Family Science Sunday

About Family Science Sundays

Join us every Sunday for Family Science Sundays at the Marine Mammal Care Center! Dive into an enriching family experience led by our experts, where you and your loved ones will embark on a captivating one-hour journey exploring ocean conservation, marine mammals, and beyond. This program includes access to MMCC’s full visitor experience, including patient viewing and our interactive exhibit hall.

While admission to MMCC is always free, to better manage attendance and ensure space is available for participating families, we’ve introduced a $1 nonrefundable program booking fee per participant. As a thank-you for joining us, attendees present on the day of the program will receive a $1 coupon to either use in our gift shop or donate directly to the care of our patients, the choice is yours!

We believe cost should never be a barrier to learning. If the reservation fee presents a hardship, we are happy to waive it; please enter the promo code, FSS, during registration.

Ages: 8 and up, families are encouraged to participate in science activities together, and adults must accompany children 13 and under.

Times: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM

Cost: $1 nonrefundable program booking fee per participant

Topics: 

6/28: Amazing Algae: Join us for Family Science Sunday and dive into the amazing world of Southern California’s algae! Discover how these incredible organisms do more than wash up on shore, they’re even used in everyday items like ice cream. Then get creative by making your own algae press, using real seaweed varieties to create a beautiful take-home masterpiece. It’s a fun, hands-on experience the whole family will love!

7/5: Meet the Flipper Friends: Dive into the amazing world of seals, sea lions, and their ocean cousins! At this month’s Family Science Sunday, you’ll discover what makes marine mammals special, from their incredible diving skills to their unique ways of finding food and raising their young. Through hands-on activities, you’ll explore how these remarkable animals survive in the wild and how we can help protect them. Perfect for curious kids and ocean-loving families!

7/19: Polar Bear Pals: Join us for Family Science Sunday as we dive into the frosty world of polar bears, the Arctic’s coolest creatures! Discover how these giant snow giants stay warm, hunt on ice, and raise their adorable cubs in one of the harshest habitats on Earth. With hands-on activities and bear-y fun facts, your family will learn what makes these powerful predators true masters of the frozen north.

7/26: Sea Otter Guardians: Get ready to explore the incredible story of sea otters, animals with the thickest fur on Earth who once survived the brink of extinction. Learn how scientists and rescuers are working hard to protect these fluffy ocean heroes and help their populations bounce back. During Family Science Sunday, your crew will dive into hands-on activities, discover otter-ly amazing facts, and find out why these playful creatures are so important to keeping our oceans healthy!

8/2: Mermaids of the Sea Grass: Discover the amazing adaptations of manatees, the calm, plant-eating marine mammals that once inspired mermaid legends. Families will learn how these gentle animals use their paddle tails, marching molars, and unique buoyancy tricks to survive in warm coastal habitats. Hands-on activities bring the science to life in a fun, family-friendly way.

8/9: Meet Your Ocean Neighbors: Discover the amazing marine mammals that live right in your own backyard! Through hands-on activities and engaging demonstrations, families will explore the marine mammals that call the Los Angeles coast home. Learn how these incredible animals find food, communicate, and thrive in our local ocean habitats, from kelp forests to open waters. Along the way, you’ll uncover how these mammals fit into the coastal ecosystem and why protecting them matters. It’s a fun, interactive dive into the wild marine world just off the LA shoreline!

8/16: Tiny Ocean Drifters: Explore the hidden world of plankton, the tiny drifters that keep our ocean ecosystems alive. Families will investigate different types of plankton, look at real samples under microscopes, and learn how these small organisms play a huge role in supporting marine life. It’s a hands-on discovery of the ocean’s most important (and often overlooked) residents!

8/23: Fin-tastic Fish Friends!: Take a guided look inside the world of fish biology through a hands-on dissection of a herring. Families will explore external and internal anatomy, learn how fish are adapted for life in the ocean, and discover the unique features that help them swim, sense, and survive. It’s an engaging, educational experience perfect for curious young scientists.