Birch Aquarium is adding a Tuesday afternoon marine science program for children ages 6 to 10, with the first session set for Nov. 3.
The new program, called Ocean Science Scholars, runs on select Tuesdays in November and December from 2 to 4 p.m. at the La Jolla aquarium. Each two-hour session costs $30 per child and includes aquarium admission for the participant, according to a Birch Aquarium announcement.
Parents, siblings and other guests who are not enrolled in the program must purchase separate admission tickets to visit the aquarium.
Molly Hoggard-Szymborski, school programs coordinator at Birch Aquarium, said the program expands the aquarium's weekday afternoon offerings for students passionate about marine science. Sessions include animal encounters and hands-on science exploration.
Each week covers a different topic. The six scheduled sessions are:
- Tuesday, Nov. 3: Kelp Forest Quest, exploring California's kelp forest ecosystems
- Tuesday, Nov. 10: Amphibian All-Stars, featuring Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs and axolotls
- Tuesday, Nov. 17: Fish Tales and Scales, studying how fish adapt to aquatic environments
- Tuesday, Dec. 1: Tide Pool Trekkers, investigating Southern California tide pool habitats
- Tuesday, Dec. 8: Seabird Superstars, examining how seabirds survive along the coast and open ocean
- Tuesday, Dec. 15: Marine Debris Detectives, learning how human-made materials affect ocean wildlife
Kids can sign up for one session or all six. Advanced registration is required through the aquarium's registration page.
The program launch comes during a growth period for the aquarium. Birch Aquarium welcomed 603,670 guests during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, breaking its annual attendance record and surpassing 600,000 visitors for the first time, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported in July.
Registration is open at aquarium.ucsd.edu.
