Birch Aquarium School Programs - Birch Aquarium at Scripps eTicketing

General Admission

At the Gate Pricing	Adult	Child
Walk-Up Entry	$39.95	$34.95
Online Only Pricing	Adult	Child
Daily Entry	$34.95	$29.95

Buy Online and Save

Secure your entry and save up to $20 on select dates when you buy tickets online. Admission capacity is limited, and walk-up entry is only guaranteed for members. Memberships start at $89—Join today!

Adult (Ages 13+)

From $39.95

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Add your ticket(s) to the cart to view online-only pricing.

Child (Ages 3-12)

From $34.95

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Add your ticket(s) to the cart to view online-only pricing.

Additional Offers

Group Sales Admission

Group Sales Discount

10+ tickets to receive the discount and you are required to adhere to the date/time of your tickets. Plan your visit and learn more.

Please view our field trip options if you are a school/youth group.

Group - Adult (Ages 13+)

From $31.95

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Group - Child (Ages 3-12)

From $26.95

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Adult Supervision Required
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, there must be at least 1 adult present for every 10 children (no complimentary admission for adults). Adults are responsible for ensuring the group follows all safety guidelines.

Annual Memberships

Thank you for your commitment to advancing our mission at Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Your membership supports our efforts to inspire a new generation of ocean stewards and promote a deeper appreciation for the importance of conservation.

Memberships may be purchased online with a credit card. For questions about payment options, please email aquariuminfo@ucsd.edu.

Ocean Protector

Price: $249.00

Benefits Include: Unlimited access for a year for 2 named adults* plus up to 4 children, 10% off at Blue Wave Bistro and Gift Shop, special member news and insider tips, and access to unique member opportunities.

*Host Option: Instead of naming a second adult on your membership, you may select Guest (Unnamed), which allows you to host a guest during your visit. Your guest cannot use your membership unaccompanied.

Ocean Champion

Price: $499.00

Benefits Include: Unlimited access for a year for 2 named adults* plus up to 4 children, 20% off at Blue Wave Bistro and Gift Shop, special member news and insider tips, access to unique member opportunities, and priority camp registration. Also included are 2 event tickets to any Oceans at Night or Halloween Aglow.

Perk Alert: This membership includes a transferable VIP card, which grants aquarium admission for up to 3 guests without the member being present.

*Host Option: Instead of naming a second adult on your membership, you may select Guest (Unnamed), which allows you to host a guest during your visit. Your guest cannot use your membership unaccompanied.

Friends of Birch Aquarium

When you give $1,000.00 or more, your benefits will include:
Free admission for up to six people on each visit, plus priority registration for camps, 20% off at the Blue Wave Bistro & Gift Shop, exclusive members-only events, and much more!

Click Here to Give Now

Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Tour Policies

Participants must wear closed-toed shoes during the tour.
Participants must be at least ages 8+. Minors must be with an adult.
No refunds are available for tours.
Tickets must be purchased at least 1 hour prior to start time.

Behind-the-Scenes: Penguins

From $90.00

Aquarium Admission Not Included

Learn what makes Little Blue Penguins so unique and how you can help protect this special seabird. Go behind the scenes at our Penguin Care and Conservation Center to meet a Penguin Care Team member and see the penguins up close. Prices may vary by date. Refunds are not available for tours.

Behind-the-Scenes: Seahorses

From $50.00

Aquarium Admission Not Included

Explore the secret lives of seahorses in this one-hour, educator-led experience. Tour the Seadragons & Seahorses exhibit, go behind the scenes to see how we care for these fascinating creatures, and discover how Birch Aquarium supports global conservation efforts. Prices may vary by date. Refunds are not available for tours.

Halloween Aglow

After the sun goes down, the aquarium lights up! Join us on October 23 or 24 for Halloween Aglow, a family-friendly event at the aquarium from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

All sales are final.
Members save 20% off tickets; enter your active member number in the cart to receive the discount.
All minors must be accompanied by a paid adult.

Halloween Aglow Adult (Ages 13+)

Regular Price: $59.95

Member Price: $47.96

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Halloween Aglow Child (Ages 3-12)

Regular Price: $49.95

Member Price: $39.96

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All minors must be accompanied by a paid adult; children ages 2 and under are free.

Front-of-House Tours

Please note that our front-of-house tours do not include aquarium admission. You will need a valid form of entry (general admission, membership, third-party tickets, etc.) in addition to your tour registration.

Aquarium Insider Tour

Price: $30.00

Aquarium Admission Not Included

Uncover the hidden gems of Birch Aquarium through this 45-minute guided tour. An educator will guide you through the public-facing portion of the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery, sharing insider stories and secrets of the aquarium! Refunds are not available for tours. This tour does not go behind-the-scenes.

Lectures & Talks

Seating is limited and advanced reservations are required for all guests, including members.

Member Discount: Please enter your active membership number in the Cart to receive your discount.

Perspectives Lecture Series

Regular Price: $12.00

Member Price: $0.00

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Join us for the upcoming lecture—Current Research, Future Impact: Student Perspectives of CMBC—with Cody Hooven, MAS '08, Eva Hidalgo Pla, MS '23, PhD Candidate and Sarah Rose, UC San Diego Visual Arts PhD candidate, Scripps PIER Program. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Session Current Research, Future Impact: Monday, October 12, 2026 7:00PM - 8:00PM AVAILABLE

Oceans at Night

Don't miss out on this nighttime 21+ event featuring music, drinks and fascinating ocean science!

Event Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Member Discount: Members save 20% off tickets. Enter your active membership number in the Cart to receive your discount.
Must be ages 21+ (photo ID required).
All sales are final.

Oceans at Night: Adult

Regular Price: $59.95

Member Price: $47.96

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Grab your ghoul-friends and join us for a night of skele-fun at Oceans at Night: Halloween, our 21+ Halloween celebration!

Marine Science Club

Dive into discovery with Birch Aquarium’s Marine Science Club for children ages 6 to 10! Guided by experienced educators, kids will explore vibrant underwater worlds, participate in hands-on science activities and get up close with fascinating marine animals.

Aquarium Explorers Club

Price: $25.00

Ages 6-7

Register for one or more of our 1-day clubs (price listed per 1-day club). Clubs meet on select Sundays in October and November from 1 to 3 p.m. Select your club below.

Date	1-Day Clubs
10/11/26	Fishy Friends
10/18/26	Magical Molluscs
10/25/26	Sensational Sea Turtles
11/1/26	Playful Penguins
11/8/26	Marvelous Marine Mammals
11/15/26	Amazing Amphibians

All clubs Ages 6-7 meet at Birch Aquarium.

Aquarium Adventure Club

Price: $25.00

Ages 8-10

Register for one or more of our 1-day clubs (price listed per 1-day club). Clubs are on select Saturdays in September and October from 1 to 3 p.m. Select your club below.

Date	1-Day Clubs
9/12/26	Incredible Invertebrates
9/19/26	Sharks and Food Webs
9/26/26	Aquarium 101
10/3/26	Deep Sea Discoveries
10/10/26	Tropical Reefs
10/17/26	Scripps Science*

*This 1-day club meets at Scripps Pier. All other clubs meet at Birch Aquarium.

Outdoor Adventures

Explore the natural world on an unforgettable experience led by Birch Aquarium naturalists. Advanced registration required; capacity is limited.

Scripps Pier Walks

Regular Price: $40.00

Member Price: $35.00

Discover research conducted at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, dissect a squid, examine plankton under a microscope, learn about local shark research and more on an exclusive walking tour of Scripps Pier!

Participants must be ages 9 and up. All minors (ages 9 – 17) must have their own ticket and be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Children under the age of 9 (including infants and toddlers) are not permitted on the Scripps Pier under any circumstances.

Tidepooling Adventures at Scripps Beach

Regular Price: $25.00

Member Price: $20.00

Meets at Scripps Pier

Join a Birch Aquarium naturalist to explore this local tide pool and learn about its unique animals. Discover the importance of this ever-changing environment and how you can help protect these habitats.

All participants must be at least 6 years old on the day of the program. Minors (ages 6–17) require a ticket and must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Children under 6, including infants and toddlers, will not be able to participate in the guided tidepooling experience.

Tidepooling Adventures at Kellogg Park

Regular Price: $25.00

Member Price: $20.00

Meets at Kellogg Park

Join a Birch Aquarium naturalist to explore this local tide pool and learn about its unique animals. Discover the importance of this ever-changing environment and how you can help protect these habitats.

All participants must be at least 6 years old on the day of the program. Minors (ages 6–17) require a ticket and must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Children under 6, including infants and toddlers, will not be able to participate in the guided tidepooling experience.