fieldtripplanningguideFINAL

http://www.flaquarium.org | 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602 | (813) 273-4000
BEFORE YOUR VISIT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Hours of Operation
Open Daily 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day
Education Reservations Office Contact Information
Telephone: (813) 273-4015
Fax: (813) 209-2067
Email: education@flaquarium.org
Address
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
Directions are available on page 4
Note: It is recommended that you contact the Reservations
Office to reserve tickets and programs at least two weeks
prior to your visit.
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
The following is available on our website
www.flaquarium.org:
 Online Field Trip Form: Request a reservation
 Teaching Resources: Prepare your students with
pre-/post-lessons including scavenger hunts and
activities
 Aquaventures: Choose your program in the School
Programs Catalog
 Teacher Workshop Information: Learn about upcoming
teacher workshops
 Gallery Information: Read about our exhibits
 General Aquarium Information: View directions, contact
information, and prices
PRICES
General Admission Tickets
September-March: $6 per student*
April-August: $7 per student*
1 free Chaperone ticket for every 10 students
Group minimum is 15 students
Onsite Program Tickets
Classroom Education Program: $3 per student
Lab Program: $3 per student
Auditorium Education Program: $2 per student
Behind the Scenes Tour: $3 per student
*Special rates for Hillsborough County Title One schools.
WELCOME!
Thank you for choosing The Florida Aquarium for your next field trip! We believe it is important not only to entertain, but also to
educate and inspire stewardship about our natural environment. We welcome you and your students to dive into our various
school programs we offer at the Aquarium and return home with new knowledge and an experience you won’t forget! This guide
will provide you with the information you need to plan your field trip to The Florida Aquarium.
PREPARATION BEFORE ARRIVAL
Want a free visit to prepare for your field trip? Teachers,
show proof of ID at the Box Office for free admission on non-
field trip days. Offer is good during regular operating hours.
Family and friend discounts are not available. Teachers are
counted in chaperone total on day of the field trip.
Before arriving at The Florida Aquarium, complete the Group
Information Form on the Form page. Specifically:
 Record the number of students and chaperones.
 Provide the purchase order number (if applicable).
 Collect all the money from students and paying
chaperones and provide one payment to our staff
member upon arrival. We accept credit cards
(MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover),
school checks, and school purchase orders.
LATE ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES, &
CANCELLATIONS
If you will be arriving later than expected or if you must
cancel or postpone your trip, call Guest Services at (813) 273-
4201. Late entrance to scheduled programs may not be
possible.
Please ensure your bus driver knows that the Aquarium closes
at 5:00 PM. If an unplanned emergency causes your bus to be
late, notify Guest Services immediately.
Students love to
visit the
Stingray Beach
touch tank on
the second
floor!

DROP-OFF/PICK-UP INSTRUCTIONS
Instructions on bus and van drop-off and pick-up are as
follows:
 Buses and vans
o Buses park for free
o Display school’s name on the bus
o Drive to the roundabout and make a right on
Cumberland Avenue (between the Aquarium and
the Aquarium Parking lot)
o Look for an Aquarium team member to greet
your group in front of Cruise Terminal 3
o Confirm departure time with your bus driver
 Chaperone vehicles
o Chaperones driving separately and parking in our
lot must pay $4 per vehicle
CHECK-IN
Procedures for checking in at the Aquarium are as follows:
1. Locate the greeter. The lead teacher should identify
himself/herself to the greeter and learn directions to
the check-in
2. Check-in at the Guest Services just inside the Main
Lobby
3. Present the attached “Group Information” form and
provide payment
4. Confirm number of students and chaperones as well
as any education programs
5. Reserve a lunch time (every half hour at or after 11
AM) at the Sea Star Pavilion or other designated lunch
area
6. After checking in, pick up your group at the Main
Entrance to the Aquarium
7. Be sure to deliver your lunches to the Sea Star
Pavilion or other designated lunch area
PAYMENT POLICY
Major credit cards, organization checks, and cash accepted.
No personal checks. Purchase orders are also accepted, but
not for programs requiring prepayment or deposits.
LUNCH
Your group must schedule a lunch time for the Sea Star
Pavilion on the day of your visit.
General information on lunches is as follows:
 Label all lunches with your group name and store in
hard or soft coolers in the shaded area under the
pavilion
 Take responsibility to drop-off and pick-up your coolers
 Use optional shopping carts to transport your group’s
lunches to your designated lunch location
Note:
 On crowded days, you may be asked to eat in an
alternate location
 Groups are not permitted to have lunch delivered from
outside companies (i.e., pizza, burgers) and eat within
our facility
 Food/drink is not permitted in the Aquarium galleries
LUNCH ORDERS
Lunches are available through Café Ray.
Café Ray lunch ordering information is detailed below:
 Order lunches 1 week prior to your scheduled visit using
the attached Lunch Order Form.
 Count the exact number of lunches 3 days prior to
arrival.
 Fax your order to (813) 274-1814. Catering will call you
within 24 hours to confirm this order. If you do not hear
from the catering service called Aramark, please call the
Catering Office at (813) 367-4093 or (813) 367-4031.
 Make payment by check, credit card, or cash at the time
of pickup. Make out checks to Aramark and not the
Florida Aquarium.
CAFÉ RAY LUNCH MENU
Cold Lunch: $6 each
Lunch #1: Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich on White Bread
Lunch #2: Sliced Ham and American Cheese on White Bread
Hot Lunch: $6 each
Lunch #3: Chicken Fingers with French Fries
Lunch #4: Cheese Pizza
All lunches include chips (except #3), choice of punch, milk, or
small soda, and choice of one cookie or whole fruit.
Note: Lunch sides must be the same item for all lunches. For
example: if you would like a side of fruit, all orders will have a
side of fruit.
DURING YOUR VISIT
View the beautiful
fish in our Coral
Reef Exhibit!

AQUARIUM GUIDELINES
Please review the Aquarium Guidelines with students while
they are on the bus.
 Students must remain in chaperoned groups at all
times (at least a 1:10 adult to student ratio).
Unsupervised students are not permitted in the
Aquarium.
 Please be considerate of other guests in the
Aquarium so everyone has an enjoyable experience.
 Student groups must use the stairs instead of the
escalator. An elevator is available for physically
challenged guests.
 Please touch animals only in designated areas: the
Horseshoe Crab Lagoon on the first floor and the
Stingray touch tank and the No Bone Zone on the
second floor.
 Food, drink, and chewing gum are not allowed in the
Aquarium galleries.
 Student groups are welcome to visit the Aquarium gift
shop with an accompanying chaperone.
 Students must walk in all Aquarium Galleries as floors
may become wet and slippery in some areas.
 At the Sea Star Pavilion, please pick up garbage and
place in the appropriate receptacles provided.
Thanks for helping us to keep garbage from entering
animal areas!
EXTRAS
EXPLORING THE BAY – EDUCATION ECO-TOUR
Have your students climb aboard our new 72-foot catamaran,
the Bay Spirit II and explore Tampa Bay’s array of wildlife.
Wildlife includes bottlenose dolphins, manatees, and
numerous species of birds, many of which are either
threatened or endangered. Your students will love it!
Reservations are required, and students must be in 5th
grade
or higher. There is a minimum 45 passengers a maximum of
130 passengers.
 Call Guest Services at (813) 273-4201 to book a
reservation
 Check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure
 Prepare to board 15 minutes prior to scheduled
departure
Note: The Aquarium reserves the right to cancel boat
programs due to weather or mechanical difficulties.
BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS
Go on a 30-minute guided tour behind the scenes to places in
the Aquarium general guests do not get to see! They learn
about what goes into preparation for feeding the animals and
see some of the exhibits from a different perspective! If you
would like a Behind the Scenes Tour, please indicate so on the
Online Field Trip Form.
SEA STARS STUDENT REWARD PROGRAM
Students with all As and/or Bs or perfect attendance can get
FREE admission to The Florida Aquarium with a paid adult
($10 per adult, maximum of 2 adults at this rate).
 Bring report card for free admission
 Must be used within one month from report card issue
date
 Offered to Florida residents only (K-12)
Vouchers can be accessed on the flyer attached.
EXPLORE A SHORE
Explore A Shore is our 2-acre outdoor water adventure zone.
To be fair to all school and camp groups, to ensure the safety
of our guests, and because of limited capacity, the education
group rate does not include admission to Explore A Shore.
DURING YOUR VISIT
Check out our
newest exhibit:
Journey to
Madagascar
which includes
leaping ring-tailed
lemurs, hissing
cockroaches,
colorful
chameleons, and
an Indian Ocean
coral reef!
Experience the
Bay Spirit II and
see the wildlife
Tampa Bay has
to offer!

fgjfghfghfghfghfghfghfghfghfghfghfghfghfghfg DIRECTIONS
From I-275 Southbound –
Coming from North Tampa & Ocala Areas
Take Exit 45A (OLD 26) Downtown East (Jefferson Street)
Continue straight on Jefferson to Twiggs
Left on Twiggs to Channelside Drive
Right on Channelside Drive to Washington Street
Left on Washington Street to Aquarium Parking
From I-275 Northbound –
Coming from St. Petersburg and The Beaches
Take DOWNTOWN EAST (Scott Street) EXIT 44 (Old 25)
Continue straight on Scott to Jefferson
Right on Jefferson Street to Twiggs
Left on Twiggs to Channelside Drive
Right on Channelside to Washington Street
From Crosstown Eastbound –
Coming from St. Petersburg Gandy Bridge
Take Exit 6B Downtown East (Channelside Drive)
Continue east on Channelside Drive to Washington Street
(you pass the aquarium)
Right on Washington Street to Aquarium Parking
From S.R. 60 Eastbound (Kennedy/Jackson) –
Coming from Clearwater & Dunedin Areas
Continue east on Kennedy to Ashley Street
Right on Ashley to Jackson Street
Left on Jackson to Kennedy Blvd
Right on Kennedy to Channelside Drive
From I-4 Westbound –
Coming from Lakeland & Orlando Areas
Take Exit 1 Downtown East (22nd & 21st Street)
Continue straight on 21st to HWY 60 (Adamo Drive)
Right on to HWY 60 to Channelside Drive
Left on Channelside Drive to Washington Street
From S.R. 60 Westbound (Adamo Drive) –
Coming from Sarasota & Bradenton Areas
Take I-75 North to Exit 257 (OLD 51)
Off Exit Ramp 257 - go left onto S.R. 60 (Adamo Drive)
Continue west on S.R. 60 (Adamo Drive) to
Channelside Drive
Left on Channelside Drive to Washington Street
From Crosstown Westbound –
Coming from Brandon & Lake Wales
Take Exit 8 Downtown East (Kennedy Blvd.)
Continue straight on Kennedy to Jefferson Street
Right on Jefferson to Twiggs
Right on Twiggs to Channelside Drive
Address:
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 273-4000
The Florida
Aquarium is easily
recognized by its
domed shape and
large manta ray
display near the
entrance.
The Florida
Aquarium

GROUP INFORMATION FORM
School: ________________________________________________________
School Contact: _________________________________________________
Payment Method (circle one): Check Credit Card Purchase Order
Check #: ________________ PO #:__________________
# Students: _____________________________________
# Free Chaperones (1 free ticket for every 10 students): _________________
# Paying Chaperones: _____________________________
Present this form to Guest Services when you check-in at the Aquarium.
LUNCH ORDER
YOUR SCHOOL INFORMATION:
School: __________________________________________________________________
Contact: _________________________ Email:_________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________________
Phone #: __________________ Lunch Date and Time: ___________________________
Amount Ordered: LUNCH #1 _______ #2 ________ #3 ________ #4________
Choice of: Cookie _____ Fruit ______ (MARK ONE ONLY)
Choice of: Fruit Punch _____ Milk_____ Soda _____ (MARK ONE ONLY)
Authorized Signature
________________________________________________________________________
Fax your order to (813) 274-1814. Catering will call you within 24 hours to confirm this order. If you do
not hear from the catering service called Aramark, please call the Catering Office at (813) 367-4093 or
(813) 367-4031.
** If tax exempt, please fax your exemption certificate with your order. If no tax exempt form is faxed, 7% sales tax will be
added to the total.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER

The Florida Aquarium
Education Department
Sea Stars
Program
2014-2015
FREE child’s admission to The Florida Aquarium
with a paid adult
Adults pay $10 per person
Maximum of two adults at this rate
Students with all As and/or Bs
or
Students with perfect attendance
Bring report card for free admission
Must be used one month from report card issue date
Offered to Florida residents only
NOT VALID WITH GROUP ENTRANCE
Contact Information
Education Reservations
Telephone Email
(813) 273-4015 education@flaquarium.org
Facsimile Mailing Address
(813) 209-2067 701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
Opening Eyes to the World Outside
A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
Sea Stars
Program
2014-2015
with a paid adult
or
Contact Information
Telephone Email
Tampa, FL 33602
Sea Stars
Program
2014-2015
with a paid adult
or
Contact Information
Telephone Email
Tampa, FL 33602
Sea Stars
Program
2014-2015
with a paid adult
or
Contact Information
Telephone Email
Tampa, FL 33602

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