booking if your group plans to eat lunch on-site after the program
  • Outdoor and picnic style areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis, weather permitting

Teachers & Chaperones

  • Are responsible for student behavior and classroom management
  • Always remain with their designated group
  • Are encouraged to participate and stay involved in the program

Self-Guide Time

  • Guided tours will end at a pre-determined time
  • Groups are welcome to go back through the Aquarium and self-guide after programs
  • Please make smaller chaperoned groups of 5–10 students for self-guiding

Bus Parking

  • Buses are permitted to park in the rear of the parking lot
  • Bus drivers receive complimentary admission

Coats & Backpacks

  • Coats and backpacks may be left on chairs in the classroom
  • To reduce the number of lost and found items, personal items are encouraged to be left on the bus
  • Valuable items should remain with guests during the program

Gift Shop

Groups may purchase select gift shop items with advance notice. Please let us know ahead of time and we will send relevant information.

Scheduling

  • Available Monday-Friday
  • 10am–12pm (sold out for 23-24 school year), 11:30am–1:30pm or 1–3pm
  • May use the ‘Book Now’ button on webpage to fill out a reservation request form
  • If emailing or calling to book, please be ready to provide:
    • Preferred date & alternative date
    • Preferred start time & alternative start time
    • School/organization name and billing address
    • Contact person’s name, phone number, and email address
    • Estimated # of students and chaperones
    • Any other relevant information and/or requests
  • A reservation form confirming the booking will be sent ahead of time

How to Book

To book a program, email education@greaterclevelandaquarium.com, call 216.862.8803 x7715, or click below to fill out a request form.

Cost & Payment

$11 per student

  • 1 chaperone is free for every 5 students, and 1 chaperone is required for every 10 students
  • Additional chaperones are $11 per person
  • Final headcount and cost are calculated on the day of the trip
  • Credit cards, checks, purchase orders or cash accepted

Please Note: These rates are only available for guided field trips scheduled in advance. Walk-in groups will be charged general admission rates and allowed entry pending Aquarium capacity

Available Programs

Aquatic Trek

[All School Ages]
Explore the wonders of biodiversity at Greater Cleveland Aquarium in this specialized guided tour. Venture through all of the Aquarium galleries, meet hundreds of animals from a variety of ecosystems and ask Aquarium educators questions along the way. Engaging scavenger hunts are available for PreK-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, and 6th-12th grade. We’ll see catfish, stingrays, eels, sharks and so much more. Enhances standards in life science and science inquiry. (60-75 min)

Finding Fish Friends

[PTA and Preschool]
During an interactive reading of Fitz the Fish Finds His Friends by Dakotah Pike, students become familiar with a variety of ocean creatures. Meet Fitz the yellow tang, Olivia the octopus and other aquatic pals to discover what makes each animal unique. In the Aquarium while looking for Fitz and his friends, students will explore colors, use observation skills and practice counting. Enhance standards in science and language arts. (15-20 min story time, 60 min self-guide)

I See Sea Creatures

[Preschool – Kindergarten]
After participating in an interactive reading of the Eric Carle tale A House for Hermit Crab, an Aquarium tour reveals the real-life animals that inspired Carle’s characters. Students join Aquarium educators on a search for the stars of the story. Discover shapes, colors and patterns of aquatic animals, and practice counting along the way. Enhances standards in life science, science inquiry and language arts. (75-90 min)

Habitat Exploration

[Kindergarten – Grade 2]
Can a sandtiger shark live in Ohio? Can a channel catfish be found in the Atlantic Ocean? Explore the elements of a healthy habitat on this Aquarium adventure. Investigate both freshwater and saltwater environments, compare components of ponds to coral reefs using magnetic scenes, and discover how each unique habitat provides its animal residents with everything they need. Enhances standards in life science and science inquiry. (75-90 min)

CSI

[Kindergarten – Grade 2]
Investigate how living things have adaptations to help them get oxygen, find food, use water and seek shelter. Which animals breathe with lungs and which breathe with gills? Is there a fish that actually spits water to hunt? Who has the most impressive camouflage? Observe hundreds of amazing animal adaptations on a guided scavenger hunt through the Aquarium. Enhances standards in life science and science inquiry. (75-90 min)

Food Chains

[Grades 3 – 5]
After working as a team to build both a freshwater and saltwater food chain, journey into the Aquarium to find out what animals eat. Learn how certain animals avoid becoming prey by utilizing venomous spines, poisonous glands, incredible camouflage and more. Explore what and how aquatic producers, herbivores, carnivores and omnivores eat. Discover how humans fit into the food chain too! A food chains scavenger hunt accompanies the guided tour. Enhances standards in life science and science inquiry. (75-90 min)

Aquatic Animal Adaptations

[Grades 3 – 5]
Have you ever looked at the incredible plant-like fins of a weedy seadragon up close? Or the statue-like appearance of a Surinam toad doing its best to remain unseen? Investigate how different habitats support animal life and identify unique adaptations that allow living things to thrive in these distinct places. Equipped with an adaptation key, students engage in inquiry-based learning throughout the guided tour. There are so many different adaptations among the aquatic animals, observations and discoveries are endless. Enhances standards in life science, science inquiry and language arts. (75-90 min)

Ecosystem Expedition

[Grades 6 – 8] 
From the Great Lakes to the Atlantic coral reefs, the Aquarium has a wide range of ecosystems from across the globe. Study biotic factors including plant and animal life, as well as abiotic factors including water temperature, salinity, pollution and more. Discover how each of these components interact to make up an ecosystem! An interactive guided tour immerses students in wonderous biodiversity. Enhances standards in life science, science inquiry and social studies. (60-75 min)

Careers & Conservation

[Grade 6 – High School]
As interests develop and career ambitions start to form, exposure to STEM careers can be a key step in a student’s academic journey. As we explore the Aquarium through an interactive guided tour, we highlight STEM careers at our facility, the diversity of jobs it takes to run an Aquarium and how conservation passion can lead to a career path. We also tackle challenging and thought-provoking questions about conservation-related themes including environmental protection, sustainable alternatives and human impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. Specific discussion topics differ for middle school and high school audiences. Enhances standards in science inquiry. (60-75 min)

Custom Programming

We welcome program ideas from teachers! Contact us at education@greaterclevelandaquarium.com with suggestions.

Funding provided by our partners:

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District