Homeschool Days
Homeschool Days with the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation are back for Spring 2026!
All Homeschool Day registrations include a 1.5 hr educational program and an Aquarium admission ticket. [Note for 2026: We have extended the educational program portion to better support our classroom needs]. We will offer a 1.5 hr long Guided Tour to all registered attendees immediately following the educational portion. For offsite programs, we will meet at a local green space for our education programming and encourage attendees to follow us back to the Aquarium for the Guided Tour.
If you do not wish to stay for the Guided Tour, Aquarium Admission tickets are usable once up to 90 days post-program.
Registration is $20 a participant, adult or child. Aquarium Members will receive a 15% discount. The Member discount code will appear in the January newsletter, or you may reach out directly with proof of membership to education@stlaquariumfoundation.org
Upcoming dates and locations:
- Tuesday, January 13th- St. Louis Aquarium-Xtreme Adaptions!
- Tuesday, January 27th-Union Station Property (St. Louis Aquarium)-Concrete Jungle
- Tuesday, February 10th-St. Louis Aquarium-Science & Magic
- Tuesday, February 24th-TBD-No Dry Dirt
- Tuesday, March 10th- St. Louis Aquarium- Fish. Food. Fun.
- Tuesday, March 24th- TBD-Manders & Mushrooms
- Tuesday, April 7th- St. Louis Aquarium-Baby Boom
- Tuesday, May 26thTBD-Animal Environmental Engineers
If you have any questions, please email us at education@stlaquariumfoundation.org
January 13th
In-House Program: Xtreme Adaptations!
Location: St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
Investigate with us the extreme ways animals survive and thrive in the most out-of-this-world conditions. We’ll swim into the realms of bioluminescence, cephalopods, chemophiles, and more – all in the safety of our own classroom.
January 27th
Community Science: Concrete Jungle
Location: Union Station Property & the surrounding area
We all know a few birds we see in our backyards and parks, but what about the falcons that nest on skyscrapers? The squirrels hiding in light poles? Opossums munching on pests? Become a street side naturalist as we explore the behaviors and homes of the misunderstood animals that have adapted to live alongside us.
February 10th
In-House Program: Science & Magic
Location: St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
Don your lab coat and join us for an interactive class of experiments and exploration. Watch and be amazed in a potions class with a pH demonstration, observe and learn about surface tension with a defensive magic course, and take home a new spell or two yourself.
February 24th
Community Science: No Dry Dirt
Location: TBA
We’re wild about wetlands! Come along as we get our hands dirty and explore the relationship between soil and water. We’ll be diving deep into understanding our wetlands, groundwater, parks, and other places these two elements interact. We’ll work with community partners to run soil tests and make sure the dirt beneath your feet is up to our standards.
March 10th
In-House Program: Fish. Food. Fun
Location: St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
Healthy nutrition for our animals is one of the highest priorities of the Aquarium! Spend an afternoon comparing how similar our needs are to our residents (even if some might like bugs more than us). More details to come!
March 24th
Community Science: ‘Manders and Mushrooms
Location: TBD
What do mushrooms and salamanders have in common? A love for forest floors and moisture! Trek through the woods to discover the wet habitats of our slimy friends and the substrates of fungi. Learn why the cohabitation between humans, mushrooms, water resources, and amphibians is so important.
April 7th
In-House Program: Baby Boom!
Location: St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
From stingray puppies to polyps that can fit on a pinhead, who doesn’t love to learn about baby animals? We’ll review different life cycles of our favorite Aquarium residents and experience firsthand some of the challenges these youngest life forms may face.
May 26th
Community Science: Animal Environmental Engineers
Location: TBD
Get your hard hats ready, we’re off to build! Join us on our lookout to find engineering animals and their DIY habitats – beaver huts, hornet nests, crayfish mounds, and everything in between. We’ll end our time together brainstorming ways we can help our fellow construction critters.
All programs will run 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
FAQ’S
Offsite Days
Educational programming will be held offsite from 1:00 – 2:15 PM. Attendees are encouraged to follow us back to the Aquarium to use their admission ticket for the guided tour, running around 2:30 – 4:00 PM. Specific location details will be sent to attendees in advance.
All ages are welcome.
Please note that we will be outside for the duration of the educational program portion; we encourage attendees to check the weather and dress appropriately with close-toed shoes. We do our best to make all programs accessible for mobility aids and abilities but may be in places with grass, gravel, or other ground cover.
What is Community Science?
In our effort to empower learners of all ages to become champions for change through education and STEM, we will spend one week a month outdoors to support Community Science efforts not only in St. Louis but across the globe!
We encourage all households attending our offsite programs to download the (free!) iNaturalist App, as we will be contributing data to their STL flora and fauna maps.
If you can’t make it out to one of our Community Science Homeschool Days, we encourage you to use one of the resources below to contribute to Environmental Data Collection. Whether on your own or with one of our respected partner organizations, remember you ARE a scientist, and your knowledge, observations, and care for our planet isn't only wanted, but needed!
https://www.aza.org/citizen-science
https://www.kmos.org/citizen-science/
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/citizen-science/
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/city-nature-challenge/index.cfm
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/citizen-science-projects/
How much does it cost?
The $20 registration fee includes the 1.5 hr educational programming and an Aquarium Admission ticket to be used either immediately after the program for the guided tour or at another time up to 90 days post-program.
What is the age limit?
Our programs are designed with multiple ages in mind and we welcome children and adults in homeschooled households.
In-house: Children under 5 are not permitted in the classroom unless in a stroller for the entire program. We are happy to escort registered adults and any children under 5 up to the KidZone during the in-house class portions, and ask all household members rejoin in the lobby at 2:30pm to join us on the guided tour or retrieve your other child/ren from the classroom.
Offsite: Programs are open to all ages.
Can adults attend?
In-house: We have a limited capacity in the classroom and want to prioritize children attending the program. We ask that only 1 adult per household register, unless communicated and approved in advance by Education Manager Mel Hooper (education@stlaquariumfoundation.org).
Offsite: At least one adult is required, and others are encouraged to register!
Do you offer drop-off options?
In-house: Yes! You are welcome to drop off your child/ren at 1:00 PM and pick them up after class at 2:30 PM, or after the tour at 3:30 PM in the Entryway Lobby. Please be aware that if you are not registered, you cannot enter the classroom portion.
Offsite: At least one adult is required to stay with us for offsite programs.
What are the Aquarium Membership benefits for Homeschool Days?
We offer 15% discount to Homeschool Day registrations. Please be aware that if you plan to be in the classroom, you must register and will receive an admission ticket regardless of membership status (give it to a friend!). Members may take advantage of dropping their registered child/ren off for their in-house class and joining us on the tour at 2:30 PM without needing to register as an adult attendee.
What is your cancelation policy?
If you are unable to attend for any reason, please notify us as soon as possible so we may open up your spot to another potential household. We are happy to provide a refund for attendees that notify us 24 hours before the start of the program. No-shows will not be provided a refund.
The St. Louis Aquarium and St. Louis Aquarium Foundation reserve the right to cancel a program at our discretion. If we have to cancel, registered households may choose between selecting a new date to attend or a full refund. If a registered attendee is not adhering to the safety policies of the Aquarium, Union Station, or elsewhere, we reserve the right to remove them from the program with no refund.
