Educational Programs

Pre-K Pod Pals

Join us for PRE-K POD PALS – a fun and educational morning program at Clearwater Marine Aquarium! Our turtle, dolphin, otter, shark, and ray friends will invite children to learn about where they live, what they eat, and the characteristics that help them live in the ocean. Programs will include classroom activities that explore the Florida pre-kindergarten standards, interactive games, and fun facts about the animal of the month! Available for children ages 3 to 5.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. All programs must be booked online at least 24-hours in advanced.

Oodles of Otters – September 5

Explore the difference between river otters and sea otters in this one-hour program. Engage in story time and learn about how otters take care of their young. Become an otter and continue to develop your motor skills in a fun, hands-on activity!

Manatee Mania – October 3

Learn about the Florida manatee in this one-hour program. Investigate the habitats of a manatee and discover what they like to eat. Explore life as a manatee with story time and get a better understanding of how mother manatees care for their calves.

Coral Corral – November 7

What makes up a coral reef? Practice your counting skills as we work together as a team to identify the different animals that call a coral reef home in this one-hour program. Learn about the colors that can be seen on a coral reef and discover the reason why the animals are brightly colored.

Imagination Shell-ebration – December 5

How are shells made and who lives in a shell? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this one-hour program. Get an up-close look at our discovery pool animals that live in a shell.  Practice using your listening skills during story time and use your imagination to create your very own hermit crab shell to take home!

Dolphin Discovery – January 2

Learn all about our resident dolphin pals in this one-hour playdate program! Use your motor skills with hands-on learning games and activities that will teach you about what makes dolphins different from other animals. Practice your listening skills during story time and lessons about our flippered friends.

Bubble Babies – February 6

Explore the sea through the eyes of young animals that breathe air just like you do! Learn about where marine mammals live, what they eat, and the characteristics that help them live in the ocean. Discover how baby animals learn from their parents to live in the big blue ocean through a fun interactive activity.

Squishy Bones – March 5

In this one-hour program, you will learn about what you have in common with fish like sharks and rays! Sink your teeth into using your thinking skills to compare sharks and rays while looking at shark jaws and other biofacts. Throughout story time and the hands-on activities, you’re sure to have a fin-tastic time!

Whale Tales – April 2

Did you know whales come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors? Compare and contrast the different types of whales in this one-hour program. Learn about teamwork during story time and play an interactive game that uses your motor skills.

Hatchling Heroes – May 7

Do you love sea turtles? If so, this is the one-hour playdate for you! Learn about how sea turtles navigate through their lifecycle from egg to adulthood with hands-on activities. Discover the parts of a sea turtle and interact with real biofacts. Design your own sea turtle hatchling shell, listen to a story about sea turtle nesting on Clearwater Beach, and discover ways we can all help sea turtles!

For more information, please contact: csmith@cmaquarium.org or call 727-441-1790 x 2262.

Pre-registration is required. We require a minimum number of participants per Pre-K Pals session and will reschedule or process a full refund if the minimum is not met.
Add on Aquarium Admission for $4.95 per person by calling 727-441-1790 x 2262 at least 24 hours in advance.
*Parking fee is not included.

Sea-sonal Family Fun

Spend your school breaks with Clearwater Marine Aquarium! Participants will explore Clearwater Marine Aquarium and enjoy fun, educational programming all about our work at CMA. Each morning has a specific marine science focus to explore. Explore marine science through hands-on experiments and activities. Available for ages 5 and up. Adults must be accompanied by a participant 18 and under. Participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is not required and not included with this program.

Fall Break

Whaley Grateful – November 20

Did you know all dolphins are whales? Learn about our resident bottlenose and rough-toothed dolphins through games and activities that will get the whole family involved. Investigate the difference between toothed and baleen whales as we discuss the right whales that Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute studies.

Home Sweet Home Boat Tour – November 21

Learn about the wild dolphin population that calls the estuary home as we take a boat tour of the Bay. Be a part of citizen science and observe data collection in action as we perform a net pull and conduct a “show and tell” on board of sea creatures found in the grass beds and sand flats of the bay.

Minimum Number of Participants: 15 participants

Maximum Number of Participants: 40 participants

* Weather permitting

You Otter Be Thankful – November 22

Discover the differences between sea otters and river otters. Explore the habitat of each species through fun games, activities, and experiments. Learn the stories of our rescued resident river otters.

Winter Break

There’s Snow Place Like CMA – December 27

Discover how blubber and fur work to keep animals warm during colder weather in Florida. Spend time in the aquarium, seeing animal adaptations in action as we compare animal adaptations here in Florida and the world’s coldest regions.

Beachy Blizzard Blast – December 28

Shell-ebrate coming together as a family for the holidays! Learn about the unique adaptations of marine animals that live around our beaches and bays that help them survive in colder environments. Work together as a family to collect information about these animals to use in the final trivia game!

Frosty Flukes – December 29

Explore CMA while participating in a scavenger hunt throughout the aquarium, collecting stamps in your expedition book. Learn about cold weather adaptations and marine life as we discuss the cold-water cousins of bottlenose dolphins.

Spring Break

Road Trip, U.S.A – March 12

Families will journey to the Florida Keys, Clearwater Bay, Hawaii, the Great Lakes, and California to discover the different species that thrive in each destination. Earn stickers as you learn about each ecosystem to remember the experience for a lifetime!

Spring Break Snorkeling Excursion – March 13

During the snorkeling adventure, families can get up close with many of the area’s intertidal animals and learn about them from one of our marine biologists. Each participant must provide their own snorkeling gear, including closed-toe water shoes and towels.

Minimum Number of Participants: 15 Participants

Maximum Number of Participants: 40 Participants

* Weather Permitting

Spring Into Science – March 14

Explore marine science through hands-on experiments and activities. Step into the role of researcher discovering how Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute uses photo identification to study dolphins and right whales.

For more information, please contact: csmith@cmaquarium.org or call 727-441-1790 x 2262.

High School Career Exploration

Join us for our high school Career Exploration program! This experience provides an inside look at aquarium careers. Meet aquarium personnel, participate in activities, and explore behind the scenes. Learn about Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s research and conservation programs, education, and animal husbandry. Any participant under the age of 18 MUST be signed in and picked up by a parent or guardian promptly at the end of the program.

DATES: 

• Saturday, October 28, 2023
• Saturday, December 23, 2023
• Saturday, February 17, 2024
• Saturday, April 27, 2024
• Saturday, May 25, 2024

For more information, please contact: csmith@cmaquarium.org or call 727-441-1790 x 2262.

Middle School Career Exploration

Meet aquarium personnel, participate in activities, and explore behind the scenes. Learn about Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s research and conservation programs, education, and animal husbandry. This is a drop-off program. All participants MUST be signed in and picked up by a parent or guardian promptly at the end of the program.

DATES: 

• Saturday, September 23, 2023
• Saturday, November 18, 2023
• Saturday, January 20, 2024
• Saturday, March 23, 2024

For more information, please contact: csmith@cmaquarium.org or call 727-441-1790 x 2262.

Junior Career Quest

Are you a budding marine scientist? This experience provides an inside look at aquarium careers for students that are 3rd through 5th grade. Participate in hands-on activities that showcase the rescue, rehabilitation, and release work that CMA does. Learn about different paths that you can take to achieve your marine science career goals. All participants MUST be signed in and picked up by a parent or guardian promptly at the end of the program.

DATES: 

• Saturday, September 23, 2023
• Saturday, October 28, 2023
• Saturday, January 7, 2023
• Saturday, November 18, 2023
• Saturday, December 23, 2023
• Saturday, January 20, 2024
• Saturday, February 17, 2024
• Saturday, March 23, 2024
• Saturday, April 27, 2024
• Saturday, May 25, 2024

For more information, please contact: csmith@cmaquarium.org or call 727-441-1790 x 2262.

Educational Add-On Programs

Coming for a group visit? Consider an educational add-on program! Group visits are completely self-guided; however, school, educational or scout groups can schedule a 45-minute educational add-on program. Educational add-on programs are available for as low as $3.00 per student. Please see our Educational Planner PDF for all of our program selections.

For more information, please contact: csmith@cmaquarium.org or call 727-441-1790 x 2262.