Visitor Center

Make the Sanctuary Your Classroom

The Visitor Center's educational programs introduce people of all ages to the living wonders of the marine sanctuary in our own backyard. Hold the baleen of a blue whale, feed a giant green anemone, touch the pelt of a sea otter and feel the saw-like teeth of a white shark. Hands-on activities create an intimate experience with our marine world that promotes understanding, appreciation and underscores the importance of our protected marine sanctuaries.

Public Programs at the Gulf of the Farallones Visitor Center

991 Marine Dr., The Presidio, San Francisco, CA 94129

Creature Feature
Creature Feature is a hands-on marine science program for 4 – 8 year olds and their families at the Gulf of the Farallones Visitor Center. Each month we focus on a different amazing ocean animal through fun activities such as games, interpretive beach walks, and encounters with live animals such as crabs, seastars, and plankton. This program is perfect for future marine biologists and anyone who loves marine life.

Creature Feature registration required by contacting:
Peter Winch: pwinch@farallones.org (415) 561-6625 x310
Program length: 90 minutes
Suggested Donation: $12 per family or FREE for FMSA Members
Next programs:
Saturday, July 17th 10:00 am

Plankton & Pastry
Plankton and Pastry is an exciting exploration of the weird and wonderful world of plankton in the waters just off Crissy Field. Be dazzled by diatoms, dinoflagellates, and copepods. Discover bizarre larvae from barnacles, crabs, and mussels. Participants get to collect their own samples and use their own microscopes. You won't believe your eyes! The program includes pastries, juice, and fresh strong coffee. The program is designed for 6 – 106 year old ocean enthusiasts.

Plankton & Pastry registration required by contacting:
Justin Holl: justin.holl@noaa.gov (415) 561-6622 x308
Program Length: 90 minutes
Suggested Donation: $15 per adult, $10 per child
1 adult or child FREE with new FMSA membership
Next Programs:

Questions? Contact Justin Holl: justin.holl@noaa.gov (415) 561-6622 x308

Cephapalooza! a Squid Spectacular
[Back by Popular Demand]
Obsessed by octopuses? Intrigued by ink? Tickled by tentacles?
Delve into the watery world of cephalopods!
• Watch squid and octopus films
• Learn about Humboldt squid adaptations through our naturalist led dissection
• Make your own Humboldt squid print with the assistance of our guest printmakers.
The program is designed for 6 – 106 year old cephalopod enthusiasts.

Cephapalooza registration required by contacting:
Contact Justin Holl: justin.holl@noaa.gov (415) 561-6622 x308
Program Length: 2 hours
Suggested Donation: $20 per adult, $15 per child
1 adult or child FREE with new FMSA membership

Next Programs:
June 19th, 10 am 
June 19th, 2 pm 

Questions? Contact Justin Holl: justin.holl@noaa.gov (415) 561-6622 x308

Sharks of the Sanctuary
Visitors are treated to a white shark video and discussion before participating in a "dissection" of our 14 ft white shark model. Following this activity, the families are invited to make their own shark prints using Lino blocks of all the different sharks of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Sharks of the Sanctuary registration required by contacting:
Lindsay Budnick
Program Length: 90 minutes
Suggested Donation: $15 per adult, $10 per child
Next Programs:
July 18th, 10 am , 1pm
Questions? Contact Justin Holl: justin.holl@noaa.gov (415) 561-6622 x308

Marine Science Private Event for Children
Host an event in one of the most stunning locations in the Presidio— overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Our Visitor Center Naturalist will lead your group of children in a catch and release fishing exploration of crabs from our pier classroom as well as a guided tour of the Gulf of the Farallones Visitor Center (including a special feeding of the animals!) This unique program includes the use of our pier classroom for your private group. We offer a limited number of these extraordinary events.

registration required by contacting:
Peter Winch: pwinch@farallones.org (415) 561-6625 x310
Program length: 2 hours
Suggested Donation: $300 per group (18 people maximum) $275 for new FMSA members

Located at the west end of Crissy Field, a stones throw from the Golden Gate Bridge and right on the edge of the sandy beach, the Visitor Center is an incredible resource for students of the Bay Area. We offer a range of programs for Pre-K through 12 that compliment California school standards and excite young people in learning about and exploring the marine environment.

Choose a particular emphasis such as tidepools, whales or the sharks of the sanctuary; or focus on key concepts that include adaptations, food webs, life cycles, or ecosystems. As students understand and define their roles and impacts in the natural world, a sense of stewardship is developed so that decisions they make today help conserve and protect our marine sanctuaries for the future.