FIELD TRIPS AND TOURS
The Belle Isle Conservancy Education Department's purpose is to inspire our visitors to feel connected with and care about the environments around them and throughout the world.
Take a virtual field trip at the Belle Isle Aquarium!
Join our Education Team as they guide you through a field trip at the Belle Isle Aquarium. You will discover the food chains that lie in our tanks and the role of decomposers in the Belle Isle ecosystem. Make sure you download the worksheet so you can follow along!
Part 1 Part 2
The Belle Isle Conservancy proudly offers school groups, scouts, and organizations guided tours of the Belle Isle Aquarium. There are specific and limited offerings for our docent-led program, as well as self-guided experiences.
Groups are always welcome on days when each facility is open to the public, but we reserve the right to limit entry for walk-in large groups based on capacity and reservations.
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Before requesting a date and time, please read through our menu of options, as well as our program guidelines.
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Please Note:
**A request does not guarantee a reserved spot until you have received a confirmation for your visit.**
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Friendly Reminder: To reserve your scheduled tour, there is a deposit (50% of total) due within 72 hours of confirmation (amount is located on your confirmation page). In order to remain scheduled, you must pay a deposit fee. Note: you can pay by credit card over the phone at: 313-334-7051. Or by check via mail. Final payment is due before or upon arrival.
School Groups
Teachers may select from docent-led tours or choose to do the self-guided experience for the Belle Isle Aquarium (BIA). Listed below are the Michigan Science Standards, Disciplinary Core Ideas that will be covered in each grade level docent-lead tour.
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3rd Grade
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits
4th Grade
Structure, Function, and Information Processing
Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth
5th grade
Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM
Docent-Led Tours
Docent-led, curriculum-based tours are designed for grades 3-5
and focus on basic requirements for life, adaptations, food webs,
fossils and invasive species.
Tours last approximately 55 minutes.
Days: Mondays (By Reservation Only)
Times: 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM
Group Size: Minimum 15, maximum 40
Cost: $3 per person (Title 1 Schools exempt)
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Self-Guided Experience
Self-guided visits offer the opportunity for teachers to engage
with their students in the Aquarium environment. Teachers may
prepare and lead their students based upon specific classroom
needs.
Days: Mondays (By Reservation Only)
Times: 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM
Group Size: Minimum 20, Maximum 50
Cost: $1 per person (Title 1 Schools exempt)
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Downloadable materials are available for grades 1-5.
• Grades 2-4 Aquarium "Who am I?" DOWNLOAD HERE
• Grades 3-5 Fish Adaptation Guide DOWNLOAD HERE
• Grades 5-6 Ways to Survive and Thrive DOWNLOAD HERE
• Grades 6-8 Selfie Challenge DOWNLOAD HERE
ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY
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Docent-Led Tours
Docent-led, curriculum-based tours are designed for grades 3-5 and focus on basic requirements for life, adaptations, plant structure and function, and photosynthesis. Tours last approximately 55 minutes.
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Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays (Sept - May) (By Reservation Only)
Times: 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM
Group Size: Minimum 15, maximum 40
Cost: $3 per person (Title 1 Schools exempt)
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Self-Guided Experience
Self-guided visits offer the opportunity for teachers to engage with their students in the Conservatory environment. Teachers may prepare and lead their students based upon specific classroom needs.
Days: Tuesdays (Sept - May) (By Reservation Only)
Times: 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM
Group Size: Minimum 20, Maximum 50
Cost: $1 per person (Title 1 Schools exempt)
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Downloadable materials are available for grades preschool thru 5.
• Preschool - Grade 1 "Can You Find" DOWNLOAD HERE
• Grades 1-2 "Seek and Find" DOWNLOAD HERE
• Grades 3-4 Conservatory Field Guide DOWNLOAD HERE
• Grades 3-4 "Leaf Seek and Find DOWNLOAD HERE
• Grades 5-8 "Tasty Finds - Can You Find the Plants" DOWNLOAD HERE
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Scout Troops
Docent-Led Tour
Scout groups may schedule a visit to the Belle Isle Aquarium. Additional information will be needed to potentially adapt program to badge specifications.
Day: 1st Saturday of each Month (By Reservation Only)
Time: 9:30 AM
Group Size: Maximum 30 (including group leaders)
Cost: Flat Fee of $50
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Summer Camps
The aquarium is the perfect destination for summer camps with children entering grades 1st through 8th.
Self-guided experiences only.
Day: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays (By Reservation Only)
Time: 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM
Group Size: No Minimum, Maximum 40
Cost: $40 flat fee; no title one exemptions
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Adult Groups & University Students
Adult Groups & University Students
Adult and University Student groups may select a docent-led tour or self-guided visit for either the Belle Isle Aquarium or Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
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BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY
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Docent-Led Tours: Docent-Led Tours:
Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Sept - May)
Times: 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM Times: 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM
Group Size: Minimum 15, Maximum 30 Group Size: Minimum 15, Maximum 30
Cost: $5 per person Cost: $5 per person
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Self-Guided Experience: Self-Guided Experience:
Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Days: Tuesday (Sept - May)
Times: 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM Times: 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM
Group Size: Minimum 20, Maximum 50 Group Size: Minimum 20, Maximum 50
Cost: $3 per person Cost: $3 per person
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