About the Connections Program
The Seattle Aquarium aims to be inclusive and welcoming to all, and believes that our audience should reflect the diversity of our region. Toward that end, the Seattle Aquarium Connections program provides complimentary admission tickets and discounted memberships through community partner organizations.
The goal of the Seattle Aquarium Connections program is to provide opportunities to experience the Aquarium to those in our community who might otherwise experience barriers to engaging with us. To support our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we hope to create authentic, mutually beneficial relationships that build trust between the Aquarium and our partner communities and provide quality, culturally relevant marine conservation educational experiences to all.
Explore the Connections Program
Becoming a Partner
Applications are closed for this year. Please check back in 2025.
Eligible partners include service-based nonprofit or governmental organizations that support members of marginalized communities including but not limited to: low-income families; communities of color; immigrant and refugee communities; people with disabilities; the deaf community; people who are blind; families or individuals experiencing homelessness; and others.
Once established as community partners through our Connections program, participating organizations have access to enjoy free general admission to the Aquarium, $35 Connections membership vouchers, outreach opportunities, programming through the Beach Naturalist and Cedar River Salmon Journey programs, on-site enhancements, special events and more.
What we ask for in exchange is that community partners designate one primary contact to represent their organization and act as a liaison between the Aquarium and any coworkers who may want to utilize the Connections program. (We understand that this may not be efficient for larger organizations; please contact us to make alternate arrangements if that’s the case.)
The primary contact is responsible for ordering and distributing all tickets and vouchers needed by the organization; and maintaining and returning distribution logs provided by the Aquarium to track basic demographics on the audiences receiving tickets and vouchers. We also ask the primary contact to inform others within their organization about opportunities at the Seattle Aquarium, so the whole organization can benefit from the Connections program. If the primary contact changes, it is the responsibility of the community partner to inform the Seattle Aquarium of this change.
Benefits of the Connections Program
FREE GENERAL ADMISSION
The Seattle Aquarium Connections program offers free general admission through two types of tickets distributed to our community partners.
Group reservations: Online registration is required for groups of 10 or more people (including chaperones) who are coming to the Aquarium together and must be reserved at least two weeks in advance. You will receive an entrance confirmation to bring when entering the Aquarium; printed tickets are not required for group reservations. This option reduces costs and is more sustainable than printing paper tickets.
Individual tickets: Individual tickets are distributed to qualifying families and patrons of partner organizations who wish to visit the Aquarium on their own.
For those interested in ocean conservation careers, we have opportunities to enhance your group’s visit to the Seattle Aquarium. For more information, please email connections@seattleaquarium.org.
$35 MEMBERSHIP VOUCHERS
These vouchers offer a full year of Aquarium membership, at a significant savings, to low-income families. Partners can distribute Connections membership vouchers to community members who would like to purchase an Aquarium Family Plus membership for $35. All standard membership benefits apply.
Note: We require that distribution logs be maintained for individual tickets and membership vouchers to track basic audience demographics.
Individual tickets and membership vouchers are valid for one year from the date they were printed and may be distributed to staff members of partner organizations if said staff qualify for services the organization provides.
Tickets and membership vouchers should never be used as rewards, incentives or donation items for fundraising. They do not have a cash value, are nontransferable, should never be sold and are not to be given to employees or non-qualifying individuals for personal use.
OUTREACH PROGRAMMING
The Seattle Aquarium provides multiple opportunities for programs in the community, including but not limited to:
- Beach Naturalist program: Schedule a time to join us on a local shoreline at low tide for a beach animal program.
- Cedar River Salmon Journey: Schedule a time to join us along the Cedar River or at the Ballard Locks as we watch sockeye, Chinook and coho salmon head upstream to spawn.
- Bring Aquarium programming to your community center, event, classroom and more. Our outreach programs offer a wide range of topics that align with various interests and can be adapted to fit any age group.
For those interested in collaborating with us on outreach opportunities, please email connections@seattleaquarium.org.
How to Join the Connections Program
You can apply online to become a community partner through the Connections program. You’ll need to have the following information available:
- Organization name and address
- Contact information for the designated contact from your organization
- Website address
- An organization description and/or mission statement
- A description of the demographics and/or populations you serve, as well as the number of people you serve
- Nonprofit federal tax ID number
- Estimated number of tickets you anticipate requesting per year
If you have any questions about the Connections community partner application, please call (206) 693-6173 or email connections@seattleaquarium.org.
For information on our other discount programs, please see our discounts and group rates page.
For Current Connections Program Partners
To request Seattle Aquarium Connections tickets and vouchers, your organization must be a current partner in good standing. All Aquarium ticket requests must go through your designated primary contact to authorize free admission.
When distributing individual tickets and membership vouchers, you must complete the associated distribution log. Please fill out as much information as you can, as this allows us to get a better understanding of which audiences we are reaching and identifies areas of improvement. To support our sustainability efforts, we encourage community partners to make group reservations when applicable. This option is for groups of 10 or more people visiting the Aquarium on the same day, at the same time.
All group reservations, printed individual tickets and membership vouchers can be requested by the designated primary contact using our Connections partner tickets or group visit request online form.
For more detailed instructions on how to use the online form, please see the following documents:
How to order Connections membership vouchers
How to make a group reservation and order printed individual tickets
2024 Connections Program Offerings
Beach Naturalist Outreach Program
Interested in having a program for your community group with our trained naturalists? We can meet you at a local beach where we offer programming for 90 minutes of exploration.
Offered July through August.
Cedar River Salmon Journey outreach program
Interested in having a program for your community group with our trained naturalists? We can meet you at one of the spots along the Ballard Locks or Cedar River where we offer 90 minutes of exploration programming.
Offered August through October.
Community Days
The Seattle Aquarium hosts Community Day events to celebrate, honor and welcome the diverse communities of Puget Sound. These events center around cultural and awareness months, days of significance, holidays and much more. Each Community Day features meaningful enhancements designed to support the community being celebrated in fostering a sense of belonging. Check our events calendar to learn about upcoming events.
Interested in collaborating on a future Community Day event? Please email us at connections@seattleaquarium.org.
Outreach programs
Our summer outreach programs have reached capacity for the season. Please check back in September for updates.
Bring Aquarium programming to your community center, event, classroom and more. Our outreach programs offer a wide range of topics that align with various interests and can be adapted to fit any age group:
Beach stewards: Get to know tide pool animals! Through a Western lens, we’ll examine the classifications and adaptations of these fascinating animals. Once we learn more about them, we will talk about and practice interacting with the tide pool inhabitants in a respectful and caring way.
Salmon journey: Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all connected to salmon. Salmon are the lifeblood of our river and ocean ecosystems, providing nourishment for people, animals and our natural environment. In an exploration of their life cycle, we'll use puppets, storytelling and knowledge, and play to learn more about these important relatives.
Whales and relatives: Join us for a deep dive into the world of cetaceans, or whales and their relatives! These large intellectuals of the ocean are known for their echolocation, strong family ties and ecological role at the top of the oceanic food web.
Seals, sea lions and otters: Come learn about the similarities and differences between seals, sea lions and otters! These marine mammals might have some similarities in appearance but they can lead very different lives from each other.
Do you have a fair or festival coming up? Would you like the Seattle Aquarium to attend? We can share information on our local marine invertebrates or the importance of salmon to our watershed. We’re always happy to educate and inform.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tickets can I order?
At this time, you can order as many tickets as your organization can effectively distribute and record on the distribution logs. Please note that printing tickets does incur costs, and before your next order is filled, we will look at your redemption rates and number of tickets distributed in your logs to evaluate if they are being used.
When can we come to the aquarium with our Connections tickets or memberships?
Seattle Aquarium Connections tickets are valid during all open hours at the Seattle Aquarium. The Seattle Aquarium is open daily from 9:30am to 6pm (last entry at 5pm; exhibits close at 6pm). Please visit our Hours, Discounts and Groups page for information on special hours and closures.
To enhance your visit, we require all guests to enter the Aquarium with timed tickets. If you hold printed tickets from the Connections program, please proceed to the non-timed ticket line upon arrival, where a guest services representative will assist you in securing the next available time slot. We cannot guarantee how long the wait will be, though wait times are usually under 15 minutes. We appreciate your understanding.
How do I redeem a Connections membership voucher?
A membership voucher obtained through a community partner must be redeemed in person at the Aquarium. The name of the primary adult on the membership must be written on the voucher. Valid identification and payment of $35 are required to redeem the membership.
The membership provides unlimited admission for one or two named adults, up to six of their children/grandchildren (ages 18 and under), and one free guest every visit. See our Connections Membership page for a full list of benefits and policies.
I am not part of an organization; how do I get discounted tickets for myself?
For information on our discount programs for individuals, please see our Tickets, Discounts and Group Rates page.
