Homeschool Field Trips & Resources

Each year Turtle Bay sees a variety of homeschools, alternative schools, and independent study groups from all over the northern California area. If you belong to one of these groups, take a look below at what options we have that may fit the needs of you and your students.

Field Trips to Turtle Bay with a Homeschool Group

To qualify for field trip pricing, a group MUST be affiliated with a public/charter/independent study school or have at least 10 children aged 4-18 in your group. If you are a homeschool family that does not meet the minimum number, please look below for our Homeschool Days information.

Field Trip Base Pricing (Admission into Turtle Bay Only)

  • Students - $6 per child ages 4-18

  • Adult Chaperones (a maximum of one per student) - $6 per person

  • Staff Employed by a Public/Charter School - Free

  • Turtle Bay Member Chaperones (cannot be used for students) - Free

  • Nectar Cups for Parrot Playhouse (optional) - $2 per person

  • Admission Sticker* - $1 per person

    *required if group does not have identifiers like stickers/shirts/lanyards/wristbands

Add-On Class Fees (Sep-April, Select Dates Only)

All options tailored for multi-grade groups. Reservation only. Fees are in addition to field trip rates above.

  • Science Investigations - $1 per student

  • Laws of Motion Show - $1 per student

  • Nature Sketching - $1 per student

  • Animal Class - $2 per person

  • Discover the scientific method and sharpen your observational skills in this exciting and hands-on class. Students will observe and predict the surprising properties of everyday materials.

  • Discover how Sir Isaac Newton’s Three Laws of Motion work in a fun and exciting demonstration! These three laws help us understand so many things around us. They explain why we can ride bikes, how planes fly, and even how we can play sports!

  • Grab a pencil and paper and practice your observation skills. This class introduces the basics of scientific nature sketching with a lesson and a practice with Turtle Bay’s extensive bio fact collection. Nature sketching is a fun way to combine science and art!

  • Choose from four different themes: Nocturnal Animals, Forest Animals, Movement, and Survival! All classes feature several of Turtle Bay’s animal ambassadors as our trained staff discuss what helps each live in the wild, whether that be during the night, in a special environment, or with unique adaptations.

Homeschool Day - Wed, April 2nd, 2025 1pm-4pm

If you are a family that’s part of a home school, alternative school, or independent study program, this day is for you! Join us for an afternoon of exclusive science and art activities along with demonstrations that are sure to make any child’s curiosity and creativity soar. Admission into Turtle Bay is included with this registration. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and space is limited so pre-registration is required.

Families are welcome to check in any time beginning at 9am, but special Homeschool Day activities will be running from 1pm-4pm.

Homeschool Day Pricing

Turtle Bay Members - $5 per person

Turtle Bay Non-Members - $10 per person

Resources for Homeschool Parents & Teachers

Lending Library

Turtle Bay’s Lending Library offers classroom kits from various curriculum sources including GEMS (Great Explorations in Math & Science), Project Learning Tree, Growing Up Wild, and more. Lending Library subscribers may check out kits that come fully stocked with materials for a classroom of up to 32 students to implement the lesson plans. Activities are perfect for the classroom, afterschool programs, or camps. Subscriptions are available for a yearly fee of $40. Subscribers may check out an unlimited number of kits.

Find out more at our Lending Library page.

Famous Artists

Turtle Bay’s Famous Artists Portfolio Program is a free art resource program brought to local learners by community members. It is organized into 74 theme-based portfolios. Each portfolio is filled with large reproductions of famous artists’ works, artist biographies, lesson plans, and hands-on art activities. Any interested community member can participate in the Turtle Bay Famous Artists Program. No artistic experience is necessary - only an enjoyment of working with children and believing that art matters.

Find out more at our Famous Artists page.

Turtle Bay Annual Memberships

Visit Turtle Bay throughout the year with an annual Membership! Memberships including admission to the Museum, Forest Camp, and Gardens, plus discounts on event tickets like Redding Garden of Lights, Brews by the Bridge, Oktoberfest, and more. You’ll even receive discounts at Mosaic Restaurant, Branch House Riverfront Bistro, and the Sheraton Redding Hotel, all on campus at Turtle Bay.

To see the variety of membership levels that may match your group go to our Membership page.

Saturday Programming

On the second, third, and fourth Saturdays of every month we have special hands-on activities and programming set to a theme! Homeschool families have used our Saturday programming to help supplement their children’s learning and reinforce topics they’re studying.

You can read more about the three Saturday programs here, or you can visit the Events page to see which ones are coming up next!