Self-guided experience to explore the Aquarium with your family. Themed activity sheets are available for grades K-3 & 4-8.
Plan your visit to coordinate with the Daily Activity Schedule.
$11 general, homeschool students (age 2+) & adults
FREE, Passholders & guests younger than 2
Advance registration required.
Add a splash of wonder to your holidays with a Scuba Claus Merry Meet & Greet! Talk to the magical man in red while he’s underwater with his dive buddy elves and the sharks, stingrays and angelfish on his “nice list.” Discuss cookie preferences, ask diving questions or share what you ho-ho-hope to see under your tree.
All Scuba Claus Merry Meet & Greets include full Aquarium access, a seasonal I-Spy activity, an “I Saw Scuba Claus” sticker or pin, the unique opportunity to share “fish-mas” wishes with a Christmas icon and a digital photo of the memorable experience.
Scuba Claus Merry Meet & Greets are limited capacity and only available with advance purchase. Tickets are $24.95 for guests ages 13+, $18.95 for children ages 2-12. Adult and child annual Passholders ages 2+ can reserve tickets for $5 each. Admission is always free for children younger than 2.
Advance tickets required for public and Passholders. Admission includes full Aquarium access. No refunds.
Ages 13+ $24.95
Ages 2-12 $18.95
Passholder Adult or Child $5
Under 2 FREE
Open to all guests.
Dates:
Saturday, December 23, 8:30 – 10am
Looking for a gift that’s big enough to wow but small enough to wrap? Now – December 31, Greater Cleveland Aquarium is offering 10% off Annual Passes using code AQGIFT10.
Greater Cleveland Aquarium’s holiday membership promotion isn’t just for gift-givers. The discount offer is available to anyone purchasing an Annual Pass for themselves, rejoining after having lapsed as members or extending their current Annual Pass for an additional 12 months.
10% OFF ANNUAL PASS SALE
Save 10% on any level Annual Pass*** Available Now – Sunday, December 31, 11:59pm using code AQGIFT10
***Must purchase between 11/28/23 – 12/31/23 using code AQGIFT10. Annual Passholder privileges include free year-round general admission, free parking, discounted programs and exclusive event invitations. No returns or refunds. For a complete list of Aquarium Pass levels, visit greaterclevelandaquarium.com. No returns or refunds.
We are offering free general admission for active duty military, veterans and first responders* on Veterans Day Weekend, along with free parking with validation during their visit.
“This is a very small token of our appreciation for their dedication to the wellbeing of our communities,” says Greater Cleveland Aquarium GM Stephanie White.
Eligible guests must present appropriate ID. Appreciation offer is only available in-person. Please do not purchase tickets online if you intend to take advantage of this offer. It cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.
*Eligible guests include active duty military, veterans or reservists, physicians, nurses, police officers, sheriff/sheriff’s deputies, correctional officers, state troopers, federal law enforcement officers, career firefighters, volunteer firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and/or dispatchers with ID. (Does not apply to accompanying family members or guests.)
Join us for this career-focused program as your own adventure starts to come more into focus. Meet team members who perform a variety of jobs to keep the Aquarium running, find out what they wanted to do at your age, and how their career journey brought them here. We’ll touch on topics such as college majors, resumes and marine-related jobs outside of aquariums.
This program is recommended for students entering grades 9-12. If you are a middle school student interested in career programs, look here. Parents and siblings are welcome to purchase regular admission tickets for the same day, and are invited to self-tour the Aquarium galleries during the program.
Saturday, May 4, 2024 @ 9am – 12pm
Thursday, June 20, 2024 @ 9am – 12pm
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 @ 9am – 12pm
Monday, October 14, 2024 @ 9am – 12pm
Monday, November 11, 2024 @ 9am – 12pm
Touch stingrays, meet an octopus, peer at piranhas and stroll under a shark! Explore all the Aquarium has to offer on a special day for classroom educators.
Discover the standards-based classroom program offerings available to schools and see how a field trip could complement your lesson plans this year. The Aquarium classroom will be open and the Aquarium education team will be available to highlight programs, answer field trip questions, and even secure a date for your class experience!
Presented in partnership with The Ohio Lottery Partners in Education.
Advance registration required.
Educator and one guest admitted for $1 each; additional guests are $11.
*May be asked to present school ID.
Do you love animals and have a passion for conservation? Think working at an aquarium sounds like fun? Explore what an aquarium career entails! Try hands-on activities to discover what you like and don’t like about daily aquarium tasks. Meet aquarists, SCUBA divers, education and guest experience team members. Come with an open mind for this half-day adventure and leave with an abundance of information, and hopefully, career inspiration.
This program is for students entering grades 6-9. If you are a high school student interested in career programs, check out the High School Career Day. Parents and siblings are welcome to purchase regular admission tickets for the same day and are invited to self-tour the Aquarium exhibits during the program.
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 @ 9am – 12pm
Monday, December 30, 2024 @ 9am – 12pm
$30 General Middle School/Junior High Student
$20 Passholder Middle School/Junior High Student
Pint-sized superheroes, astronauts, witches and mummies are invited to explore Lake “Eerie” and the deep “boo” sea tonight from 5 – 8pm (last admission at 7pm).
A KultureCity Sensory Inclusive™ certified venue, the Aquarium is offering a sensory friendly Halloween experience with limited noise, softened lighting and adjusted activities to ensure a comfortable environment for those who could benefit from a reduction in external stimuli.
The not-so-spooky afterhours celebration featuring underwater jack-o-lanterns, diver interactions, Halloween-themed décor and substantial treat bags for costumed kiddos. Advance tickets are required to ensure we prepare enough take-home treat bags for our younger guests.
Visitors of any age can pick up a visit activity booklet that spotlights misunderstood animals.
While Pumpkins & Piranhas is an in-person event, the Aquarium’s Education team will also host a separate online “Wild, Weird & Creepy Creatures” program exploring the salamander’s slimy skin, the octopus’s ability to color change and other amazing adaptations.
General Adult (13+) $19.95
General Child (2-12) $15.95
Under 2 FREE
Adult & Child Passholders $5
Possible arrival times: 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm or 7pm
We offer homeschool experiences for grades K-3 and 4-8 throughout the year.
Educator-led sessions: 10:15 – 11:30am OR 1:15 – 2:30pm
$11 general, $8 Passholders
Registration opens 30 days prior to each program date. Program fee includes Aquarium admission for exploration following the program. Parents are encouraged to register and participate in the program. Space available to enjoy a packed lunch.
Monday, October 16, 2023 or Wednesday, January 10, 2024
K-3 – Wild, Weird & Creepy
Venomous spines, rows of sharp teeth, expert camouflage and star-shaped toes . . . explore poison, tentacles, defense mechanisms and more wild and weird adaptations to learn how they help animals survive. Take home your very own handmade slime!
4-8 – Inside Out
How many ribs does a python have? Do octopi have bones at all? Go beneath the surface to discover amazing animal anatomy and compare and contrast to our own. View animal x-rays to discover biodiversity of skeletons. End the session by dissecting a squid!
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 or Tuesday, February 20, 2024
K-3 – Super Senses
Explore the world of sight, sound, smell, and touch. Catfish have tastebuds covering their whole body! Sharks can sense electric currents! We will use our own senses to help us explore the amazing world of animal senses and learn how different animals rely on these to survive.
4-8 – Sensational Surroundings
Imagine having a sense to detect the muscle movements of nearby fish. Picture what the world looks like from an octopus’s point of view with 250 sensory inputs on every arm. Discover the sensational array of senses found in the animal world, and how humans use technology and equipment to explore underwater worlds.
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 or Monday, March 18, 2024
K-3 – Life Cycles
Do baby animals always look like their parents? How many stages do tadpoles go through before they become frogs? Explore the life cycles of freshwater and ocean animals to observe how they grow. Discover the rainbow transformation of a parrotfish, marvel over the metamorphosis of tadpole to frog and learn about tiny fish fry that look like miniature versions of their mom and dad.
4-8 – Classified
Are corals and jellies related? What’s the difference between a seahorse and a seadragon? Does a sea cucumber have a family tree? Explore systems scientists use to categorize living organisms. Sort out orders, phylums, families and species. Use a dichotomous key to sort and identify aquatic species and relish both the biodiversity and the similarities of life on planet Earth.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
K-3 – Feathery Friends
What makes birds special? How are they different from other animals? Why do they have feathers? Discover the answers to these and other questions as we search for birds both inside and outside of the Aquarium. Try out your observation skills, practice using binoculars to see up-close and learn to identify a few different bird species during this avian adventure. Please dress for the weather as parts of this program take place outdoors.
4-8 – Cleveland Flats Habitats
The Flats may not be the first place you’d think to look for birds, but this urban setting is home to a surprising number of avian species. Put your observation skills to the test, helping spot and identify different birds, gain confidence using binoculars for up-close views and help log data for participatory science. Please dress for the weather as parts of this class take place outdoors.
10am – 5pm
$11 general, FREE Passholders
Self-guided experience with themed activity sheets available for grades K-3 & 4-8. Space available to enjoy a packed lunch.
*Beach cleanup is 10am-12pm. Please dress for the weather as this takes place outdoors and includes a 2.5-mile walk (roundtrip) to Wendy Park. Cleanup portion replaces self-guided activity sheets. Program fee includes Aquarium admission for exploration following program.
Available Monday – Friday, 1 – 3pm
Homeschool Co-op Groups (minimum 10 people, maximum 45 people) can book an exclusive program for your group. Choose from one of the topics listed on our School Field Trip page.
Are you a middle school or high school homeschool student? Check out our Career Day programs.
