New York Aquarium School & Group Visits - Booking and Chaperone Tips

Set expectations, move in small pods, and give students a mission.

Booking Essentials

• Reserve early for preferred dates and entry windows.
• Align chaperone ratios with school policy and group size.
• Share routes and meet-up points before arrival.

Chaperone Flow

• Split into manageable groups with clear meet-up times.
• Assign a “species to find” list per pod.
• Keep a roaming lead to troubleshoot and float between pods.

Communication: Use a simple group chat or printed cards with times and locations.

Learning Goals

• Predator-prey relationships in Sharks.
• Adaptations in Sea Cliffs mammals.
• Invertebrate diversity in Spineless.

Pre-Visit Prep

• 10-minute classroom primer on habitats and adaptations.
• Safety briefing: indoor voices, glass etiquette, stay with pod.
• Distribute scavenger sheets and pencils.

Post-Visit Ideas

• Reflection journals with one photo or sketch.
• Mini-presentations on favorite species.
• Venn diagram: sharks vs. seals adaptations.