Marine Research Vessel
The VANTUNA
- Los Angeles Harbor -
"Hands-on" Marine Biology:
Dredges, Trawls & Science Stations!

Enjoy an educational day aboard the 85' oceanographic teaching and research vessel, VANTUNA. The Vantuna is especially well-designed for daily class work and operates from the easily accessible Los Angeles Harbor. Biologists will lead your group through "hands-on" science stations, pelagic trawls, deep water dredges, specimen tray sorting and can detail your class outing for elementary through high school students.

Cruise instructors are included in your tour package.Students and teachers are encouraged to take an active part in their cruise. Under normal operating conditions, the Vantuna features an open bridge where students may observe bathymetric equipment, radar, loran navigation, as well as participate in samplings for an ongoing environmental study.

Students will explore controlled sampling stations, sort and analyze specimens collected under the guidance of onboard instructors and carry out basic data collections and identification procedures for this program.A variety of preplanned education cruises are available an teachers receive a "Teacher's Guide to the Vantuna" to assist with lesson preparation and emphasis prior to the field trip.

Provided the class has acceptable transfer and storage facilities at the school, the samples collected during the cruise are the properties of the class, although exceptional research specimens may be retained for identification and analysis by the onboard instructors.

Include the Vantuna Marine Research Excursion in your Multi-Day L.A. Educational Tour!

  • Oceanography, ichthyology and marine biology research
  • Full research crew
  • Open bridge
  • Marine life identification
  • Teaching manuals
  • Water stations
  • Secchi disc turbidity tests
  • Otter trawl
  • Plankton hauls
  • Bottom dredging
  • Live specimens
  • Marine mammals study

 

Sample Itinerary
Southern California Motorcoach Tour
From $149.00 - 2 Day/1 Night - From $189.00 3 Day/2 Night

DAY 1

MORNING:

  • Depart from your school or other desired location(s).
  • (Morning or afternoon departure)
  • Travel Games, sightseeing and VCR movies enroute.

AFTERNOON:

  • Sea World
    "Behind the Scenes Tour"
  • San Diego hotel check-in
  • Pool Party

EVENING:

  • Dinner Shuttle
  • IMAX Film presentation
  • Return to hotel and retire for the evening
DAY 2
  • Breakfast at the hotel
    Scripps Aquarium visit
  • Seaport Village visit
  • Lunch at Seaport Village
  • Rueben H. Fleet Space and Science Center
  • Dinner Shuttle
  • Family Fun Center or other group activities
  • Return to hotel and retire for the evening
DAY 3
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Wild Animal Park visit
    "Behind the Scenes Tour"
  • Lunch at the Wild Animal Park
  • Depart for home
  • Dinner stop enroute (as desired by group)
  • Return to the original point of departure at approximately 6:00 p.m.
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