Channel Islands National Park - Visitor Center Programs (U.S. National Park Service)

Programs are given at the park visitor center on Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Reservations are required and should be made well in advance, especially for spring programs. See below for additional reservation information.

Options for visits include:

Self-Guided Visit

Orientation by a park ranger (10 minutes)
View park film (25 minutes; most appropriate for children six years old and over)
On-your-own tour of the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center (including Marine Life Exhibit), observation tower, and native plant garden (25–30 minutes)
Length of Program: one-half hour forpreschool and kindergarten groups, one hour for other ages.
Group sizes: Minimum group size is 10 (exceptions may be made for special education groups); maximum group size(excluding adults) is 65. Adult chaperones are required—one per 8–10 students. Chaperones are to assist with discipline and student conduct.

Ranger-Guided Formal Visit

Orientation by a park ranger (10 minutes)
View park film (25 minutes; most appropriate for children sixyears old and over)
Program given by park ranger on intertidal life (30 minutes)
On-your-own tour of the Channel Islands National Park VisitorCenter (including Marine Life Exhibit), observation tower, andnative plant garden (25–30 minutes)
Length of Program: one hour for preschool and kindergarten groups, one and one-half hours to two hours for other ages.
Group sizes: Minimum group size is 10 (exceptions may be made for special education groups); maximum group size(excluding adults) is 65. Adult chaperones are required—one per 8–10 students. Chaperones are to assist with discipline and student conduct.

Reservations
Reservations are required for these programs. They should be made well in advance, especially for spring programs. For program reservations or additional information contact the park's Education Coordinator by phone at (805) 658-5735, by email at Education Coordinator.

Fees
There is no charge for programs. However, donations are accepted in the education program donation box in the park visitor center. Or checks made out to “National Park Service” may be mailed to:

Education Coordinator
Channel Islands National Park
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001