Homeschool Days
Homeschool Days with the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation are back for Fall 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.
Register Now
Upcoming dates and locations:
August 25- End of Summer Shell-ebration @ St. Louis Aquarium.
This summer, the Aquarium has been shell-ebrating its shell-touting inhabitants, and we want to give the season a last big wave goodbye. Turtles, clams, and snails are famous for their shells, but what about shrimp, lobsters, and insects? Learn about the similarities and differences among shells, molts, and the creatures that create them as we examine examples of each, up close and personal.
September 8- Mighty Mississippi History @ Gateway Arch
Spend the afternoon with us at the smallest National Park in the United States as we dive back in time. We’ll discover and discuss the changes in both the ecology and human history of the Mississippi River, and the numerous ways St. Louisians have relied on its resources.
September 22- National Parks Near and Far @ St. Louis Aquarium
From foggy temperate rainforests to bubbling geothermic pools, mossy swamps to feats of engineering in our own backyards, come to the classroom for a country-wide tour of some of our incredible national parks! We’ll discuss the history of the National Parks program and get hands-on as we learn about what makes these parks unique.
October 13- Batty About Caves @ Benton Park
Did you know Missouri is known as the “Cave State” with more than 7.500 known locations, with some believed to be right below our feet? Join us as we “spelunk” into the world of total darkness, see-through fish, and our favorite flying mammals: BATS!
October 27- Predator Powers @ St. Louis Aquarium
Speedy or still, colorful or camouflaged, macho or mini, all predators have special powers that make them the best at what they do. Join us as we investigate what keeps these animals at the top of the food chain.
November 10- Digging into Plants: Incredible Adaptations @ Location TBD
Giant kelp forests swaying under the sea, succulents storing water for dry days in the desert, and trees so tall they create their own ecosystems at the top of the forest… plants populate almost every environment on Earth, and have adapted in surprising and fascinating ways in order to thrive. We’ll take a look at some of these incredible adaptions in this field trip class experience!
November 22- Investigating Invasives @ St. Louis Aquarium
Ever heard of the island where cats outnumber humans? Or the cities in the Southern US that have been swallowed by vines that can grow a foot in length every day? In this class we’ll learn about invasive species – what they are, where they are, how they got there, how they impact the environment, and what we can do about them.
December 8- Where do Animals go in the Snow? @ Forest Park
Where do animals go in winter? How do some survive in these cold climates? What are some ways us humans adapt in these chills? Not only will we look for animal tracks, we’ll be supporting community science by tracking road salt levels!
December 22- BFFs4Life: Do Animals Have Friends? @ St. Louis Aquarium
Can fish REALLY be friends, not food, to sharks? Bring your bestie to class and see if some animal relationships mimic us humans. We’ll talk about non-mating socialization of all kinds, including mutualistic, commensalistic, and parasitic relationships, and make friendship bracelets for our favorite Aquarium animal!
If you have any questions, please email us at education@stlaquariumfoundation.org
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.
