Education Programs

Education Programs includes Distance Learning with live chats, videos, presentations, and activities. It also includes Community Outreach presentations with activities about PMMC’s mission and patients, School Programs with hands-on whale and marine mammal learning, and Summer Programs that take kids behind the scenes with the animal care team and into marine mammal research. Other offerings include Onsite Programs, Scouts, Camp Pinniped for ages 8-12 with activities like weighing fish, blending fish smoothies, cleaning pens, and practicing marine mammal rescue, the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation & Research Lab for ages 15-17 with daily interactive activities in animal care, research, and veterinary work, the Pinniped Pollution Project for 5th grade classrooms from Title One schools around Orange County, and Healing Seals for children in children’s hospitals.

Programs

• Distance Learning — Online educational program with live chats, videos, presentations, and activities.
• Community Outreach — Instructors provide a presentation with activities educating groups about PMMC’s mission and patients.
• School Programs — Hands-on, interactive whale and marine mammal learning experience.
• Summer Programs — Summer programs that take kids behind the scenes with the animal care team and explore marine mammal research.
• Onsite Programs
• Scouts
• Camp Pinniped — 8-12 · Campers participate in immersive mock activities like weighing fish, blending fish smoothies, cleaning pens, and practicing marine mammal rescue.
• Marine Mammal Rehabilitation & Research Lab — 15-17 · Teens participate in daily interactive activities in animal care, research, and veterinary work, including shadowing the veterinarian and field observations.
• Pinniped Pollution Project — 5th grade classrooms from Title One schools around Orange County · Mon, Tues, Fri, 9:00 am–11:00am PST · $0 per session · Free grant- and donor-funded program focused on pollution in the watershed and its effects on marine mammals, humans, and the ocean.
• Healing Seals — Children in children’s hospitals · Free interactive distance learning program developed to enhance the lives of adolescent patients undergoing treatment in children’s hospitals.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Price range: $0 per session
• General schedule: Summer programs run when school is out; the site also offers year-round educational programs including distance learning, community outreach, school programs, onsite programs, and scouts.
• Facility hours: Open 10am-4pm every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day; closed otherwise if announced on social media due to weather.

About the provider

The program is part of PMMC, which was founded in 1971. PMMC says its mission is to inspire ocean stewardship and conservation through animal rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education. Its community involvement includes educational programs, community outreach, free community programs, and volunteer opportunities, and grants and donations allow programming and bussing for 3,500-4,000 students yearly.

What families say

“FANTASTIC!!! I am going to try to fit one more in soon! Thanks, students loved it, so very different than what They are used to as we live in a rural, wooded wide open land setting. The information provided was grade appropriate, the students were very still and listening to every word.” — Susan Thivierge, M.Ed. Technology Coordinator

“Thank you for the wonderful presentation! As quiet as they were before, right now the discussion is roaring. They were given lots to think of and that is a great thing. Definitely will recommend this to others.” — Ruby Emond Community Development Technician

“This program was such an amazing addition to the class curriculum. It brought to life what the students studied and invited them to think beyond the basic facts they’ve learned about marine mammals and our role to keep the oceans healthy” — Anonymous

Last updated October 30, 2026.