There are many ways for homeschooling families to learn at the Hatfield Visitor Center. You can explore the Visitor Center's exhibits on your own, attend one of our public programs, arrange a private class for your homeschool group and attend Homeschool Day events in the fall and spring.
Fall 2025 Family Homeschool Events
The Oregon Sea Grant Marine Education Program will be hosting several exciting, hands-on homeschool programs at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon this Fall - "Marine Mammals" and "Web of Life". Each program includes two date options and age-specific tracks. Family-friendly tracks will be for participants with predominantly younger children (ages 4 to 10) and mixed aged children (ages 8 to 12) and parents and children participate in classes as a family unit. NEW THIS FALL - students that are 12 to 18 years may participate in the students only track where adult supervision is not required.
Important note: the target grade levels for each "family friendly" track are suggested; therefore, all participants do not need to fall within the target age range. We recommend assessing your student learning levels and choosing the track that best fits your family’s needs. Educators will tailor the content to meet participants’ educational needs, with parents providing additional support for children outside the target grades. Participants in the students only track must fall within the 12 to 18 age range. Please review all logistics and registration tips below prior to submitting your registration. We look forward to hosting you and your family this fall!
Important Logistics:
- Homeschool programs will be held in-person at Hatfield Marine Science Center from 10 am - 3:30 pm and parking is available in our visitor center parking lot.
- Cost is $25 per person (adults and children ages 4 and above) and fees are paid at the time of registration. Children below 4 years of age are free.
- Each event includes 3 hours of hands-on STEM-themed activities, a break for lunch, craft time, and visitor center exploration.
- Payments are due at the time of registration. Program fees are fully refundable if a cancelation notification is received at least one week prior to the program date. Program fees are non-refundable if cancelation occurs after the one week deadline with limited exceptions granted on a case by case basis. Please contact the Marine Education Coordinator if you need to cancel your registration or if you have a last minute change in plans.
- Register Now! Please review the tips below prior to starting your registration:
- During registration, please register an adult/guardian first (who will serve as the primary adult) by selecting "this registration is for Me (your name)" on the first tab. You will have the opportunity to add all additional adults and children individually as you progress through the registration process.
- Registration will close one week prior to the scheduled event.
- Please note, our credit card payment site shuts down on a monthly basis for updates.Please note, our credit card payment site shuts down on a monthly basis for updates. It will be unavailable August 29 and September 26.
"Marine Mammals" - September 25 and 26
Join us for a marvelous exploration of magnificent marine mammals! Classes will investigate the unique feeding, communication, navigation, and survival strategies of these charismatic and majestic critters that call the ocean home. Important: OTTER and SEAL tracks are family-focused and families register and learn together. The WHALE track is our students only track for participants 12-18 years.
Track Descriptions
The OTTER track is for families with predominantly younger children. Classes will target ages 4 to 10; however, older students are welcome in an effort to accommodate families with wide age ranges. Please note that only children ages 4 and above need to be formally registered. You are welcome to bring children ages 3 and below for free.
Class Descriptions:
Marine Mammal Madness: Families will use a series of hands-on games and simulations to explore marine mammal adaptations, how toothed whales and dolphins use echolocation to navigate, communicate, and feed, and how scientists use a variety of tools to identify and track orcas!
Waters without Otters: Discover the importance of sea otters to the kelp forest ecosystem and the dramatic changes that occurred to this habitat when the sea otters disappeared. Families will follow the food chain as we investigate live purple sea urchins, kelp, among other biofacts critical to this dramatic storyline.
Fur, Fat, and Flukes: Swimming in the ocean can be c-c-cold! Find out how blubber, fat, fur, and other behaviors help marine mammals stay at the right temperature as we experience and compare the effects of these adaptations.
This SEAL track is recommended with families with mixed-aged children. Classes will target ages 8 to 12 years; however, younger and older students are welcome in an effort to accommodate families with wide age ranges. Please note that only children ages 4 and above need to be formally registered. You are welcome to bring children ages 3 and below for free.
Class Descriptions:
Insulation Inquiry: Learn about how different structures and behaviors help marine mammals maintain proper body temperature. Families will work together to make observations, generate predictions, design and conduct an experiment, and report findings.
Seeing with Sound: Investigate the science of sound waves using a variety of tools. Then, experience first-hand and how toothed whales and dolphins use sound (echolocation) to navigate and locate prey.
Waters without Otters: Discover the importance of sea otters to the kelp forest ecosystem and the dramatic changes that occurred to this habitat when the sea otters disappeared. Families will follow the food chain as we investigate live purple sea urchins, kelp, among other biofacts critical to this dramatic story line.
The WHALE (students only) TRACK is targeted to students 12-18 years old. Parents/guardians are not required to accompany their child during activities associated with this track. Parents are welcome to register their child and drop them off for the event OR may register their older child(ren) for this track while they participate in the OTTER or SEAL track with their younger children.
Class Descriptions:
Sea Otter Reintroduction: Sea otters are keystone species in kelp forest ecosystems. There are many variables, including food availability and suitable habitat, that are critical for the successful re-introduction of otters along the Oregon Coast. Using a series of datasets, maps, and an online model, participants will work to find the best fit locations for possible sea otter re-introduction along the Oregon Coast.
Sea Lion Tag Engineering: Learn how researchers are combining science and engineering to create tools needed to learn more about declining sea lion populations. Students will experience engineering trade-offs and limitations first-hand as they design their own prototype sea lion “tags.”
Humpback Whale Migration: Experience a year in the life of the Pacific Humpback Whale population. Students will work in small groups to follow whales from winter calving areas to the summer feeding area, all while experiencing the potential hazards humpbacks encounter along the way. Students will use maps and whale logs to document their progress, enabling them to draw conclusions and track the challenges facing this signature species.
"Web of Life" - October 17 and 20
Dive into the fascinating world of marine food webs! Students will explore the intricate relationships between ocean organisms as we journey through trophic levels—from microscopic plankton to apex predators. Through hands-on activities, games, and real-world observations, students will gain a deeper understanding of how each species relies on and impacts the others in this dynamic web of life. Important: PLANKTON and FISH tracks are family-focused and families register and learn together. The SHARK track is our students only track for participants 12-18 years.
Track Descriptions
The PLANKTON Track is recommended for families with predominantly younger children. Classes will target ages 4 to 10; however, older students are welcome in an effort to accommodate families with wide age ranges. Please note that only children ages 4 and above need to be formally registered. You are welcome to bring children ages 3 and below for free.
Class Descriptions:
Food Webs 101: Families will use a life-sized food web to explore predator/prey relationships and introduce key vocabulary. Participants will serve as primary producers, primary and secondary consumers, apex predators, and more as they learn the in’s and out’s of who eats who and where sources of energy originate.
Bird Beak Buffet: All animals are adapted to their environment in unique ways. A very important adaptation for food gathering in birds is the size and shape of the beak. Participants will assume the roles of various bird species, compete for food available, and discover how types of beaks function in collecting specific food types.
Tidepool Food Webs: This live animal interaction class will introduce families to the charismatic group of critters that call tide pools home. Participants will hold, investigate, and feed snails, sea urchins, sea stars, anemones, and more as they learn the “who is who” and “what eats what” of the tide pools. Who serves as the primary producer, consumer, and apex predator of this dynamic habitat? Join us and find out!
This FISH track is recommended with families with mixed-aged children. Classes will target ages 8 to 12 years; however, younger and older students are welcome in an effort to accommodate families with wide age ranges. Please note that only children ages 4 and above need to be formally registered. You are welcome to bring children ages 3 and below for free.
Class Descriptions:
Bird Beak Buffet: All animals are adapted to their environment in unique ways. A very important adaptation for food gathering in birds is the size and shape of the beak. Participants will assume the roles of various bird species, compete for food available, and discover how types of beaks function in collecting specific food types.
Tidepool Food Webs: This live animal interaction class will introduce families to the charismatic group of critters that call tide pools home. Participants will hold, investigate, and feed snails, sea urchins, sea stars, anemones, and more as they learn the “who is who” and “what eats what” of the tide pools. Who serves as the primary producer, consumer, and apex predator of this dynamic habitat? Join us and find out!
Food Web Game: Experience the web of life across trophic levels and learn essential food web vocabulary via an interactive game. Participants will serve as primary producers and consumers as they record and track the flow of energy through the food chain. Where does energy originate, how does it pass from one organism to another? Which food source offers the most energy points? So many questions and one game to find out.
The SHARK (students only) TRACK is targeted to students 12-18 years old. Parents/guardians are not required to accompany their child during activities associated with this track. Parents are welcome to register their child and drop them off for the event OR may register their older child(ren) for this track while they participate in the PLANKTON or FISH track with their younger children.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:
Tidepool Tussle (2 hours): This class will start out introducing participants to the charismatic critters that call tide pools home. Participants will hold, investigate, and feed snails, sea urchins, sea stars, anemones, and more as they learn the “who is who” and “what eats what” of the tide pools. Then, during the last hour, participants will analyze photos taken from tidepools and determine just how important sea stars are to the balance of the tide pool ecosystem.
Food Web Invaders: Participants will establish their own estuary food web and learn the critical role autotrophs, heterotrophs, decomposers, and more play in keeping a balanced ecosystem. Students will then learn about the invasive green crab and the negative impacts scientists are observing across various west coast estuaries. Using knowledge gained, students will map the possible impacts to the estuarine food web and beyond if the green crab invasion is not kept in check.
Homeschool Day Parent Feedback:
"The teachers are stellar, the experiments are fresh and new, and the curriculum appeals to all our family in different ways . . . Thank you for a high quality experience. We will be back again for sure!"
"The teachers were knowledgeable, organized, focused and made the learning fun. It was an excellent day! I would definitely recommend this to other home school families!"