Other programs teach your kids about the ocean. We teach them in it.
Field-based ocean science for ages 5–16. La Jolla Shores sits inside a federally protected marine reserve with a submarine canyon, kelp forests, and 50+ identifiable species within 200 yards of shore. We use it as a classroom — with guest educators from Scripps, Birch Aquarium, and San Diego's marine science community.
Not a lecture. Not a lab.
We put kids in the marine reserve on a breath hold
La Jolla Shores sits inside the Matlahuayl State Marine Conservation Area — a federally protected reserve with a submarine canyon, kelp forests, leopard sharks, bat rays, and 50+ identifiable species within 200 yards of shore. Most ocean education programs talk about this ecosystem. We take kids into it. On a breath hold. With mask, fins, and a field journal.
Before anyone enters the water, they learn breathing drills, relaxation techniques, equalization, and buddy safety. Then they practice species identification, current reading, and marine ecology — not from a textbook, but from inside the environment.
A different expert every week
Our guest educator model brings in specialists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Birch Aquarium, San Diego Lifeguards, SeaWorld Rescue, San Diego Coastkeeper, and the local community — each leading a session in their area of expertise.
Kids don't just learn from one instructor. They meet the people who actually study, protect, and work in the ocean — and they learn from them in the field, not in a classroom.
Four ways in. One ocean.
From week-long camps to single-day community events. Every program puts kids in the marine reserve with real data, real equipment, and real scientists.
Camp Garibaldi
The original ocean camp. Five days of freediving, marine science, surf survival, and water confidence — built on a breath-first methodology. Kids learn to read real Scripps ocean data before every session, identify species in the field, and develop the internal calm that makes everything else possible.
Ocean Science Field Trip
A single-day, NGSS-aligned field experience for school groups and homeschool co-ops. Students read live buoy data, conduct a beach survey, enter the marine reserve with snorkel gear, and complete a species identification field journal. Tide pool option available for younger groups (ages 5–10).
Ocean Science Series
A recurring program for families and homeschool groups who want sustained ocean immersion. Monthly or biweekly sessions build cumulative knowledge — species identification skills, data literacy, breath-hold progression, and seasonal ocean awareness. Each session features a different guest educator or field focus.
Community Ocean Day
One Saturday a month, we open the program to families. Parents and kids explore the marine reserve together — guided snorkel tour, species ID, beach science station, and a guest educator talk. No experience needed. All gear provided.
The people who study, protect, and work in this ocean.
Our rotating guest educator model brings real experts into the field with your kids. Each partner leads a hands-on module in their area of specialization.
Not a participation trophy. A field journal.
The observation journal
Every student keeps a field journal with species sketches, data readings, tide predictions, and personal observations. By the end of a camp week, they have a real scientific document — not a worksheet. Something they made by being in the water and paying attention.
The skills
Breath-hold technique. Equalization. Efficient finning. Duck dives. Buddy safety protocols. Rip current identification. Species identification. Data literacy. Surf zone awareness. These are real, transferable skills — not abstract concepts. Kids leave knowing how to be in the ocean, not just near it.
The ocean changes. So does the curriculum.
La Jolla's marine reserve is a different classroom every season. We build the curriculum around what's actually happening in the water.
Twelve months. Twelve themes.
Each month features a different topic and guest organization, tied to what's actually happening in the water.
Your charter school funds can pay for this.
Charter school enrichment
California charter school families receive instructional funds for enrichment activities. Our programs — Camp Garibaldi and Ocean Science Field Trips — are designed to qualify as NGSS-aligned science enrichment. We provide the documentation, invoicing, and curriculum descriptions your charter school needs to approve the expense.
NGSS-aligned curriculum
Every program maps to Next Generation Science Standards for middle school Earth & Space Science, Life Science, and Engineering practices. We provide a curriculum overview, daily learning objectives, and standards alignment documentation that charter coordinators can submit directly for enrichment fund approval.
Who's teaching your kids. And where.
Our team
AIDA Instructor. AIDA Youth Instructor. AIDA 4 Freediver. DAN insured. American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certified. All youth programs maintain a maximum 1:4 instructor-to-student ratio in the water. Guest educators are vetted professionals from established San Diego institutions.
The location
La Jolla Shores is a lifeguard-protected beach with gentle surf, sandy bottom entry, and direct access to the Matlahuayl Marine Reserve. It's where Scripps Institution of Oceanography has conducted research since 1903. Year-round lifeguard coverage. Bathrooms, showers, and parking on site. The safest and most biodiverse entry point on the San Diego coast.
The ocean is right there.
Enroll in a camp, book a field trip, or just come see what we do.
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