Teachers’ Lounge

Registration and Admission Information

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.

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.

All of the courses taking place in the Education Lab are hands-on activities designed for both individual and group learning.

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.

Main Venues

Take your time exploring our exhibits. Note special hours for the following:

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.

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.

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.