Reserve Your Free School Field Trip at the Elephant Seal Rookery
California State Parks invites students of all ages to discover the fascinating world of elephant seals! Each year, thousands of students are welcomed to explore the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in Hearst San Simeon State Park. These free, curriculum-aligned school programs are designed to engage K–12 students with hands-on learning and direct observation of elephant seals.
Led by experienced California State Park staff and volunteers, students rotate through interactive science stations and time at the seal viewing area, where they observe these wild animals in their natural habitat. Students are prompted to act like scientists throughout the program: recording and sketching their observations in a provided nature journal.
California State Parks is proud to offer inclusive and flexible programming to accommodate students of all learning styles and abilities. Schools, scouts, community programs, and other organizations serving children are eligible to schedule this program. To book a field trip, please complete this request form. All programs are free of charge for students, teachers, and chaperones.
The rookery is free and open to the public year-round. Reservations are not required to visit the rookery if you are not seeking a guided field trip program.
For any questions regarding field trips to the rookery, please call State Park Interpreter Bre Brown at (805) 712-4839 or email SLO.FieldTrips@parks.ca.gov.
Guidelines for planning your visit:
- Once you submit a school group request form, a program coordinator from CA State Parks will contact you to confirm the scheduled date and time.
- Field trips generally last 1.5 hours for grades 3 and up, and 1 hour for grades K-2, but timing can be adjusted upon request.
- The school group program is offered on weekdays year-round.
- Requesting teachers are asked to arrange at least 1 chaperone for every 10 children in your group.
- There are no restroom facilities located at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. We recommend stopping at W.R. Hearst Memorial Beach or Washburn Day Use Area on your way to and from the field trip for restrooms.
- Find maps and directions to the rookery here.
- Please encourage all participants to bring warm, layered clothing and sunscreen.
- Mornings are often calm, while afternoons tend to be windy. Please check the weather prior to your trip and ensure that students are dressed accordingly.
- School groups will be rescheduled due to heavy rain.
- Check out the LiveCam for a preview of your visit.
