Tour Descriptions
![Coastal Studie Lab educational activity shark dissection.](../../_files/images/shark-dissection.png)
Self-Guided Tour
- Explore aquariums, shell collections, and other marine-science themed exhibits.
- Free - Please ask for touch tank assistance.
Guided Tour
- Tour of the lab, invertebrate specimen touch tank, scavenger hunt/dichotomous key exercise.
- $4.00/student
- All Grade Levels
- Duration: 1-2 hours (depending on size of group)
- Number of participants: 8-90 students
- For larger groups, additional activities will need to be added.
Beach Ecology Walk
- Walk along the beach from the Coastal Studies Lab to the South Padre Island jetties while learning about our dunes, pollinators, coastal wildlife, and marine habitats. Includes guided tour.
- $6.00/student
- All Grade Levels
- Duration: 1.5-2.5 hours (depending on size of group)
- Number of participants: 8-90 students
- For larger groups, additional activities will need to be added.
Seaweed Press
- Pressing plants is a historical way to preserve and identify various species. Pressed seaweed specimens will be mailed to your school once they are completely dry. Includes guided tour.
- $5.00/student
- All Grade Levels
- Duration: 1.5-2 hours (depending on size of group)
- Number of participants: 8-90 students
- For larger groups, additional activities will need to be added.
Fish Printing
- “Gyotaku,” a Japanese word for “fish rubbing,” is an art form used by fisherman to document their catch. We provide all the materials, including the fish! Includes guided tour.
- $14.00/student
- 3rd grade and up only
- Duration: 2-3 hours (depending on size of group)
- Number of participants: 8-24 students
Squid Dissection
- Learn about the anatomy and physiology of the Atlantic Brief Squid through a hands-on dissection. Includes guided tour.
- $10.00/student
- 3rd grade and up only
- Duration: 1.5-2.5 hours (depending on size of group)
- Number of participants: 8-90 students
- For larger groups, additional activities will need to be added.
Shark Dissection
- Learn about the anatomy and physiology of the Dogfish Shark through a hands-on dissection. Includes guided tour.
- $12.00/student
- 3rd grade and up only
- Duration: 1.5-2.5 hours (depending on size of group)
- Number of participants: 8-90 students
- For larger groups, additional activities will need to be added.
Marine Floating Classroom (Currently Not Available Until Further Notice)
- Marine discovery cruise on the Laguna Madre Bay aboard one of our Research Vessel Classrooms
- Use plankton nets, trawls, sediment samplers, and water quality probes to collect
- specimens and gain an understanding of marine biology research
- Onboard touch tank
- Digital microscope and monitor for viewing plankton and invertebrates
- Common sightings of dolphins, shorebirds, and other marine critters
- Onboard presentations about the Laguna Madre and its wildlife will be led by experienced
- educator-naturalists
- $500.00/group of 15/two tour max per day - 4th grade and up
- Duration: 2 hours
- Number of participants: 15 people maximum (including chaperones