Teacher-led Education Programs

Opportunities are available for well-supervised groups at all grade levels. While we welcome teacher-led programs, we expect that students are actively engaged in appropriate activities that will encourage learning and stewardship while protecting the resources at Yaquina Head. In this regard, we have found that allowing students to explore the park without an assignment or activities is often ineffective and compromises both the resources and the students’ learning experience. Please think of your visit as a "Field Experience" rather than a "Field Trip," and come prepared with appropriate, supervised activities for students while exploring the tide pools and other areas of the park.

There is no charge for schools to visit or for programs at Yaquina Head; however, advanced registration is required.

Yaquina Head Natural Outstanding Area is designated as a Marine Garden: a specially protected area in which it is illegal to collect marine invertebrates. Marine Gardens are areas that are targeted for educational programs, allowing visitors to enjoy and learn about intertidal resources. Please take extra care to review our Rules and Guidelines with your students before you come, and more importantly, abide by them during your visit.

To ensure the safety of our visitors, and to provide an overall positive experience for students and visitors, a practical student/adult ratio is required. A student/adult ratio of at least one adult per five students is recommended.

Upon arrival, a park ranger will greet each school group and provide a short, required orientation. The ranger will review rules and guidelines, provide suggestions on where and how to best proceed, and update your group about recent or interesting findings. A teacher may also request a ranger to a discuss related topic during registration. Whenever possible, a ranger will assist your group and be available as a resource while exploring.

Springtime Field Trips to the Tide Pools

Due to the high demand for springtime tide pool programs, Yaquina Head is required to limit the number of students visiting the tide pools at any given time. For specifics on when and how to register, please download our Registration Procedures from the website or call to request a copy. Preference will be given to ranger-led programs in grade levels where we offer such a program. In grade levels where we are unable to offer ranger-led programs, you may request a teacher-led program.