There are many ways to connect the youth in your life to wildlife, water, and science career role models.
Visiting with your family? Check out some educational tools for making the most of your visit.
Early Childhood Programs
Young learners are celebrated at Great Lakes Aquarium. Classes and activities for children ages 3-10 include stories, songs, movement, tactile and sensory exploration, art, and science.
Whirligigs Preschool Program: Weekly nature-based drop-off classes are available for 3 – 5 year old children.
Nature Play Program: Rain-or-shine age appropriate nature play sessions for 5 – 10 year old children.
Grade School Programs
Summer Day Camps: Week long camps are offered all summer long for learners in grades 1st-6th.
School Break Camps: Single-day camps for early elementary students during MEA, Winter, and Spring Breaks.
Middle and High School Programs
Waves Teen Club: Weekly summer program for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders focusing on water-based career exploration and learning.
Junior Waves: Bi-weekly summer program for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders focusing on a behind-the-scenes look at aquarium science and careers.
Great Adventures SCUBA Diving: Guided SCUBA Diving adventures for certified youth divers. This program is not available during summer 2025.
Homeschool Opportunities
Great Lakes Aquarium welcomes all teachers and learners to include the Aquarium’s exhibits, classes and free curriculum kits as a part of a student’s enrichment and coursework. Learn more about learning opportunities and discounted rates.
Overnights
Spend a night among the animals! Your group can have the Aquarium all to yourselves, freeing you up to explore the exhibits with touchpool experiences, scavenger hunts, critter encounters, and more.