After-School Programs

The programs below can be conducted at your school or virtually. They can be tailored to provide a few sessions or an entire school year of fun, engagement and learning!

To book an after-school program, please call us (203) 852-0700 extension 2270. Please note: reservations for education programs must be made at least 6-8 weeks in advance.

Distance Learning Programs

Our distance learning programs cost is $105.00 for the first thirty students in the program.  If above thirty students, the cost of the program is $210.00.  Programs can be combined for an ongoing series for 4-6 weeks. Please note: a school staff member is required to be present at all times.

MEET THE ANIMALS (PRE-K TO GRADE 2) 

Nothing sparks an interest in nature and science like an up-close meeting with live animals. We’ll bring some of the aquarium’s most interesting and exciting animals into your classroom. Children will use their powers of observation and other early childhood science skills. Programs will be scaled according to the age of your students and may be booked individually or as a series. 30-45 minutes depending on age level.  Program Animals available: Seals, Jellies, Sharks, Turtles 

AQUARIUM STARS (GRADES 3-8) 

The Aquarium’s living collection provides endless opportunities for exploring animal adaptations, behavior, feeding relationships and biodiversity. We’ll use some of the Aquariums most charismatic animals to explore these topics with your students. Programs will be scaled to your grade level and may be booked individually or as a series. 50 minutes. Program Animals available: Seals, Jellies Sharks, Turtles 

LIFE BETWEEN THE TIDES (GRADES 3-5) 

Visit a virtual intertidal zone to learn and observe the unique adaptations Long Island Sound species have developed to overcome living in this challenging area. Students will learn how tides occur, and determine the intertidal habitat animals are best adapted for surviving in based on physical and behavioral adaptations. 50 minutes. 

HIDE, SEEK, CHOMP (GRADES 1-8) 

On this virtual tour led by an Aquarium educator, your students will see The Maritime Aquarium as never before. A focus on some of our most fascinating animals, such as sharks, octopus, crabs and jellies will enliven a discussion of food chains and motivate students to draw their own conclusions about the adaptations of predators and prey. 50 minutes. 

SOUND RESILIENCE (GRADES 6-8) 

Hurricanes and nor’easters, sea level rise and coastal erosion! This program provides the opportunity for students to delve into these local environmental threats. This can be booked as a series or as individual programs 

• Coasts That Shift and Change - Sound Resilience Session 1: Investigate the science of extreme weather, focusing on hurricanes, storm surge, and erosion; and learn about the importance of living shorelines for coastal protection. 50 minutes. 
• Your Coast and Climate Change: Join us for a closer look at the science of climate change, and learn the surprising secrets of climate resilience hidden in the coastal ecosystems of Long Island Sound. 50 minutes. 
• It's On Us: Resiliency Design Challenge: Armed with your knowledge of extreme weather, climate change, and what it takes to make a coastal community resilient, you now have a mission to fulfill: create a weather and climate resilience plan for your town! Balance a budget, examine costs and benefits of different strategies and share your master plan with classmates in an interactive online Town Hall moderated by Aquarium educators. 50 minutes. 

This program was prepared by the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Inc.under award NA16SEC0080005 from the Environmental Literacy Grant (ELG) Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Traveling Teacher Programs

 These programs can be booked as a single-session or multi-week.  Travel fees may apply and are not included in the price per session.

I NOTICE, I WONDER (PK-2) 

Crafts, stories, biofacts, drama and live animals in these hands-on programs encourage young students to use their diverse talents and observation skills in an exportation of what lives in Long Island Sound and the oceans beyond. One to four sessions. 45 minutes each. $175 per session. 30 students max per session.   

SOUND EXPLORERS (GRADES 3-5) 

Long Island Sound is home to sharks, sea turtles, squid and more.  Students learn what shark skin feels like and how to identify different crabs and jellies.  Live animals and science experiments bring to life the animals of the Sound, the issues they face, and what we all can do to make a difference in their environment.  Six to eight sessions. One hour each. $185 per session. 30 students max per session 

MARINE STEM (GRADES 5-8) 

The Aquarium and marine world are fantastic venues for developing skills in science, technology, engineering and math. From examining the structures of plankton to learning how roller coasters work, each session provides students with evidence of the relevance of science to our everyday lives. Six to eight sessions. One hour each. $215 per session. 30 students max per session.