Educational Opportunities at Greater Cleveland Aquarium
At Greater Cleveland Aquarium, we offer a variety of educational opportunities that provide inquiry-based, hands-on learning experiences.
#1: School Field Trips: Field trips enhance Ohio’s Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards for all ages, from preschool to college, with topics such as habitats, adaptations, food chains and conservation. Each program, led by Aquarium Educators, begins with a brief introduction to the topic. Students are placed in small group sizes, which provides them with the opportunity to ask questions and spend sufficient time exploring. Along with guided tours, we also offer lab classes covering topics such as squid dissection, water quality and urban birding, where students can participate in hands-on learning outside of the classroom.
#2: Homeschool Opportunities: The Aquarium also offers homeschool co-op classes with guided tours focused on topics similar to our school field trips. In addition, Homeschool Family Days provide an opportunity for families to enhance their homeschool journeys with self-guided scavenger hunts through the galleries using themed activity sheets curated for students of all ages. These programs are offered throughout the year, with each day featuring a different fun and educational topic. Throughout the experience, families can visit our educator-led stations for hands-on learning and participate in daily activities.
#3: Virtual Programs: In addition to in-person programs, we have virtual programs that allow larger groups to learn in the comfort of their home bases without the need to travel. These programs provide live educator-led tours throughout the Aquarium that enable participants to ask questions as they explore each gallery. These programs are customizable so organizers can choose their desired program length and topic, such as Animal Senses, Invertebrates, Camouflage or Wild, Weird & Creepy.
#4: Career Days: Middle school and high school students interested in pursuing careers in our field can register for our Middle School and High School Career Days, giving them the opportunity to meet real-life educators, guest experience staff, aquarists and divers while learning about the many fascinating jobs that keep an aquarium running. High school students can also learn about Aquarium team members’ career journeys, educational paths and tips on building resumes and preparing for college. Each program has its own specific, hands-on, interactive experiences related to the content throughout the day.
#5: Girl Scouts & Self-Guided Groups: Along with our Aquarium Educator-led tours, we also partner with Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio to offer badge-related programs. Registration, pricing and program descriptions are available on the council website and in the seasonal program guides here. In addition, we offer discounted admission rates for self-guided groups, including schools, summer camps, youth or adult groups. Self-guided groups are able to explore Aquarium galleries at their own pace with opportunities to participate in daily activities. We also welcome groups with special needs, and our building is wheelchair accessible. Accommodations, including a small comfort room, three reservable wheelchairs and KultureCity sensory bags are available.
If we’ve piqued your natural curiosity, visit greaterclevelandaquarium.com/education-field-trips/ for additional information or to schedule a program. Bring along your “school of students” to learn some fin-tastic facts while exploring aquatic habitats from around the world. We hope to “sea” you soon!
– Lindsay