Education at Moody Gardens

We provide learning experiences for our guests that instill enthusiasm, appreciation and stewardship for the natural world and its inhabitants.

NEW! Learn Live! Program Series

Enjoy socially distant games, crafts, activities and an experiment demonstration you can try at home!

NEW! Learn Live! Pre-K Expeditions - For Learners Ages 3-5

Enjoy socially distant games, crafts, activities and an experiement demonstration you can try at home!

*Your preschooler may bring their own craft supply kit or use the community craft supplies provided. These supplies will be cleaned before and after each program session.

Pricing:
Non-Members: $15/participant
Members: $10/participant
*Mommy Wednesday Value Passes are also available for non-members for $30 for each parent and their preschooler.

All youth must be accompanied by a chaperone who must purchase a ticket for the program. Tickets must be pre-purchased. There is very limited capacity for each session due to COVID-19 Health & Safety Regulations.

November 4, 2020 at 10AM - Dino Days: Leafy Green Giants
Learn about gigantic dinosaurs that ate plants from the forest floor all the way up to the canopy.

November 11, 2020 at 10AM - Water Wonderland: Slimy Sidekicks
Slip 'n' slide through reefs to meet some slimy animals.

November 18, 2020 at 10AM - TreeTop Trek: Batty Pals
View the rainforest from upside down and discover why fruit bats live in trees.

December 2, 2020 at 10AM - Dino Days: Claws, Speed and Teeth...Oh My!
Learn about small, medium and large dinosaurs that hunted other animals for food.

December 9, 2020 at 10AM - Water Wonderland: Playful Polar Friends
Learn about animals that live at the North and South Pole.

December 16, 2020 at 10AM - TreeTop Trek: Monkey Mates
Discover where you can find the perfect monkey grooming spot in the rainforest canopy.

For additional information, please email us directly.

Buy Tickets

Learn Wild! For Learners of All Ages

These programs are geared towards all learners and will include a guided tour lesson focused on the topic and corresponding attraction.

Pricing:
Non-Members: $25/participant
Members and Value Pass Holders: $15/participant

Youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone who must purchase a ticket for the program. Tickets must be pre-purchased. There is very limited capacity for each session due to COVID-19 Health & Safety Regulations.

October 29, 2020 at 10AM - Trick or Treat?: Gross Animal Behaviors and Adaptations
Yuck! Animals sure have some nasty things that they do! Did you know, though, that from their scat to their stink, there's usually a really good reason for it! Learn about the gross things that some animals do to keep themselves healthy and happy in this Rainforest exploration!

November 5, 2020 at 10AM - Natural Technology: The Art of Biomimicry
Ever wonder how inventors got the idea for things like Velcro or bullet trains? The inspiration often comes from the animal kingdom, of course! Learn how amazing animal adaptations have inspired the creation of many amazing inventions while navigating the Aquarium!

November 12, 2020 at 10AM - The Most Extreme: Animal Weapons
In the animal kingdom, both predators and prey have some remarkable skills and structures that are the perfect weapons for the wild world they live in! Learn a little bit more about these weaponized adaptations in this guided tour of the Rainforest!

November 26, 2020 at 10AM - Hiding in Plain Sight
Investigate how different animals survive in their habitats through the use of color, camoflage and more! Find out how it is that we see the colors that we do and why some animals have certain traits to help them play the ultimate game of hide and seek: survival!

December 3, 2020 at 10AM - Biological Builders: Architects of the Animal Kingdom
Sure, we might be great at constructing buildings...but how about making a home out of spit? Or digging a basement with just your front feet? Or even making your home up in the trees with no safety net? Learn a little bit about amazing animal builders in this exploration of the Rainforest!

December 10, 2020 at 10AM - Best in Class: Animal Olympians
Each animal has their own special set of skills that set them apart...but which animals are the best at what they do? Learn about the "best of" in many different categories as we explore the beautiful, but difficult terrain of the Rainforest!

December 17, 2020 at 10AM - Chill Factor: Cold Climate Animals
We all know how to "beat the heat" here on Galveston Island, but what about the chillier side of life?

For additional information, please email us directly.

Buy Tickets

NEW! Learn Live! - Beyond Biofacts Programs

These multi-sensory and interdisciplinary lessons include elements of history, geography, culture and conservation. The lessons are geared toward learners of all ages and not only provide an engaging discussion about the topics at hand, but also a presentation of real biofacts.

Price: $15/participant; $10/member
A maximum of 24 participants is permitted due to COVID-19 regulations.

Topics:

November 3, 2020 - Corals: Communities of the Sea
Coral...is it a plant, an animal, a mineral...? If you guessed animal, you would be correct! However, let's learn how all of those elements work together to form a healthy habitat for aquatic life and more!

November 10, 2020 - Rainforest: It's Connection to You
While the rainforest is yet another ecosystem that people commonly chat about in their science classes, the resources that people gain from these wild and exotic habitats lend themselves to much more than a "typical" ecosystem. Enjoy this overview of tropical rainforests and the treasures that reside within these biomes.

November 17, 2020 - Chocolate, Coconuts and the Cuna
Imagine experiencing a cultural voyage through the eyes of the Cuna: a vibrant, extant culture that live and rely on their "Tropical American Mall" on a daily basis. If you enjoy learning about cultural traditions of the rainforest, then this program is for you!

December 1, 2020 - Insects: The Unsung Hero
There is a totally diverse ecosystem budding around us...and we might not even notice! Explore the incredible superpowers of our most often overlooked super hero...the insect!

December 8, 2020 - Amazing Amazon Animals
When you hear about the Amazon River, surely your mind immediately turns toward aquatic plants and animals. However, it's not just swimming and diving creatures that rely on the mighty Amazon! Learn about the unique terrestrial, arboreal, and aquatic relationships different organisms have with the Amazon River!

December 15, 2020 - Penguin Palaces
Penguins are often thought to only live in the frigid temperatures of the Southern Hemisphere...but did you know that there are a wealth of penguin species that reside all over the surface of the planet! Learn about the King, Rockhopper, Yellow-Eyed, and Humboldt Penguins and how they utilize the envrionment's natural resources for their "palace" construction.

Buy Tickets

Scout Programs

Booking for Private Workshops for all Ages and Ranks in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts.

Visit Moody Gardens and work towards earning a badge at the same time! At Moody Gardens you can see environments from around the world, try your skills on our ropes course and zip-line and so much more. Discounted tickets and tours for scouting units are available through group sales at 409-683-4558.

Call 409-683-4325 or email us at scouts@moodygardens.org for more information and reservations.

Ask us about combining a private workshop with a sleepover to create a SCOUTING OVERNIGHT ADVENTURE!

Cub Scouts

Programs available for a private day workshop or add on to an Overnight Adventure!

World Conservation Award
Nova: Wild Award

Scouts BSA Merit Badge Workshops

Don't just earn it, learn it! Scouts ages 11-17 can complete most or all requirements of a badge in a single day while social distancing. Additional experiences may include exhibit and property tours and guest speakers from various departments.

November 15, 2020 - Reptile & Amphibian Study

December 13, 2020 - Insect Study

January 10, 2021 - Emergency Preparedness

February 14, 2021 - Nature Study

Pricing: $30/Scout
Limited capacities with a maximum of 24 particpants for each workshop due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Email us or call 409-683-4211 for more information or to register your scout.

Buy Tickets

Girl Scouts

At Moody Gardens you can work on your Naturalist badges, with free activity packets from the links below to help complete badges during your visit! Combine your outing with a tour, private day workshop or overnight adventure for more advancement opportunities.

Private Scout Workshops

Don’t just earn it, Learn it!

We offer private workshops and Sleepover Adventure add-ons for youth particpants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts. Each program is formatted to help scouts complete requirements for an Adventure, Badge or Conservation Award.

Limited group capacities apply for COVID-19 Health & Safety Regulations.

Overnight Adventures

NOW BOOKING!

Moody Gardens offers two adventurous sleepovers which allow guests to spend the night exploring one of our exciting attractions. Each program includes a late-night pizza snack and a light breakfast. Chaperones required.

Time: 6:30PM - 8AM
Cost: $1,000 for up to 20 people, $50 for each additional guest
Reservations are required and must be made at least two weeks in advance. A deposit is required to reserve your overnight adventure, with the balance payable prior to your event.

Extend your adventure to the next day. Add-on attractions are available at group rates.

Call 409-683-4325 or email us at education@moodygardens.org for information and reservations.

Creatures of the Night

Explore the rainforest after dark to discover how nocturnal creatures live! The evening includes a variety of activities, with an animal encounter and a tour of the Rainforest Pyramid. Participants spend the night in the Rainforest Entrance.

Night Under the Sea

Spend the night in the Aquarium and discover a world much different from your own! Make discoveries of ocean habitats, creatures that live within them and relationships they share during your night expedition. The evening includes a variety of activities with an animal encounter and a tour of the Aquarium Pyramid.

Already participated in a sleepover? Fill out a sleepover evaluation.

Educator Programs

Educator Open House

Saturday, February 6, 2021
10AM - 2PM

Spend the day with Moody Gardens. Come checkout our attractions and see what we and other Galveston attractions have to offer. This is a free event for Educators.

*Event registration coming soon pending restrictions at the time of date due to COVID-19.

Educator Workshops

Moody Gardens Educator Workshops provide the opportunity to enhance your curriculum. All workshops are TEKS aligned and offer a multitude of hands on activities and educational materials to inspire your students.