Doheny State Beach has an active year-round educational program. There are a variety of activities available; everything from curriculum-based field trips for schoolchildren, thematic outings for Scouts and other groups, special events, restoration/Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups, and Junior Rangers/Campfire Programs in the summer season
Visitor Center
Doheny State Beach’s Visitor Center is a wonderful place to learn about local sea, land and water animal that live in our environment. It has a 900 gallon tide pool exhibit and 5 other aquarium tanks. On display are bones and skeletons of eels, whales, and dolphins. Examples of the birds of the Capistrano Valley are here, including many sea birds, hawks and more, and of course, examples of many of the mammals that live amongst us including seals, cougars, squirrels and skunks.
Attention Teachers
Please see below listing of curriculum-based programs that are offered to tie into children’s in-school science studies. These programs allow children to get an outdoor, hands-on learning experience to help them gain a better understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association (DSBIA) currently has grant money available to assist with transportation costs for up to $225.00 per bus. An application for this grant can be found at the bottom of this page. Further information can be requested via email to info@dohenystatebeach.org. Please note, all bus and/or vehicle entrance fees will be waived for entry the day of your educational outing once field trip is confirmed.
Other Outings in the Park
The interpretive staff at Doheny State Beach is committed to working with visitors by offering alternative outings in the park. These programs can be customized to fulfill curriculum-based learning objectives for school field outings and special groups. These presentations are a wonderful opportunities for children to get a hands-on learning experience in the greatest classroom…outdoors!!
Group Programs (school groups, scout troops, home schools, special needs groups, etc.)
Listing of Programs
Marine Mammals: This is a great program to learn about the incredible diversity and
adaptations of magnificent marine mammals that live offshore of Doheny State Beach and
beyond!
This program can also be customized to tap into any grade level Life Science strand (diversity,
life cycles, adaptations, and/or connections within ecosystem).
Plant Walk and Talk: This interactive field outing takes the children for a stroll around
Doheny State Beach back to a time when the Native Americans lived in harmony with the
natural world for survival. Children will learn through active movement and hands-on
learning through their senses (sight, sound, touch, and smell).
Butterflies: This exploration meets in Doheny State Beach’s Butterfly Garden to allow
children an opportunity to learn by using their multi-senses. This program is an
incredible opportunity to learn about butterfly life cycles and adaptations. Additionally, a
wonderful way to incorporate the theory of interconnections of organisms within their
environment (plants and animals, living versus non-living)
The Health of the Ocean: This crucial educational program educates children about the
effects and importance of protecting our fragile ocean environment and watersheds.
The outing culminates with a hands-on Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup.
Summer Programs
Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association (DSBIA) has set aside grant funds to assist schools in paying costs of transporting students to and from their school to Doheny State Beach for the purpose of California State curriculum-related field trips. A maximum grant of $225 per bus is available.
Requests must be submitted to DSBIA at least one month prior to a field trip already calendared with the Doheny State Beach Interpreter. Field trips may be scheduled with Park Interpreter Gwenn Abrams at Gwenn.Abrams@parks.ca.gov.
Funds will be paid directly to the transportation provider; the district transportation department, the school’s PTA or Foundation, or other school support organization funding the transportation costs upon DSBIA’s receipt of the transportation provider’s billing statement, or copy of the transportation provider’s billing statement and billing statement from the PTA, Foundation or other school support organization. DSBIA funds will only be released following the completion of the field trip and DSBIA’s receipt of the stated documents above. No funds will be provided if a field trip is canceled for any reason.
The number of busses funded will be based on the number of students and teachers attending the field trip and the size (seat count) of the bus. Parent chaperones will also be counted for bus transportation at 1 chaperone per 10 children. Teachers will be included in the chaperone count, thus for a class of 30 – 35 students, the chaperone to student ratio would be 3 adults (1 teacher-2 parents) to 30-35 students (larger class qualifies for one more chaperone). Extra parent chaperones can be transported as long as their extra numbers do not cause the need for another bus.
All requests will be considered until the existing grant funds held by DSBIA are exhausted.
Request Forms can be mailed to: DSBIA / Doheny State Beach / Care of KC Kinnings / 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive / Dana Point, CA / 92629 or emailed as an email or attachment to info@dohenystatebeach.org
Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association, Doheny State Beach and the State of California shall be held harmless due to any liability issues related to the transportation of any students, teachers and/or chaperones/parents to and from Doheny State Beach and the school before, during or after the field trip.