Youth & Family

There are many ways to connect the children 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: Weekly nature-based drop-off classes are available for 3 – 5 year old children.

Polliwogs: Weekly science and nature class available for 5 and 6 years old children during the summer.

Chickadees & Kestrels: Rain-or-shine age appropriate nature play sessions for 4 – 10 year old children.

Art at the Aquarium

Use inspiration from exhibits and animals found at Great Lakes Aquarium to try new media and techniques. Classes available for ages 7 through adults. Register for Art at the Aquarium classes!

School Age Day Camps

Go behind-the-scenes with staff, get up close with resident animals and explore the wonders of the watery world through camps and after school programs. Register for summer camps!

TROWT Summer Teen Program

Great Lakes Aquarium offers a once-per-week teen program focused on service learning and volunteerism. Learn more about TROWT.

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.