Registration and Admission Information
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Registration is taken on a family by family basis. We have set aside sufficient space for all interested families to attend the event; however space in our Reserved Programs is limited. This year, most tickets will be available through our Online Ticketing System. If you are a resident of San Francisco, a current Academy member, or interested in Reserved Programs, you must submit your request over the phone.
Fill out the attached Registration Guide with key information before placing your reservation.
Important Registration Deadlines
- Thursday, September 6, 2012: registration begins over the phone for families interested in paying additional fees for Reserved Programs – seating is limited
- Tuesday, September 11, 2012: registration online and over the phone begins for families interested in purchasing general admission, which includes all exhibits and Drop-in Programs – plenty of room
- Monday, September 24, 2012: registration for all tickets closes at 5 pm
Homeschool Families from outside San Francisco
- Two adults may attend with their children (ages 4-17) for only $6.95 per person.
- Children ages 0-3 are free, but please include them in your reservation so that we may monitor attendance.
- Reservations for additional adult chaperones may be made at general admission prices ($29.95 for adults; $24.95 for college students and seniors).
- Between September 11 and September 24, 2012, use our new Online Ticketing System to register www.calacademy.org/homeschoolday
- If you are signing up for Reserved Programs, do not register online. See the details below.
San Francisco and Member Homeschool Families
- If you are a resident of San Francisco, two adults may attend with your children (ages 4-17) for free.
- If you are currently a member of the Academy, you can use your membership benefits towards Homeschool Day admission. Simply have your valid membership card ready when you call to register. You will need to present your ID at the time of entry to verify your membership. If you wish to learn more about becoming a member, visit our membership webpage.
- Members and San Francisco residents must register over the phone by calling the Contact Center at 877.227.3311. Call between 8 am and 5 pm any day of the week.
Reserved Programs
- Although most Homeschool Day events are drop-in and covered in the price of admission, our Reserved Programs involve pre-registration due to capacity limits.
- These instructor-led classes involve a participation fee to cover the cost of materials. Fees are per participant, whether child or adult.
- If you are registering for a Reserved Program, you must make your entire reservation over the phone by calling the Contact Center at 877.227.3311. Call between 8 am and 5pm any day of the week.
Important Policy Notes
Pre-registration is required for all attending family members for general admission and any reserved programs. Walk-ups will not be admitted at these discounted rates. Print-at-home tickets will be issued to you by email. Bring these printouts with you on the day of the event. We regret that refunds are not available for this event.
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Reserved Programs
These programs involve pre-registration due to room capacity. The Education Lab and Classroom can be found on Level 3, next to the Naturalist Center.
Registration is subject to availability. Any associated fees are per participant and due upon registration. Because seating is limited, parents may not audit classes — if you’d like to participate, please register for yourself as well.
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Education Lab: Hands-On Science
All of the courses taking place in the Education Lab are hands-on activities designed for both individual and group learning.
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California Geology
10:30 am – 11:45 pm
 Learn the physical properties used by geologists to describe rocks and minerals, and then observe and describe specimens of an unidentified rock from California using two different microscopes. Discover the differences between the three major classifications of rocks, practice your map-reading skills, and leave with a greater appreciation for the Earth beneath us.For ages 8-11. $9.95/person.
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Fossil Fuels: Facing the Issues
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
 Discover how plants and animals from millions of years ago give us the energy we use every day in the form of fossil fuels. Explore the processes humans use to extract the fuel and how we use it. Students will simulate these processes and consider some of the environmental consequences associated with fossil fuel use. Finally, the class will work together to brainstorm alternatives to help protect our world. For ages 9-13. $7.95/person.
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Geologists at Work
2:40 pm – 3:40 pm
 Learn all about the work that different kinds of geologists do and discover some of the tools these scientists use. Examine minerals like a mineralogist, seismographs like an earthquake scientist, and fossils like a paleontologist. Adult participation is highly encouraged. For ages 6-9. $7.95/person.
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Classroom: Family Science Media Projects
Family Science Media Projects (FSMP) will connect classroom learning with the exhibits of the Academy. For each program, students and their parents will be introduced to the subject in the morning. Families will then collect data out in the Academy before returning to the classroom to create a media-rich project. Because these programs are intended to be day-long learning experiences, please do not sign up for more than one.
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FSMP: Birds
 Classroom Intro 10:15 – 10:45 am
Project Creation 1:45 – 2:30 pm
Discover the diverse habitats in which birds live. By examining our collections and watching live birds around the Academy, gain an understanding of how bird behavior and structures help them survive in their habitats. Adult participation is required. For ages 7-10. $9.95/person.
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FSMP: Reptiles
 Classroom Intro 11:00 – 11:30 am
Project Creation 2:30 – 3:15 pm
The Academy has many living reptiles in its collections. Explore the features that make reptiles unique and examine the differences between different groups of reptiles. Adult participation is required. For ages 5-7. $9.95/person.
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FSMP: Fossils and Time Scales
 Classroom Intro 11:45 – 12:15 pm
Project Creation 3:15 – 4:00 pm
Discover what a fossil can tell us about the history of life on Earth. Explore what the Earth was like millions of years ago and predict what it might look like millions of year in the future. Adult participation is recommended. For ages 10+. $9.95/person.
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Main Venues
Take your time exploring our exhibits. Note special hours for the following:
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Rainforests of the World
Level 1, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
 Experience what it’s like to walk in a living rainforest. Our dome contains 1,600 live animals, including 600 free-flying birds and butterflies, 100 exotic reptiles, and amphibians. You’ll descend in an elevator to the Amazonian flooded forest on the Lower Level. |
Morrison Planetarium: Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet
Level 1, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm on the half hour |
 A sweeping geological journey, Earthquake, the newest Academy Planetarium show, explores the forces that transform the surface of our planet. Passes are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the kiosk at the Planetarium entrance to select your show time. For ages 7+. Ages 3 and under not permitted.
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Naturalist Center
Level 3, 11 am – 4 pm |
 With books, specimens, and online access, this space is a great place to learn more about the natural world with one-on-one help from naturalists. Visitors with shared interests can sit and chat; books and curriculum guides are available for browsing. Scavenger hunts available upon request. |
Early Explorers Cove
Level 1, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
 In this space reserved for toddlers and their caregivers, guests can learn through active participation in several themed areas. Imagine what it was like to be a scientist on the child-sized model of the research schooner Academy, shop in our mini farmers market and explore the hidden burrows in the faux California backyard. For ages 5 and under.
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Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Naturalist Center |
 A limited amount of printed worksheets will be available here, so we recommend printing your favorite from home (see page 5). Complete your quest while touring the exhibits, then pick up a prize from the Naturalist Center!
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Drop-in Programs
Discover something new about the animals at the Academy or explore a specimen up close. There are numerous programs offered to all attendees throughout the day. Here are just a few of the many things to do. Check the day of for a complete list.
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Discover with Docents
Level 1, Throughout the Day |
 Be on the lookout for enthusiastic, knowledgeable docents in orange lab coats. Investigate specimens up-close or meet a live animal ambassador. Docents stationed on the floor are ready for your questions. You’ll find most docents on Level 1; visit others at the hands-on Discovery Tidepool on the Lower Level.
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Specimen Spotlight
11:30 am and 2:00 pm in the Naturalist Center |
| Learn about a different Naturalist Center specimen in each of these focus talks. Note that seating is limited. Recommended for ages 6+. |
Sharks to Dinosaurs: A Walk Through Time
12:00 pm at the Reef Lagoon |
Uncover the Earth’s ancient history and learn about the sharks, tortoises, and dinosaurs that first appeared millions of years ago. Step back in time and discover the unique adaptations these amazing species had.
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Ostriches: Grounded for Life
11:30 am at the Ostrich Enclosure |
Join us at the live ostrich chick enclosure to trace their fascinating evolutionary history and learn how they have adapted to life in Africa. You might be surprised by the connection between plate tectonics and the world’s largest flightless bird.
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Penguin Feeding
10:30 am and 3:00 pm in African Hall |
The Academy’s African Penguins are always especially animated during meal time. Watch the birds dip and dive in their tank in African Hall as a biologist dons a wet suit and hands out vitamin-stuffed herring and capelin.
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Coral Reef Dives
11:30 am and 2:30 pm at the Philippine Coral Reef |
| Watch as a diver plunges into the world’s deepest living coral reef exhibit. Outfitted with an underwater microphone, the diver will answer all of your reef-related questions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What time should we arrive at the museum?
Families can arrive at their convenience; drop-in programs are scheduled throughout the day! However, if you have scheduled a Reserved Program, please check in 10 minutes prior to your program.
Is parking available at the Academy?
The Music Concourse Parking Facility is a public lot that often fills to capacity early in the day, and tickets cannot be validated by the Academy. However, free street parking is available in Golden Gate Park. Note that many spaces are limited to 3-4 hours. An adult can certainly leave the building to move the family car — just remember to receive a re-entry hand stamp from a Guest Services’ staff member before exiting the building.
Map and Directions >>
What if we bring more people than originally stated on our reservation?
If you arrive with more people in your group than indicated by your reservation, you will be asked to pay the full admission price for these individuals at the door.
What should we do for lunch?
You may carry your own bag lunch or purchase food from the Academy Café. No food or drink is allowed on the exhibit floor, but tables are provided in the West Garden and the East Garden.
What other services might be helpful to know about?
Wheel-chairs are available at the Coat Check for those in need. For lost children or first aid, please go to the Security Office located near the Swamp or flag down the closest security guard in the exhibits. Restrooms are available on all levels next to the staircase/elevator leading to the Living Roof, as well as in the basement-level Aquarium. A spacious family restroom is located on the main floor near the Swamp.
Are there Mobile Apps to help enhance our experience?
Head over to our Mobile Apps page where you can download one of our three Academy mobile apps: Pocket Penguins, Academy Insider, and the Golden Gate Park Field Guide.
How should our family prepare for the museum? Where can we find scavenger hunts?
The Academy website features information on our exhibits and the scientific disciplines explored by our researchers. We highly encourage homeschool families to check out our lesson plan database full of activities fit for the museum and the home. We also have some suggested Learning Pathways for field trips that you can use to help decide how to enhance your child’s learning experience while at the Academy.
 How do I register with my child to attend one of the reserved programs?
You must make your entire reservation over the phone. When you call, tell us the program name and the number of family members that you would like to register. You can register a child for more than one lab program, assuming age-appropriateness; however, we request that you only sign up for one Family Science Media Project. Adult attendance is highly encouraged for the Geologists at Work program, and required for the Birds and Reptiles Family Science Media Projects.
What are the expectations for adult participation?
If you choose to register for a reserved program with your children, we expect you to be an active participant. You’ll get to use all of the materials, too! Adult attendance is highly encouraged for the Geologists at Work program, and required for the Birds and Reptiles Family Science Media Projects. For the other programs, you may choose to check your child in for a program and return when it ends, instead of participating.
Where are the Classroom and Education Lab located? When do we meet?
Line up on the Level 3 balcony next to the Naturalist Center, and don’t forget to bring your Confirmation Letter as proof of registration. Please arrive 10 minutes early for check in.
My child is advanced for his/her age. Can I sign him/her up for a program designed for older students?
Please follow the suggested age ranges listed when registering your children, understanding that the makeup of the class may be 30 students and adults of various ages. We’ll learn together!
Can you accommodate children with special needs?
The nature of these programs complements a variety of learning styles and abilities. We encourage you to indicate any special needs, whether physical or academic, upon registration. Don’t hesitate to indicate how best to accommodate the student(s). Wheel chair seating is available in the Planetarium, too.
How do we get passes for the Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet Planetarium show?
Passes are handed out on a first-come first-served basis. Visit the kiosk at the Planetarium entrance to select your show time.
Is there an age limit to attend a show in the Planetarium?
Yes. Please note that the Planetarium shows take place in a darkened environment, with imagery and sounds that some children may find disorienting. For these reasons, we strongly discourage entry for children under the age of seven. Children 3 and under are not permitted. |
We hope you can join us! Don’t hesitate to leave comments and questions for us below.
If you wish to receive homeschool event updates directly to your email, you can sign up for our homeschool email list by sending us a note at homeschool@calacademy.org.
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Using this worksheet, kids made tallys of penguin and macaw behaviors.
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