Category: Educational Programs

At Aquarius Aquarium Institute, we can feel it already—Spring 2026 is shaping up to be one of our busiest and most exciting seasons yet. And it’s all made possible by supporters like you who believe in education, curiosity, and giving young minds a reason to stay curious, connected, and engaged in school. When students are …

Raising More Than Fish: Building Water Literacy in the Central Valley Something truly remarkable is happening in the cold classroom aquarium maintained by the CART (Center for Advanced Research and Technology) students we mentor in this spring of 2026. Tiny Chinook salmon have hatched. At first glance, they’re easy to miss. Just a few centimeters …

These are the 2026 CART students we mentor, alongside other students, exploring the Central Coast tide pools—getting hands-on with marine life and learning directly from the shoreline. Huge thanks to our Charter Members and Donors who make experiences like this possible. Your support turns curiosity into understanding and inspires the next generation of ocean stewards.

Reserve Your Classroom Program Now Spring has always been the most in-demand season for our school programs, and Spring 2026 is already shaping up to be another full calendar. That strong demand exists for one simple reason: generous supporters like you make it possible for students across the Central Valley to experience aquatic science in …

This winter and spring, high school students we mentor in the CART (Center for Advanced Research and Technology) Salmon and Trout program in the Environmental Lab are getting an up-close look at one of California’s most iconic native fish: Chinook salmon…

Learning That Lasts a Lifetime Christmas Day is usually about what’s under the tree. But at Aquarius Aquarium Institute, we spend a lot of time thinking about a different kind of gift – the kind that stays with a child long after the wrapping paper is gone. Curiosity. Wonder. A first real connection to water, …

California hermit crabs like these Pagurus samuelis at Aquarius Aquarium Institute are resourceful recyclers of the tidepool. Instead of making their own shells, they rely on empty snail shells or formerly lived-in shells for protection. As they grow, they must search for a better fit—often inspecting, testing, and sizing up the shells of their neighbors …

Sea stars may look slow and simple, but beneath their arms is a hidden world of remarkable engineering. Each sea star has hundreds of tiny tube feet lining the grooves on the underside of its arms. These flexible, suction-tipped structures help the sea star walk, cling to rocks in pounding surf, and even open tightly …