School Groups
PORTS: Jawsome Great Whites
Join interpreters at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve VIRTUALLY for an unforgettable underwater adventure exploring the fascinating world of great white sharks. In this interactive educational program, students will discover the amazing adaptations that make great white sharks the apex predators of the ocean, including their keen senses, powerful bodies, and unique hunting strategies. PORTS stands for Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students. PORTS is an award-winning distance learning program that has served K-12 teachers, students, and education partners with live, interactive video-conference presentations from our California State Parks for more than 20 years.
For other PORTS programs throughout the State, check out our wide variety of virtual on-demand programs at https://ports.parks.ca.gov/.
In-person School Programs:
Reservations are required for all groups visiting the Reserve. Reservation requests must be made at least 15 days in advance to allow for preparation and scheduling by park personnel. Groups without a reservation will not be allowed entrance.
In-person School Field Trips for the 2026-2027 school year will be offered March, April, and May 2027. Please explore our virtual field trip options for Torrey Pines SNR and Parks around the state through Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS). We look forward to your visit.
Educators interested in scheduling a school group visit at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve can sign up for either the Guided School Program (grades 2-5) or the Self-Guided School Program (K-12)
Programs expected to resume Spring 2027 - Reservations are open!
Guided School Program
This program is facilitated by docents from the Torrey Pines Docent Society, state park volunteers, and state park staff who will greet the students, provide a 10–15-minute talk on one of five available topics, and split the class into groups of 8 or fewer to hike the trails. This program is about 2 hours long and is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the 2nd and 3rd Fridays of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Group size is limited to 70 students, and 14 chaperones Reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
NOTE: Our Guided School Program is reserved for in-person school classrooms. Homeschool groups are warmly invited to enjoy our Self-Guided Program.
Self-Guided School Programs
This program is facilitated independently by K-12th grade teachers and/or homeschool educators without the support of California State Park Staff. This program is available on alternating Mondays & Wednesdays. Once booked, educators will have access to free resources aligned to K-12 standards to enhance your visit. Group size is limited to 70 students.
Check out the field trip guide here!
**We are not currently offering topic-based naturalist talks before self-guided hikes. Please come with your own lesson plans.**
College Visits/Summer Camps/Scouts:
Like our school programs, in-advance reservations are required to visit the park at least 15 days before the proposed date. These groups hike independently under the direction of their instructors and are expected to acquaint themselves with the Reserve’s rules before the trip. The length of this program is open-ended, Monday-Friday only, with a preferred start time in the afternoon to avoid conflict with the younger school groups.
Reservation requests can be made through the TPSNR Group Reservation Request form and sent to the Torrey Pines email address: torrey.pines@parks.ca.gov
The $25 fee can be paid by check or through PayPal listed on the request form. The fee covers administration costs and, as a courtesy, includes parking. Approved groups will receive parking pass(es) at the entrance kiosk. If the kiosk is not staffed, you must contact staff at the Lodge/Ranger HQ, located in the Visitor Center, to receive a vehicle pass for your dashboard. No photocopied passes will be accepted.
For more information about school programs, please contact torrey.pines@parks.ca.gov, or call (619)-346-3701.