Birch Aquarium School Programs - Birch Aquarium at Scripps eTicketing

General Admission


At the Gate	Adult	Child
Walk-up	$39.95	$34.95
Online Only	Adult	Child
Plan Ahead	$34.95	$29.95
Plan Ahead Special	$29.95	$24.95

Plan Ahead and Save

Buy Plan Ahead tickets online to secure your entry and save! 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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Select your ticket quantity to view Plan Ahead tickets.

Child (Ages 3-12)

From $34.95

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Select your ticket quantity to view Plan Ahead tickets.

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.

Redeeming a Gift Membership Certificate?
If you are redeeming a gift membership certificate, please call Guest Services at (858) 534-3474 (9:00 am - 5:00 pm) so we may better assist you.

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.

Behind-the-Scenes: Penguins

Regular Price: $115.00

Member Price: $100.00

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Aquarium Admission 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. Refunds are not available for tours.

Behind-the-Scenes: Seahorses

Regular Price: $95.00

Member Price: $80.00

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Aquarium Admission 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. Refunds are not available for tours.

Halloween Aglow

After the sun goes down, the aquarium lights up! Join us on October 24 or 25 for Halloween Aglow, a family-friendly event at the aquarium from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Halloween Aglow Adult (Ages 13+)

Regular Price: $45.00

Member Price: $22.50

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Halloween Aglow Child (Ages 3-12)

Regular Price: $40.00

Member Price: $20.00

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Halloween Aglow Child 2 & Under

Regular Price: $0.00

Member Price: $0.00

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Complimentary admission for children ages 2 and under.

Lectures

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

JAWS@50 Lecture

Regular Price: $40.00

Member Price: $25.00

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November 5, 2025

A Conversation with Wendy Benchley: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of JAWS with a special evening featuring Wendy Benchley, ocean advocate and wife of the late JAWS author Peter Benchley.

Session JAWS@50 Lecture: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 6:30PM - 8:30PM AVAILABLE

Perspectives Lecture Series

Regular Price: $12.00

Member Price: $0.00

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Member Discount

Perspectives lectures are free to members. Provide your membership number after adding your ticket(s) to the cart to receive your discount.

November 10, 2025

Join us for the upcoming lecture—Science and Seafood: Understanding and Protecting a Precious Natural Resource—featuring Dr. Colleen Petrik, Scripps Oceanography Assistant Professor. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Session Science and Seafood: Monday, November 10, 2025 7:00PM - 8:00PM AVAILABLE

Marine Science Club

Registration starts at noon on Tuesday, September 16.

For Ages 8-10

Each 1-day club focuses on a unique marine science topic.

Location

All clubs meet at Birch Aquarium, except Scripps Science Club*, which meets at Scripps Pier.

Aquarium Adventure Series

Price: $18.00

Register for one or more of our 1-day clubs (price listed per 1-day club). Select your club below.

Date	1-Day Clubs
10/4/25	Incredible Invertebrates
10/11/25	Sharks and Food Webs
10/18/25	Aquarium 101
11/1/25	Deep Sea Discoveries
11/15/25	Tropical Reefs
11/22/25	Scripps Science*

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

Outdoor Adventures

From Tidepooling Adventures to Sunset Scripps Pier Walks, explore the natural world on an unforgettable experience led by Birch Aquarium naturalists. Advanced registration required; capacity is limited.

Bundle Adventure & Admission

Save more by bundling general admission and an outdoor adventure.

Scripps Pier Walks

Regular Price: $40.00

Member Price: $30.00

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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.

Outdoor Adventure Bundles

This offer includes a seasonal outdoor adventure of your choice plus the cost of aquarium admission. Dates and times are subject to availability and capacity. Age restrictions and prices vary.

Bundle: Scripps Pier Walk

Regular Price: $35.00

Member Price: $30.00

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Register for a Sunset Scripps Pier Walk (Pier Walk fee shown above). General admission is required and priced separately based on ticket type. Select your admission after choosing a Pier Walk date.

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.