Ranger-led Programs and Field Trips Park staff provide standards-based programs and field trips for students in some grades for free. Funding for buses and boat tickets is available for some programs. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance. Read more about options for your students below.
Island Fox ExplorationsBring your students on a 2–3 hour field trip to the visitor center in Ventura Harbor. Funding may be available. Second grade students will discover where and how island foxes live and how some plants depend on them to move their seeds. Third grade students learn what inherited and behavioral characteristics make island foxes special. Live DiveInteract with a park ranger as they dive into the park's kelp forest and encounter fish, lobsters, sea stars, kelp, and more. You may either join for distance learning over Zoom or bring your students 2–3 hour field trip to the visitor center in Ventura Harbor to join from the theater. Funding may be available. Sea Star SuperpowersBring your fourth grade students on a 2–3 hour field trip to the visitor center in Ventura Harbor. Funding may be available. Students will investigate the structural and behavioral adaptations that help organisms grow, survive, and reproduce in the park's kelp forests. Live DiveInteract with a park ranger as they dive into the park's kelp forest and encounter fish, lobsters, sea stars, kelp, and more. You may either join for distance learning over Zoom or bring your students for a 2–3 hour field trip to the visitor center in Ventura Harbor to join from the theater. Funding may be available. Island of the Blue DolphinsThis program is intended for classes that are reading Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. Bring a ranger into your classroom—virtually—for a 45–60 minute live distance learning program. Programs are conducted via videoconferencing platforms, such as Zoom. Students will use clues from San Nicolas Island to investigate how the Lone Woman may have actually lived and how she survived the arrival of a new power that changed her world. Into the WeedsEnroll your seventh grade students in a multi-part service learning experience. Participation includes:
Funding may be available. Reservations will open soon. Contact chis_education@nps.gov to express interest. Ecological RestorationEnroll your students in a multi-part service learning experience. Participation includes:
Funding is not available this year. Contact chis_education@nps.gov to express interest. Teacher-guided Programs and Field Trips If you are planning your own field trip to the park, the information below will help you ensure students learn, stay safe, and enjoy their time. Funding is not available for these visits.
Teacher-guided Visitor Center Field TripBring your students on a 1–2 hour field trip to the visitor center in Ventura Harbor. Funding is not available. Students will rotate through the exhibit space, garden, and observation tower. Short, optional activities for you and your adult chaperones to lead will be available in each location. A preview of these activities will be shared with you ahead of time to help you and your chaperones prepare. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance. Teacher-guided Island Field TripIsland Packers, an official park concessionaire, offers a variety of student programs, from half-day whale watching to full-day Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island trips. Alternatively, you can plan your own field trip to a park island using recommended resources in the Plan Your Visit section of the park website. Teacher-guided Visitor Center Field TripBring your students on a 1–2 hour field trip to the visitor center in Ventura Harbor. Funding is not available. Students will rotate through the exhibit space, garden, and observation tower. Short, optional activities for you and your adult chaperones to lead will be available in each location. A preview of these activities will be shared with you ahead of time to help you and your chaperones prepare. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance. Teacher-guided Island Field TripIsland Packers, an official park concessionaire, offers a variety of student programs, from half-day whale watching to full-day Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island trips. Alternatively, you can plan your own field trip to a park island using recommended resources in the Plan Your Visit section of the park website. Teacher-guided Visitor Center VisitBring your students on a 1–2 hour field trip to the visitor center in Ventura Harbor. Funding is not available. You are encouraged to divide your students into groups of 20 or fewer and provide them with a worksheet to guide their learning. Park staff may be able to help you develop activities. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance. Teacher-guided Island Field TripIsland Packers, an official park concessionaire, offers a variety of student programs, from half-day whale watching to full-day Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island trips. Alternatively, you can plan your own field trip to a park island using recommended resources in the Plan Your Visit section of the park website. 
Bring the Channel Islands to your classroom with these park related teacher resources.
Discover more about the historical events and real places that inspired Scott O’Dell to write this book.
|
Last updated: August 19, 2026