activities · 26
what they do
direct service · 26
- Administer membership program Admission Access & Membership ProgramsProvides a membership program offering 12 months of unlimited free visits and exclusive benefits to support ongoing visitation and engagement.
- Conduct species conservation and release efforts Wildlife Rescue and RehabilitationRaised and released hundreds of California red-legged frog tadpoles and rescued northern tidewater gobies following the Palisades Fire, returning them to their native habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains as part of emergency conservation actions.
- Conduct whale watch excursions Onsite Environmental Exhibits & DemonstrationsOffers whale watch excursions led by naturalists to observe whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions in the Pacific Ocean.
- Conducts community science initiativesEngages the public in scientific data collection and environmental monitoring through hands-on community science programs.
- Conducts emergency conservation and species rescue efforts Wildlife Rescue and RehabilitationEngages in direct conservation actions, including raising and releasing hundreds of California red-legged frog tadpoles and rescuing northern tidewater gobies following wildfires, then returning them to their native habitat.
- Deliver STEM education programs Marine and Coastal Environmental EducationProvides interactive STEM education programs for PreK-12 students and produces educational video series for 6th-12th grade students focused on ocean and environmental science.
- Deliver inclusive visitor services Physical & Sensory Accessibility AccommodationsProvides visitor maps and guides available in Braille and Spanish to ensure accessibility for diverse audiences.
- Delivers STEM education programs Marine and Coastal Environmental EducationProvides interactive STEM education programs for PreK-12 students focused on ocean and environmental science, along with educational video series for 6th–12th grade students and online resources including aquarium webcams.
- Engage public in community scienceConducts community science initiatives that involve the public in scientific data collection and environmental monitoring.
- Host fundraising eventsRaised over $700,000 through the Blue Whale Gala and Whale’s Tail After Party to support education and conservation initiatives.
- Host public programming and community events Marine and Coastal Environmental EducationOffers guest speakers, art and science events, cultural festivals, and community science programs to connect the public with ocean conservation.
- Hosts public programming and community eventsOrganizes guest speakers, art and science events, cultural festivals, and community science initiatives to connect the public with ocean conservation and environmental stewardship.
- Manage visitor access and admissionsOperates daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (excluding Christmas Day), uses timed ticketing with online reservations required on weekends and holidays, and admits children under 3 free without tickets.
- Manages visitor access and admissionsUses timed ticketing for visitor entry, allowing online reservation of time slots. Requires reservations on weekends and holidays, while children under 3 are admitted free without a ticket or reservation.
- Offer adult education and engagement Marine and Coastal Environmental EducationProvides educational and engagement programs for adult audiences focused on ocean conservation and sustainability.
- Offers adult education and engagement programs Marine and Coastal Environmental EducationProvides educational and engagement programs tailored to adult audiences, focusing on ocean conservation, sustainability, and environmental science.
- Offers membership programProvides a membership program that includes 12 months of unlimited free visits and exclusive benefits for members.
- Offers whale watch excursions Onsite Environmental Exhibits & DemonstrationsConducts whale watch tours led by naturalists to observe whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions in the Pacific Ocean. These excursions are offered regularly as part of public engagement programming.
- Operate public marine life exhibits Interactive Wildlife Exhibits & Animal EncountersOperates permanent exhibits featuring sea otters, sharks, sea jellies, frogs, and other marine species across Tropical, Northern, and Southern California Galleries, with daily access to specialized experiences like the Moon Jelly Touch Lab and Lorikeet Forest.
- Operates marine life exhibits Interactive Wildlife Exhibits & Animal EncountersFeatures permanent exhibits with sea otters, sharks, sea jellies, frogs, and other marine species in the Tropical, Northern, and Southern California Galleries. Exhibits are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except on Christmas Day.
- Provide narrated harbor tours Guided Tours and Docent-Led ExperiencesOffers 45-minute narrated harbor tours in partnership with Harbor Breeze Cruises for public education and engagement.
- Provide online educational resources Marine and Coastal Environmental EducationOffers online resources and access to aquarium webcams to support public education and engagement with marine life and conservation topics.
- Provides multilingual and accessible visitor resources Physical & Sensory Accessibility AccommodationsOffers visitor maps and guides in Braille and Spanish to support accessibility and inclusive visitation.
- Provides narrated harbor cruises Guided Tours and Docent-Led ExperiencesOffers 45-minute narrated harbor tours in partnership with Harbor Breeze Cruises, available daily as a public engagement and educational activity.
- Run youth stewardship and climate programsOperates youth-focused programs including the Teen Climate Council and stewardship initiatives to promote ocean literacy, climate action, and leadership development for young people.
- Runs youth climate and stewardship programsOperates youth-focused programs including the Teen Climate Council and youth stewardship initiatives to promote ocean literacy, climate action, and leadership development for young people.
strategies · 21
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Accessibility and Inclusive Visitor Services accessibility_inclusionEnsures equitable access to the aquarium experience by providing accommodations and services for visitors with disabilities, promoting inclusion.
- Accessibility and inclusion in visitor services accessibility_inclusionProvides accommodations and accessibility services to ensure equitable access for visitors with disabilities, promoting inclusion across all visitor experiences.
- Accessibility services for inclusive visitation accessibility_inclusionThe Aquarium provides accommodations for visitors with disabilities to ensure equitable access, using inclusive design and support services as a mechanism to broaden participation.
- Community-Based Conservation Approach community-based conservationAdvances ocean conservation and sustainability by engaging communities in collective action, leveraging local knowledge and participation to drive broader environmental impact.
- Community-based conservation model community-based conservationThe Aquarium advances ocean conservation by engaging the community in collective action, leveraging inclusive partnerships and local involvement to promote sustainability.
- Community-based conservation model community-based conservationThe Aquarium advances ocean conservation by engaging communities in collective action, leveraging local inclusion and participation as a mechanism to promote sustainability and stewardship.
- Education and Youth Empowerment for Ocean Stewardship education_and_conservation_outreachEmpowers and inspires young people to become ocean stewards through targeted conservation and education programs that foster long-term environmental responsibility.
- Education-driven stewardship education_and_conservation_outreachUses conservation and education programs to inspire and empower youth to become active ocean stewards, fostering long-term behavioral change and environmental responsibility.
- Education-driven stewardship development education_and_conservation_outreachThrough conservation and education programs, the Aquarium empowers youth to become ocean stewards, using experiential learning as a mechanism to inspire long-term environmental engagement.
- Marine Species Recovery and Breeding Programs marine_species_recovery_programsConducts scientific research, captive breeding, and recovery efforts to conserve threatened marine species, such as the sunflower sea star, to support ecosystem resilience.
- Marine species recovery through science and breeding marine_species_recovery_programsConducts scientific research, captive breeding, and recovery programs for threatened marine species to support ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation.
- Marine species recovery through science and breeding marine_species_recovery_programsThe Aquarium conducts scientific research, captive breeding, and recovery programs for threatened marine species, using active intervention as a mechanism to support biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
- Premium access to enhance visitor experience enhanced_visitor_experienceThe Aquarium offers VIP admission packages that provide reservation-free entry and additional benefits, using tiered access as a mechanism to improve convenience and satisfaction for certain visitor segments.
- Pricing and Partnership Strategies to Expand Access regional_partnership_pricingIncreases regional visitation and access by partnering with local attractions to offer bundled admission pricing, making the aquarium more accessible as part of broader cultural itineraries.
- Pricing and partnership strategies to expand regional access regional_partnership_pricingIncreases accessibility and visitation by partnering with local attractions to offer bundled pricing, leveraging regional collaboration to broaden audience reach.
- Regional partnership pricing for expanded access regional_partnership_pricingBy partnering with local attractions to offer bundled admission, the Aquarium increases regional visitation and accessibility, leveraging collaboration as a mechanism to broaden audience reach.
- Timed Entry and Reservation System for Visitor Management timed_entry_systemManages visitor flow and enhances on-site experience by integrating timed ticketing into the online ticketing process, ensuring controlled and efficient access.
- Timed entry and reservation system for visitor management timed_entry_systemManages visitor flow and enhances on-site experience by integrating timed ticketing into the online purchase process, ensuring controlled and efficient access.
- Timed entry for visitor flow management timed_entry_systemThe Aquarium uses a timed ticketing system integrated into online purchases to manage crowd levels and improve visitor experience through controlled access and reduced wait times.
- VIP and Enhanced Visitor Experience Offerings enhanced_visitor_experienceOffers premium admission packages that provide reservation-free entry and added benefits to improve convenience and satisfaction for visitors seeking enhanced experiences.
- VIP and premium visitor experience offerings enhanced_visitor_experienceEnhances visitor satisfaction through premium admission packages that provide reservation-free entry and added benefits, catering to diverse visitor needs and preferences.
named programs · 9
what they call their work
Community Science
Public participation in scientific research and data collection initiatives focused on marine ecosystems
Cultural & Community Festivals
Events celebrating diverse cultures and their relationship with the ocean
Harbor Tour
45-minute narrated cruise around the Long Beach/Los Angeles harbors with Harbor Breeze Cruises
Lorikeet Forest
Interactive exhibit where visitors can feed lorikeets daily
Moon Jelly Touch Lab
Exhibit allowing guests to touch moon jellies during designated hours
Online Academy
Interactive STEM education programs for PreK-12 students, including video series and webcam resources
Shark and Ray Animal Encounter
Hands-on experience where visitors can feed rays by hand
Teen Climate Council
Youth stewardship program engaging teens in climate action and environmental leadership
Whale Watch
Ocean adventure with Aquarium naturalists to observe whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions in the Pacific Ocean
relationships · 6
who they work with
- Harbor Breeze Cruises Partner — Partners to provide a 45-minute narrated harbor cruise experience.
- Harbor Breeze Cruises Partner — Partners with Harbor Breeze Cruises to offer narrated harbor tours.
- Los Angeles Zoo Partner — Offers joint admission tickets with the Los Angeles Zoo for one combined price.
- MCRI Partner — Collaborates with MCRI on conservation efforts.
- Queen Mary Partner — Offers joint admission tickets with the Queen Mary for one combined price.
- UC Climate Stewards Partner — Partners with UC Climate Stewards on climate and conservation programming.