Public Classrooms

Inspiring the Next
Ocean Stewards

Bringing the science of the cold subarctic seas to classrooms across the globe. From hands-on local camps to virtual field trips, discover our educational programs.

Download Lessons Play Species Quiz →

Global Tidepool Class

Connecting public schools directly with veterinary triage ICUs, wet labs, and marine biologists in Seward.

Yearly Students 45,000+
NGSS Lessons 100% Aligned
Target Learning

Programs for Every Learner

We tailor our marine science curriculum across four developmental grade tiers to ensure engaging, age-appropriate science.

Early Explorers

Pre-K – Grade 2

Sensory ocean play, simple animal names, marine songs, and soft-touch tidepool interactions.

Junior Biologists

Grades 3 – 5

Exploring marine food webs, basic physiological adaptations, and local beach cleanup guidelines.

Middle Investigators

Grades 6 – 8

Controlled laboratory trials, water salinity chemistry, and marine mammal telemetry tracking.

Ocean Ambassadors

Grades 9 – Adult

Quantifiable ecosystem studies, federal resource management debates, and environmental policy research.

Distance Learning

Virtual Classrooms
& Field Trips

Can't travel to Seward? Our Distance Education program brings the Alaskan marine ecosystem directly to your classroom or smart-board, anywhere in the world.

Using high-definition feeds from our research decks and live animal habitats, an ASLC educator leads interactive sessions aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Students watching seabirds
Interactive Broadcast Studio ● LIVE CONNECTION

🧸 Early Learning Core Desk

  • ⭐
    Marine Story Time: Animal-themed books read aloud by curators.
  • ⭐
    Puppet Shows: Educational plays spotlighting sea otters and kelp.
  • ⭐
    Touch Desk Exploration: Safe touch interfaces for kelp and shells.
  • ⭐
    Sound Recognition: Matching calls of harbor seals and gulls.
Early Childhood

Small Fry School

Small Fry School is a completely FREE science literacy program designed specifically for toddlers, preschoolers, and their adult guardians.

Designed to foster a lifelong emotional connection to ocean ecosystems, this program meets twice weekly inside our Discovery classrooms.

Plan Your Center Visit
Seward Adventures

Marine Science Summer Camps

Inspirational multi-day day camps and residential overnight camps focused on real field research, veterinary clinics, and coastal kayaking.

3 Day Camp

Tidepool Trekkers

Grades 3 – 5

Explore intertidal shorelines, classify crabs and sea stars, and study coastal water chemistry.

5 Day Day Camp

Oceanic Investigators

Grades 6 – 8

Inside our wet labs, analyze fish metabolic rates, learn marine tracking, and shadow veterinary care decks.

6 Day Residential

Resurrection Explorer Res

Grades 9 – 12

Overnight research residency. Kayak Resurrection Bay, track wild sea lions, and conduct a group scientific study.

Teacher Portals

Lesson Plan Directory

Printable, NGSS-aligned classroom resources structured by grade band.

Elementary Lessons Sea Otter Fur & Insulation Experiment Guide
Middle School Lessons Steller Sea Lion Telemetry Data Worksheet
High School Lessons Gulf of Alaska Ocean Acidification Lab Guide
Discovery Zone

Species Matching Challenge

Match the correct subarctic creature to its distinct scientific fact!

CORaL Network

Community Ocean
Resource & Literacy

The CORaL Network connects Alaskan rural educators with professional development workshops, classroom resources, and scientific outreach.

We coordinate teacher peer networks to integrate subarctic marine sciences directly into regional school curricula across rural communities.

Teacher Benefits

  • ✓ Free enrollment in professional development workshops.
  • ✓ Loaner marine science kit containers shipped directly to schools.
  • ✓ Coordinated virtual check-ins with Center curators.
  • ✓ Continuing education college credits from UAF.

Husbandry Interns

Shadow pinniped/seabird keepers, prepare diets, and clean care habitats.

Veterinary Fellows

Clinical pathology support for quarantine ICU animal care triage.

Science Associates

Field telemetry sensors and stable isotope bioenergetics coding.

Education Guides

Interpret rescue cases and scientific summaries for Center guests.

Academic Tracks

Academic Careers

We host university-accredited internships, graduate fellowships, and post-doctoral veterinary pathways. Train alongside top-tier curators in subarctic ecosystems.

In coordination with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), students can secure academic course credits while doing real field research.