About
Education Programs includes Plankton Exploration, where students use microscopes and plankton tows to look at what lives and grows in Puget Sound water. It also includes Invertebrate Investigation, Marine Mammal CSI, Cephalopod Life Cycle and Dissection, Low Tide Trek, Maritime Deep Dive, and Bring the MaST to you. Program sessions are offered Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and scheduling must be completed two or more weeks before the program date.
Programs
- Plankton Exploration — 1.5 hours; students use microscopes and plankton tows to look at what lives and grows in Puget Sound water.
- Invertebrate Investigation — 1.5 hour hands-on investigation exploring local Puget Sound marine life and sorting local invertebrates based on observations.
- Marine Mammal CSI — 1.5 hour series of hands-on investigations analyzing necropsy reports, articulating skeletons, and field data.
- Maritime Deep Dive — Middle and high school learners · 3 hour program about ocean technology; students design, test, and redesign an underwater drone (ROV).
- Cephalopod Life Cycle and Dissection — 1.5 hours; hands-on dissection of an opalescent squid covering mollusca, migration, and eggs.
- Low Tide Trek — 1.5 hours; offered April–September. Outdoor scavenger hunt exploring low tide marine life; only available when tide is below -1.
- Bring the MaST to you — All ages and education levels · 1.5 hours; request a visit from the MaST Education Staff for an event or career fair.
At a glance
- Ages: 8–17 years old
- General schedule: Programs are offered Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Scheduling must be completed two or more weeks before the actual program date.
- Facility hours: Discovery Day: Saturday 10am-2pm year round; Sunday 10pm-2pm July-August. Public hours: Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
About the provider
The MaST Center Aquarium’s mission is to promote understanding, appreciation, and preservation of the marine environment through hands-on research, education, and community activities that highlight the beauty, complexity, and importance of the South Puget Sound ecosystem. It fosters a culture of marine stewardship through interactive learning, personal relations, and exploration. It hosts frequent events, Discovery Days on Saturdays for free, and a yearly summer day camp for ages 8 to 14 years old.
All programs are linked to Next Generation Science Standards and Ocean Literacy Frameworks. Programs are aligned to 6th-12th grades NGSS. Closed-toed shoes that can get wet and dirty are recommended. The classroom is a no-food zone. Low Tide Trek is only available when the tide is below -1. Maritime Deep Dive is only available when the tide is between +5 and +8. All ages and education levels are welcome for Bring the MaST to you.
Last updated October 26, 2026.
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