Marine Science Institute

10/17/2026

What changes when you experience a place from within it?

You're looking down at Bair Island, the winding waterways and wetland habitat right next door to Marine Science Institute. Look closely and you can even spot MSI in the distance.

During our Canoes in Sloughs program, students leave our beach and experience this landscape from an entirely different perspective: from the water itself.

Moving through the slough, the marsh becomes more than something to study. Students observe its plants and wildlife, experience the influence of the tides, and investigate the environmental conditions that shape this important San Francisco Bay habitat.

It's one of the ideas at the heart of : outdoor learning can inspire lasting connections with and care for the natural world.

Experiences like these give students the opportunity to know the environments in their own communities through firsthand exploration.

Because caring for a place can begin with the chance to truly experience it.

Learn more about Canoes in Sloughs: https://www.sfbaymsi.org/canoes-in-sloughs

California Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education - AEOE

10/12/2026

🌊 School's Out, Science Is In! 🦀

What a week at October Break Camp! From hands-on marine science discoveries to exploring San Francisco Bay, our campers packed their school break with curiosity, adventure, and plenty of fun!

💙 Thanks to all our amazing campers for making it such a memorable week!

🍂 Kids off school for November Break? Wondering how to keep them busy? We've got you covered!

November Break Camp is right around the corner, with more outdoor exploration, marine science discoveries, and hands-on adventures!

🔗 Register today: https://www.sfbaymsi.org/november-break-camp

10/07/2026

Have you booked your Saturday yet? Let us make it easy. 🛶*

There are only a couple of spaces left for Canoes in Sloughs on October 10!**

Join MSI for a family-friendly paddle through the beautiful waterways around Bair Island with our naturalist instructors. No canoeing experience? No problem! We’ll provide the gear and help you get comfortable on the water while you explore local wildlife, wetland habitats, and the hidden corners of this incredible ecosystem.

You’ll even enjoy lunch right from your canoeand take a little time along the way to give back with a creek cleanup.

You definitely don’t need to be a champion paddler for this adventure. Just bring your curiosity, your crew, and your appetite for a day outside. 🌿

📅 Saturday, October 10
🛶 Family-friendly
🌊 Wildlife, wetlands, lunch on the water & hands-on stewardship
Register at https://app.amilia.com/store/en/marinescienceinstitute/shop/activities/7093358

Only a couple of spots remain, so reserve yours before they’re gone!

10/05/2026

Today we're celebrating the teachers who take learning beyond the classroom. 💙

Every MSI field trip starts with an educator who chooses to give their students an opportunity to explore, investigate, ask questions, and experience science firsthand.

So for World Teachers' Day, we thought we'd let some of the incredible teachers we've had the privilege of exploring with share, in their own words, what these experiences mean to them and their students.

To every teacher who has boarded the ship, explored the shoreline, visited our aquarium, gotten muddy, asked one more question, carried the extra backpack, and shared your curiosity with your students:

Thank you. We love exploring with you.

10/02/2026

What if your Saturday plans came with a 90-foot research vessel? 🚢

Step aboard the R.V. Robert G. Brownlee on Saturday, October 10 for an unforgettable EcoVoyage on San Francisco Bay!

During this 2-hour family science adventure, you’ll work alongside MSI’s expert crew to experience the same hands-on marine science our students and campers love. Trawl for fish, investigate creatures from the muddy Bay floor, and take a closer look at live plankton under the microscope, all while cruising the Bay and discovering what makes our estuary so incredible.

This isn’t just a boat ride. You’re joining the crew for real, hands-on Bay science. 🌊🔬

📅 Saturday, October 10
🚢 2-hour voyage aboard the R.V. Robert G. Brownlee
🐟 Trawl for fish, explore Bay creatures & examine live plankton
👨‍👩‍👧 Perfect for ages 5+ and their favorite grown-ups
🎟️ $47 per participant

Ready to get out on the Bay? Reserve your spot at https://app.amilia.com/store/en/marinescienceinstitute/shop/activities/7290220

10/01/2026

What happens when students trade the classroom for the beach?

They explore, investigate, make decisions, share ideas, and figure things out together.

During MSI's Marsh and Beach Exploration, students work in teams as they discover the coastal environment around them. Even an activity as delightfully strange as creating a "wrack line monster" from natural materials found along the beach becomes an opportunity to collaborate, experiment, and problem-solve.

It's one of the five big benefits highlighted by : leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Outdoor learning gives students space to practice these skills in a different kind of classroom, where the challenge may be right in front of them and there isn't always one "right" way to solve it.

It's one of the many reasons we believe learning outside matters.

Learn more about MSI's Marsh and Beach Exploration: https://www.sfbaymsi.org/marsh-and-beach-exploration

California Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education - AEOE

09/24/2026

We’re heading to PortFest! 🚢🌊
Join Marine Science Institute on Saturday, October 3 for a special 2-hour experience aboard our Research Vessel, the Robert G. Brownlee!
Your adventure includes a cruise through the Port of Redwood City, time out on the Bay, and a stop at Marine Science Institute for a tour of our Aquarium and Marine Science Center, including plankton viewing.
🎟️ $10 per person
🧒 Ages 5+
👟 Closed-toed shoes required
⚓ Every person boarding must have their own reservation
Space aboard the Brownlee is limited, so reserve your spot at https://app.amilia.com/store/en/marinescienceinstitute/shop/programs/135711?subCategoryIds=7188229
We’ll see you at PortFest! 🌊

Take a boat tour of the bay with Marine Science Institute during PortFest 2026!

🗓 Saturday, October 3, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
📍475 Seaport Court, Redwood City

Explore the Port’s waters, learn about local marine life and enjoy the views from the deck!

Boats leave every hour, so there are five opportunities for this unforgettable experience.

Space is limited, and reservations are recommended.

Reserve your spot today:

https://app.amilia.com/store/en/marinescienceinstitute/shop/programs/135711?_gl=1*1yilcny*_up*MQ..*_ga*ODY3NzkyNjY2LjE3ODk0MjYxMjQ.*_ga_NBTK0LE817*czE3ODk0MjYxMjQkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODk0MjYxMjQkajYwJGwwJGgw&subCategoryIds=7188229

09/19/2026

🍂 October break is right around the corner!

Still figuring out what the kids are doing while school’s out? Send them our way for October Camp at Marine Science Institute! 🌊

From October 5–9, kids in grades K–5 will explore the Bay, Coast, and Ocean, meet incredible marine life, investigate local habitats, and dive into hands-on experiences that bring marine science to life.

And San Mateo-Foster City School District families, we’re especially looking at you! 👀 Your October break lines up perfectly with camp.

📅 October 5–9
🎒 Grades K–5
🦈 Marine life encounters
🌊 Bay, coast & ocean exploration
☀️ Plenty of outdoor adventure

Spots are limited, and camp is almost here!

👉 Learn more + register: https://www.sfbaymsi.org/october-break-camp

Not on break that week? Share this with a friend, neighbor, or family member who might be! 💙