School Programs
We have provided field trips for Alaska's schools for more than 35 years. Our programs are aligned with Alaska State Science Standards and have been recognized for excellence by both the National Science Teacher's Association and the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game.
Learn about our residential overnight programs, day trips, and classroom naturalist visits below.
Priority booking for Spring 2025 Alaska Coastal Ecology programs is closed. You can still request an ACE program for Spring 2025, but your request will be considered in the order it’s received. For more information about our updated booking processes or to book a program, visit our Booking Page.
Residential Overnight Programs
Overnight programs give your students the opportunity to be immersed in the natural world while learning and growing friendships. Students will spend their time making observations, participating in hands-on activities and games, and problem solving in nature's own classroom.
Day Programs
Day trips range from one-hour Creatures of the Dock Tours to four-hour Onboard Oceanography cruises across Kachemak Bay. Our most popular day trips are listed below. Please contact us if you have a program in mind that you do not see listed below as we would be happy to work with you to develop a program to meet the needs of your class.
Naturalist Visits
Invite our naturalists to deliver presentations and hands-on activities right to your classroom. Propose a natural history or life science topic and we'll send a naturalist to enrich your classroom experience.
Our philosophy
At the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, our educational philosophy focuses on providing opportunities for place-based and experiential learning in ways that are culturally responsive and respect students' knowledges, perspectives, and identities. Most of our teaching takes place outside of a conventional classroom environment. This often means getting a little muddy or swamping your boots–it’s all part of the learning process. We create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, and we facilitate opportunities for growth through developmentally appropriate challenges and responsibilities. We work to foster healthy interactions with peers, positive relationships with trusted adults, and strong connections to local ecosystems and communities.
Behavioral Policy
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) is an environmental education non-profit. Our staff are dedicated and trained to help all participants have successful and educational experiences. Please review our Behavioral Policy to learn more about how we support our students and create a positive learning environment.
Giving Matters
Your Gift Can Change a Student’s Life.
At the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, we see firsthand the impact our hands-on environmental education programs have on our participants’ educations and futures. And, because we are an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, we are completely dependent on philanthropic gifts from alumni, parents, staff, friends, foundations, and corporations to supplement enrollment revenues and make exploring with us a possibility for a broader range of students.
