Summer Field Trips

at Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Explore the wonders of biodiversity at Greater Cleveland Aquarium in this specialized guided tour. Venture through all of our galleries, meet hundreds of animals from a variety of ecosystems and ask Aquarium educators questions along the way. Engaging scavenger hunts are available. We’ll see catfish, stingrays, eels, sharks and so much more. (60-75 min)

An Aquarium educator will cater your selected topic(s) to the appropriate age range. Often, we can accommodate a custom program not listed here if you have a particular focus in mind.

• Behavioral Adaptations
• Camouflage
• Conservation
• Defense Mechanisms
• Food Chains
• Habitats
• Invertebrates
• Physical Adaptations
• Wild, Weird & Creepy

• Every program includes interactive materials to encourage inquiry-based learning
• Run 60-75 minutes depending on program choice.

• Limited to groups of up to 60 guests (students and chaperones)
• Groups of 15 – 30 people will split into 2 tour groups, groups of 30 – 45 people will split into 3 groups, groups of 45 – 60 people will split into 4 groups.

$11 per student

• Camp or school staff chaperones are free
• Additional adult chaperones are $11
• 1 chaperone is required for every 10 students. Additional adult chaperones are free if needed to meet this ratio.
• Final headcount and cost are calculated the day of the trip; a quote is provided upon booking.
• Credit card, check, cash, or invoice/purchase order options are 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 Monday – Friday
• 10am – 4pm; first come, first served
• 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 all information on the reservation request form
• Your trip is officially booked when you receive a reservation confirmation sheet from the Aquarium team

To book a program, please fill out a request form by clicking the button below.

Email: education@greaterclevelandaquarium.com

Phone: 216.862.8803 x 7715

How far in advance do you recommend booking?

Our program calendar fills first come, first served. For large groups of 45-60 guests or groups that have less flexibility regarding date and time, we recommend you reach out to book as early as possible. Groups that have more flexibility with date and time, we recommend that you reach out to book at least 2-3 weeks in advance.

What if we have more the 60 people in our group?

If your student and chaperone headcount total more than 60 people, we can split your visit across multiple dates. If you are not able to split across multiple dates, we recommend booking a self-guided visit through group sales, which can accommodate larger groups. To learn more, view group sales options here.

Can we reschedule our program?

Rescheduling is subject to availability. We will try our best to accommodate. If you need to reschedule, please reach out as soon as possible.

What happens if we are running late?

Please call 216.862.8803 and let us know if you are running late. We will do our best to accommodate, but we may need to shorten or alter programming for groups arriving more than 15 minutes behind schedule.

Where do we go when we arrive?

The group leader should check in with an education team member in the Powerhouse lobby. Please have your final headcount of both students and chaperones and be ready to provide payment. Final cost will be calculated on the day of the visit.

Where can buses park?

Bus parking is free. Buses can drop off groups at the front door of the Powerhouse before parking in the rear of the parking lot. Bus drivers receive complimentary admission.

Are we able to self-guide through the Aquarium?

Yes, groups are welcome to go back through the Aquarium and self-guide after programs. While self-guiding through the Aquarium, please make smaller chaperoned groups of 10 or fewer. For a fully self-guided visit without an education program, view group sales options here.

Can we arrive before the program time to self-guide?

No, the program is always the start of a group visit.

Do you offer lunch space?

Yes, there is a shared indoor lunch space, with limited seating, subject to availability. Lunch space can be requested during the booking process. Lunches can be stored in this area during your visit, but we do not recommend leaving valuable items in this shared space. Tables and chairs are reserved using your estimated headcount, if this number changes by more than 5 people, please let us know prior to arrival.

Outdoor picnic-style areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis, weather permitting. The Aquarium does not provide storage space for groups eating outside, lunches should be left on the bus. On rainy days, indoor lunch space may not be available if it was not reserved at time of booking.

Are there any food options available on-site?

The Aquarium does not have lunch options on-site, all food must be brought in. There are snack and candy items available for purchase in the gift shop.

Do you have a space to store backpacks or personal items?

Backpacks may be left in the shared program space, but valuable items should remain with guests during the program. To help reduce the number of lost and found items, it is recommended that backpacks or other personal items are left on the bus or in the car if possible. The Aquarium is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Are we able to visit the Gift Shop?

Students are welcome to visit the Gift Shop after the educational program is completed. While in the Gift Shop, students must be chaperoned in small groups of 10 or fewer, with one group shopping at a time. Please let us know during booking if your students will have money to shop so we can staff the store appropriately.

Is the Aquarium accessible?

The Aquarium is wheelchair accessible and is located on the lower floor of the building. A single wheelchair capacity lift is available to navigate from the lobby entrance to the Aquarium.

If your group has 5 or more guests using wheelchairs, please let us know at booking. A larger capacity elevator is available in a different area of the building. Additional information on Aquarium accessibly can be found here.

If you are booking a group with special needs and would prefer a self-guided visit, please click here for more information.