Students gathered around a docent giving a demonstration on ocean acidification
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As the Bay Area’s leading cultural institution dedicated to opening our doors to the entire community, we’re proud to offer a variety of free and reduced admission opportunities and access programs that bring the wonders of science and the natural world to life for over 210,000 visitors each year. By lowering barriers to entry—whether cost, access, language, or culture—we’re creating an Academy for All.

The Academy is committed to balancing environmental leadership with safe access to the museum and Golden Gate Park. View JFK Drive FAQs here.

Museums for All

Museums for All logo

The Academy is a proud partner in Museums for All, a collaborative initiative that ensures every child and family has access to a world-class museum experience by offering reduced admission. Guests with an EBT/CalFresh, WIC, Lifeline Pass, or Medi-Cal card can simply present it at the ticket window upon arrival to purchase $3 Daytime or NightLife (21+) tickets, or a $29 Family membership for free admission all year long for two adults and children 17 and under. Guests may also use their EBT/SNAP card for food purchases in the Academy Café (all EBT/SNAP rules apply).

Museums for All tickets and memberships are not available online and must be purchased at the Academy ticket window. Limit 4 Daytime Admission and 2 NightLife tickets per group per visit. Offer not valid for P-EBT cardholders.

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Free and reduced admission programs

A woman holds a young girl in front of the penguin exhibit

Academy Day is April 4, and we’re bringing back pay-what-you-can tickets to expand access to all and ensure more guests can enjoy this annual celebration.

Through the Discover & Go Library Program, the Academy provides passes to moderate- to low-income neighborhood libraries, including San Francisco, Richmond, Alameda, Contra Costa, Berkeley, Oakland, as well as over 40 local library systems.

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Field trips

Academy staff demonstrates proper magnifying glass technique to youngsters

More than 80,000 students from across the Bay Area visit the Academy on free or subsidized field trips. Young visitors gain an invaluable learning experience outside the classroom, engaging face-to-face with natural wonders, authentic science, and environmental awareness.

We’re also proud to welcome all K-5 San Francisco students on field trips, providing free transportation, admission, and educational materials through the Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Enhanced Museum Visits program.

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A diverse and inclusive workforce

Proud graduates of the Academy ARC program pose with their diplomas

As part of our unwavering commitment to reflecting the diverse communities that we serve, we actively recruit individuals traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields with the help of local partnerships.

Our partnership with The ARC of San Francisco and AccessSFUSD matches the Academy with a range of youth and adults with developmental disabilities who gain valuable work experience and build professional skills in a number of roles and areas of the museum suited to their interests and abilities.

We work closely with Sunset Youth Services and Larkin Street Youth Services to provide work opportunities to at-risk young adults eager to develop professional skills. We also work with custodial vendors that provide job training and professional support to recently arrived immigrants on staff.

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MEAF logo

The Academy is proud to lead the Museums4Inclusion internship program for youth with developmental and intellectual disabilities. By providing hands-on science learning experience and job training opportunities, Museums4Inclusion aims to develop and grow equitable, inclusive workplaces that reflect the diverse communities that museums serve. This program is generously supported by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.

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Accessibility

A girl and a penguin come face to face

We're committed to making our exhibits, programs, digital offerings, and services accessible to everyone, and are standing by to ensure every visitor is accommodated during their time at the museum—including visitors who don't speak English. Through efforts like translating new exhibits into Chinese (中文), Filipino, and Spanish (español) and hosting Language Days, we celebrate and embrace our multilingual region. 

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Support Academy for All

We are committed to opening our doors so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of scientific literacy. Would you like to help?

The Academy for All initiative is made possible through the support of visionary donors. The Academy gratefully acknowledges the lead partners listed below.

  • City of San Francisco: Department of Children, Youth and Their Families​
  • Leslie & Troy Daniels
  • Doris Fisher
  • Genentech, Inc.
  • Google, Inc.
  • Heising-Simons Foundation
  • Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services
  • Barry and Marie Lipman
  • Marin Community Foundation
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  • Target
  • Temasek
  • Wells Fargo