Field Trips and Programs
Planning your trip
Attention Teachers!
March and April are extremely busy months for field trip booking and field trip volume! If you have questions or concerns about your field trip, please reach out to us at education@okaquarium.org. We cannot be at our desks for most of the day so our phone number is not the best way to reach us!
We are so excited about our new carousel in the Great Hall! However, it has limited the amount of space for our school groups to eat lunch there. Because of this, we will be making scheduled lunches. The ability to schedule your group's lunchtime can be found in the field trip reservation forms.
*DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF REQUESTS WE RECEIVE, PLEASE ALLOW UP TO two WEEKs FOR A RESPONSE
STEP 1: Select 1st and 2nd choice visit dates*
Allow 2 weeks to process your online reservation; we cannot guarantee a reservation for dates requested within 2 weeks of online form submission. If you have not received your confirmation email within 2 weeks of submitting your form- please check your spam/junk folder. If it is not there, please reach out to us via phone or email.
STEP 2: Meet eligibility and chaperone requirements
- Minimum of 20 students
- Bring the required number of chaperones:
- 1 chaperone per 5 students in Pre-K and K-2nd Grade
- 1 chaperone per 10 students in 3rd-12th Grade
A required chaperone may be a teacher, bus driver, or other school employee, but other adults can be used to fulfill the requirement if needed.
STEP 3: CHOOSE THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR GROUP
Enjoy a self-guided tour or add an educational program (see descriptions below). Self-guided trips open to eligible groups 7 days a week; programs available Monday-Friday only.
Students and required chaperones will be given priority in admittance to programs; additional chaperones/family members are not guaranteed entry to programs.
Self-Guided Tours
Explore our galleries at your own pace and enjoy interactive learning experiences such as touch tanks, feed shows, and dive shows.
- Open to all ages and learning abilities; ADA accessible.
- Recommended for:
- Groups with a wide range of grade levels
- Groups with 75+ students
- Groups with time constraints
- Scavenger hunts and other supplemental materials can be found here
THE INSIDE STORY! (9TH-12TH GRADE)
Program duration: 45 minutes
Capacity: 25 student or fewer
Cost: Additional $4 per student; chaperones not charged for programs.
Get VIP access to see where all the marine magic happens! Visit some of the aquarium's most popular exhibits and the areas behind them and explore topics in marine ecology, conservation, and aquarium science.
Visit the world's largest bull shark exhibit from up above and learn about food preparation in the aquarium kitchen.
GENERAL AQUARIUM TOUR
Program duration: 30 minutes
Times offered: 10:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:45 p.m.
Cost: Additional $4 per student; chaperones not charged for programs.
Visit the aquarium's most popular exhibits with an aquarium educator to guide you! Students will learn about the interesting life-history traits and conservation of sharks, sea turtles, coral reefs and more.
New! Ozark Friends!
In this exciting new program, students will learn all about our amazing Oklahoma aquatic mammals such as beavers, river otters and raccoons! During this classroom program, students will listen to a story book about these fun furry friends. After a quick lesson about our aquatic mammals, students will have the opportunity to examine and hold real aquatic mammal bio-artifacts!
- Hold and examine real fur, bones, and footprint molds!
- Program duration: approx. 30 minutes
- Recommended for PreK-2nd Grade
turtle Time (K-5th)
Students will learn about all different kinds of turtles. From sea turtles to snapping turtles to tortoises: we discuss all the various body forms turtles can have, depending on the environment they live in! Students will also learn about the different lifestyles and diets turtles can have. At the end of the class, students will even have a chance to meet and touch our Ambassador box turtle, Carl.
- Hold and examine shells, skulls, and other bio-artifacts from our turtle collection
- Program duration: approx. 30 minutes
- Open to all ages, recommended for K-5th Grade
Spectacular sharks (3rd-6th)
Take a bite out of biology by attending this program about sharks! Students will learn about the collection of sharks at the Oklahoma Aquarium that makes us world-famous. We debunk myths and misconceptions about sharks that have lead to society's fear of these oceanic predators. Shark physiology, evolution, diet, behavior and conservation efforts are also covered in this class.
- Hold and examine shark jaws, fins, teeth, and other bio-artifacts from our shark collection
- Program duration: approx. 30 minutes
- Open to all ages, recommended for 3rd-6th Grade
PREHISTORIC PARTY (3rd-9TH)
Dinosaurs may have ruled the Earth above the sea, but our early oceans were full of fascinating lifeforms that you wouldn't believe! From sharks with spiral-shaped jaws to bus-sized marine reptiles, the extinct rulers of our seas can teach us a lot about modern life. In this class, students will learn how many modern life forms evolved over geologic timescales and have the opportunity to explore fossils and bio-artifacts related to modern fish and reptiles.
- Hold and examine fossils and bio-artifacts from our fossil collection
- Program duration: approx. 30 minutes
- Open to all ages, recommended for 3rd-9th Grade
OERB FIELD TRIPS AT THE OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM
More than 100 million years ago, the state we now know as Oklahoma was a warm, shallow seaway full of amazing reptiles, fish, and invertebrates. Today, Oklahoma's only ocean is the Oklahoma Aquarium! Home to the world's largest collection of bull sharks, the Oklahoma Aquarium offers a unique chance for students to get a close look at all kinds of prehistoric fish that swim in our oceans and even in our own lakes and rivers. Students will also attend a short program that explains the connection between oceans, fossils, and fossil fuels. An OERB field trip is great for students of any age.
Feed the animals
Groups may reserve a maximum of 50 cups per feed stand.
- Turtle Feed Stand ($3 each)
- Stingray Feed Stand ($3 each)
RIDE THE CAROUSEL
Pre-purchase group tickets for students to ride our brand new carousel!
- Pre-purchased student carousel tickets ($2 each)
STEP 4: SUBMIT YOUR ONLINE RESERVATION request FORM*
*Allow up to 2 weeks email confirmation; receipt of email confirmation is necessary to receive field trip pricing.
STEP 5 (OPTIONAL): PRE-ORDER LUNCH FROM OUR CAFE.
Lunches MUST be ordered 2 weeks in advance of your field trip visit date.
PRICING
| Ticket Type | Admission | Admission + Program |
|---|---|---|
| Student | $8 plus tax | $12 plus tax |
| Required Chaperone* (see below) | FREE | FREE |
| Additional Chaperone* (see below) | $15 plus tax | --- |
| Additional Child (3-17 yrs) | $8 plus tax | --- |
*Your group will only receive free admission for the number of chaperones necessary to fulfill our required student-to-chaperone ratios.
Funding Opportunities
FISH FRIENDS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Fish Friends scholarship fund aims to eliminate the financial barriers to experiential learning by awarding scholarships for field trips.
OKLAHOMA ENERGY RESOURCES BOARD (OERB)
Teachers who are certified through the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) may request an OERB-funded field trip to the aquarium.
Contact us
Visit our FAQ page, or contact our education department at education@okaquarium.org
Please note that field trips cannot be booked over the phone at this time.