On-site Field Trips
A visit to Seacoast Science Center and Odiorne Point State Park will be the highlight of your students’ year!
Booking groups for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027!
Field Trips at Seacoast Science Center
Located within the beautiful and historic Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, NH, Seacoast Science Center offers students the opportunity to explore marine and coastal science through hands-on experiences both inside and outside the Center. With seven natural habitats and 135 acres to explore, your group can discover the coastal environment through guided programs, nature exploration, and aquarium exhibits.
Choose from guided or self-guided options to create the field trip experience that best fits your group!
Seacoast Science Center school programs align with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Program-specific standards are listed within each program description.
Guided Field Trips
Dive into Exciting On-Site Programs!
Are you ready to explore tide pools, spot coastal birds, or become a community scientist discovering the Gulf of Maine? Book an on-site program with a Seacoast Science Center naturalist and give your students a hands-on learning experience!
All guided programs include scheduled time to explore Seacoast Science Center’s aquariums and exhibits.
Guided Field Trips include:
- Up to 25 students per group (cost indicated is per group cost)
- Admission to Seacoast Science Center and Odiorne Point State Park is included for all students, plus 1 teacher/chaperone per 8 students. Additional chaperones are welcome for $10/NH School Adult and $14/Out of State Adult.
- Access to Odiorne Point State Park’s trails, habitats, historic features, and outdoor spaces.
Outreach Programs bring marine and coastal science learning to your location! Our naturalists travel to your school or group to lead engaging, hands-on programs tailored to your audience. Learn more about SSC’s Outreach Programs.
Virtual Field Trips are also available, featuring live, naturalist-led programs delivered to your classroom or student’s homes via a gated connection. Learn more about Virtual Field Trips.
Rocky Shore Exploration
- Grades: K-12th
- Program Length: 1-hour or 90-minute outdoor program
- Cost: $295 for 1 hour; $345 for 90 minutes
- 2027 Cost: $350 for 1 hour; $395 for 90 minutes
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: April-October, outdoors and low tide weeks only
Discover the incredible world of the rocky shore! Students will explore the intertidal zone through hands-on tide pooling, learning how to observe, identify, and classify marine organisms with guidance from a Seacoast Science Center naturalist. Along the way, they’ll uncover the unique adaptations that help rocky shore animals survive in this ever-changing habitat.
Rocky Shore Investigation (Citizen Science Program)
- Grades: 6th-12th
- Program Length: 90-minute outdoor program
- Cost: $375
- 2027 Cost: $395
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: April-October, outdoors and low tide weeks only
Students will step into the role of community scientists during this hands-on rocky shore adventure! Students will explore the intertidal zone, investigate invasive crabs, and collect real data alongside educators. This immersive field experience connects students to local marine research and shows how their discoveries can help scientists better understand changes happening in our coastal ecosystems.
Salt Marsh Exploration
- Grades: 5th-12th
- Program Length: 90-minute outdoor program
- Cost: $345
- 2027 Cost: $395
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: April-October, outdoors
Discover the hidden world of the salt marsh, one of the coast’s most important ecosystems! Students will explore the marsh at Odiorne Point State Park, getting an up-close look at the plants and animals that call this unique habitat home. Through hands-on exploration, students will uncover how the salt marsh supports wildlife, protects our coastline, and connects to our everyday lives.
Gulf of Maine Investigation
- Grades: 5th-12th
- Program Length: 60 minute program
- Cost: $250
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: November-March, indoor winter program
Explore the Gulf of Maine, one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth! Students will dive into the unique habitats, species, and changes shaping this incredible ocean environment. Through hands-on exploration, they’ll discover how climate change is impacting the Gulf of Maine and how scientists are working to understand and protect this vital ecosystem.
SSC Marine Mammal Rescue
- Grades: 2nd-12th
- Program Length: 60-minute indoor program
- Cost: $300
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: September-June, during the school year
Get an inside look at Seacoast Science Center’s Marine Mammal Rescue program! Students will explore the world of marine mammal conservation and discover the tools, techniques, and teamwork involved in responding to animals in need. Students will learn how rescue efforts support ocean health and how we can all help protect marine wildlife.
School of Hard Rocks
- Grades: 2nd-6th
- Program Length: 60-minute outdoor program
- Cost: $250
- 2027 Cost: $300
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: April-October
Odiorne Point State Park is the perfect place to make the study of geology come alive for your students! In this outdoor program, students will explore the unique rock formations along our coastline; learn about different rock types and their formation processes; discuss the rock cycle and tectonic plate movement, and conduct a hands-on experiment on coastal erosion and weathering. Rock on!
Fantastic Fossils
- Program Add-on:
- Add-on Length: 30 minutes
- Cost: $100
Dig deeper into the world of rocks, fossils, and geology! Students will explore how fossils form, uncover the stories of prehistoric ocean creatures, and participate in a hands-on fossil dig that reveals clues about the ancient marine world.
NGSS
Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs)
ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth, ESS2.A: Earth’s Materials and Systems
Sharks Alive!
- Grades: K-4th
- Program Length: 60-minute indoor program
- Cost: $250
- 2027 Cost: $300
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: September-June, during the school year
Sharks are one of Earth’s most amazing and dynamic fish! Dive in with our experts to learn more about shark anatomy, behavior, and the acute senses that make them one of the ocean’s greatest predators. Your students will also get an up close view of the live sharks and skates that live in SSC’s Edge of the Sea exhibit.
Coastal Birding Exploration
- Grades: K-12th
- Program Length: 60 minutes for K-4th; 90 minutes for 5th-12th
- Cost: $300 60-minute program; $395 90-minute program
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: April-October, outdoor program
Discover the incredible diversity of birds along the New Hampshire coastline! Students will explore the lives of local bird species and head into the field to observe these coastal residents in their natural habitat. Through hands-on activities and guided exploration, students will uncover what makes each species unique.
Whale of a Program
- Grades: K-5th
- Program Length: 60-minute indoor program
- Cost: $250
- 2027 Cost: $300
- Number of Participants: 25 or fewer per group
- Available: September-June
What makes a whale a whale? In this program, students will explore whale anatomy, adaptations, behaviors, and migratory journeys while discovering how these incredible marine mammals survive in the ocean. Through hands-on activities, real whale bones, engaging visuals, and an encounter with Katahdin, SSC’s 25-foot inflatable North Atlantic right whale, students will learn about whale biology, conservation, and the efforts to protect these endangered animals.
Small Group Experiences with a Seacoast Science Center Aquarist
Behind the Scenes
- Grades: Adults and Mature Teens
- Program Length: 30 minutes
- Cost: $150
- 2027 Cost: $200
- Number of Participants: 8 individuals
- Available: Wednesday and Friday at 11 am; one group per day
Step through the “Staff Only” doors and go behind the SSCenes for an exclusive look at what keeps our animals and exhibits thriving! Explore hidden areas of the Center, discover the science behind our life-support systems and animal care, and hear stories from the aquarist team about the daily work involved in caring for marine life.
Gulf of Maine Guided Gallery
- Grades: Adults and Mature Teens
- Program Length: 30 minutes
- 2027 Cost: $200
- Number of Participants: 15 individuals
- Available: Wednesday and Friday at 11 am; one group per day
Seacoast Science Center’s Gulf of Maine Exhibit Hall showcases the incredible diversity of life found in our local waters. Discover how changing habitats affect the Gulf and meet some of its fascinating residents, from black sea bass and lumpfish to lobsters and more. Explore features like Cashes Ledge and learn how this unique underwater world supports both marine life and local fisheries.
Self-Guided Visits
Prices listed are group rates and are available for 8 or more participants only.
Explorer Group: SSC & Park
- Cost: $10 per participant, $14 per adult
- Cost for NH schools during the school year: $8 per student, $10 per adult
If you would like to bring your class or group to explore on your own, you must register as an Explorer Group.
Explorer Group: Park Only
- Cost: $2 per participant, $4 per adult
- Cost for NH schools during the school year: FREE
If you would like to bring your class or group to Odiorne Point State Park only, you must register as an Explorer Group. Park Only DOES NOT include admission into Seacoast Science Center.
Please note: Odiorne Point State Park defines the school year as after Labor Day through June 19th.
Schedule Your Program or Group Visit
Please fill out our inquiry form to get started. Our registrar will get back to you within 1–3 business days to learn more about your group’s needs and help plan your program.
Please contact our registrar at 603-436-8043, ext. 13 or registrar@sscnh.org if you have any questions.
Your booking confirmation is the formal confirmation that your program is scheduled. When you receive your confirmation email, please be sure all information is correct.
Please watch for your confirmation email, review the included materials, and share all important information with teachers and chaperones attending the field trip. If you are coordinating the visit but will not be present on the day of the program, please ensure the on-site group leader has all necessary details.
You can find a downloadable Field Trip Packet below.
Next Generation Science Standards
Seacoast Science Center aligns all of its school programs to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Below are the standards that our programs align with. Any additional standards can be found in the individual program descriptions below.
Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs)
LS1.D: Information Processing, LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, LS2.C: Ecosystems Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience, LS2.D: Interactions and Group Behavior, LS4.C: Adaptions, LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans.
Crosscutting Concepts (CCs)
1. Patterns, 3. Scale, proportion, and quantity, 6. Structure and function, and 7. Stability and change.
Science & Engineering Practices (SEPs)
1. Asking Questions and Defining Problems, 6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions, and 7. Engaging in argument from evidence.
Financial Assistance
Assistance may be available for groups with financial constraints. Please call the Registrar at 603-436-8043, ext. 13 or email registrar@sscnh.org to inquire about availability and request a Coastal Education Fund application form.
Payment & Confirmation
A 50% deposit is required within two weeks of booking for guided programs only to secure your program date. This deposit will be applied toward your final balance.
Explorer Groups are able to pay on the day of by either cash, check or credit card.
We encourage full payment at the time of booking, which helps streamline check-in and supports efficient scheduling and staffing.
Rescheduling
If your plans change, we’ll do our best to accommodate a new date based on availability. A $25 rescheduling fee applies to cover administrative costs. Your original deposit will transfer to your new date.
Cancellations
- More than 30 days before your scheduled program:
You may cancel for a full refund, minus a $50 administrative fee. - 14 to 30 days before your scheduled program:
Your 50% deposit is non-refundable. If you’ve paid in full, the remaining balance will be refunded. - Fewer than 14 days before the program or in the case of a no-show:
You will be charged the full cost of the program, and no refund will be issued.