whale

Group Visits

Whether you're planning a group outing, a team-building day or a birthday party, Beaty Centre for Marine biodiversity offers a fun way to explore the underwater world together. Get hands-on, discover amazing marine life, and make some lasting memories along the way with our group visits!

Group
Visit

Book a 90-minute field trip
for your learners

Learn More

Team-building
Visit

Book a 60-90-minute

team-building experience

Learn More

Birthday
Parties

Book up to 90 mins to
celebrate your special day

Learn More

Group Visits

Looking for a unique and engaging group experience in Halifax? Plan a Group Visit to Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity and dive into the wonders of our ocean world. When you book a group visit, you benefit from our discounted group rates, and an orientation to Beaty Centre from our Ocean Science Interpreters. These visits are ideal for youth groups and camps, clubs, senior homes, and any organized groups eager to learn about Nova Scotia’s marine science and coastal culture! As part of our commitment to accessible marine education, not-for-profit groups receive additional discounted admission rates to ensure everyone gets the opportunity to take part in ocean stewardship.  

  • 60–90-minute group visit with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 65 people
  • Discounted admission if booking is made one week in advance of visit
  • Orientation to the centre explaining the layout and expectations
  • Space to store coats and bags
Fish (1)

Hours

September 6 – May 2

THU

12PM – 8PM

FRI

10AM – 4PM

SAT

10AM – 4PM

SUN

10AM – 4PM

May 3 – September 5

WED

10AM – 4PM

THU

12PM – 8PM

FRI

10AM – 4PM

SAT

10AM – 4PM

SUN

10AM – 4PM

*Bookings based on availability

Cropped-species-starfish

Organized Groups

$10 + HST

Not-for-profit Groups

$8.50 + HST

Group rates apply to organized groups of 10 or more guests and apply for each person in the group regardless of age. Rates are subject to change without notice. 

Rates

Children 12 years and under will need adult supervision. Not-for-profit groups will receive one free adult admission for every 5 youth in a group. If you wish to have additional adults during your visit, they will be charged at the group rate. These requirements do not apply to groups with youth who require additional support. 

If you have a special request for your group booking, please email us at info@beatymarinecentre.ca. 

Team Building

Make a splash in your office with Team Building at Beaty Centre! 

Looking to bond with your team? Better communication? Boost morale? Or just have a little fun? Book your Team Building at Beaty Centre for a unique, interactive, competitive scavenger hunt adventure through our visionary facility, navigating exhibits and aquaria for clues to answer questions, solve puzzles, and complete whimsical challenges. We’ll get your teammates to collaborate, be creative, and get out of their comfort zones, with some healthy competition to keep things interesting! Engage with marine life and marine sciences in a playful way and make memories with your group while you race to win the title of Dream Team at your office. 

Team takeaways: Team communication, creative thinking, cooperation, and teamwork 

  • 60–90-minute experience for up to 20 participants
  • Welcome orientation & guided tour
  • Facilitator led scavenger hunt competition
  • Keepsake prize for your group
19

Hours

September 6 – May 2

THU

12PM – 8PM

FRI

10AM – 4PM

SAT

10AM – 4PM

SUN

10AM – 4PM

May 3 – September 5

WED

10AM – 4PM

THU

12PM – 8PM

FRI

10AM – 4PM

SAT

10AM – 4PM

SUN

10AM – 4PM

*Bookings based on availability

21

Flat rate (Includes 10 participants

$185 + HST

Additional participant

$15.50 + HST

Groups consisting of Dalhousie students, faculty and staff receive 15% off their booking. Rates are subject to change without notice. 

Team-building Rates

Bookings must be submitted for a minimum of one week in advance. Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.  If you have a special request for your team-building booking, reach out to us at info@beatymarinecentre.ca.  

Birthday Parties

Create lasting memories that will connect you to the ocean for a lifetime, with this unique, personalized Birthday Party experience. An Ocean Science Interpreter will start the party with an orientation to the centre, then lead your party through our aquaria space to meet our marine life, adventure and play beneath the waves, and then head upstairs to your craft and activity area with a view of our 18-meter whale skeleton. The fun doesn’t have to stop there, as you and your party guests receive free admission to continue exploring Beaty Centre for the rest of the day. Admission rates for birthdays are the same price as a regular visit to Beaty Centre and come with a sea full of extra experiences for you and your Party. Designed for ages 4+. 

Received a Personalized Gift: Tell us about the birthday person, and receive a personalized, hand-made gift upon arrival - a birthday cone hat designed with the birthday star in mind!   

Select your Party Theme: Each party theme has its own collection of games and activities tailored to your interests, so you can plan the underwater adventure of your dreams.   

Invite all your Ocean Friends: When you book your party, you’ll receive our Beaty Centre Party Invitations for you to send out to all your guests.   

A Party to Remember: Make your memories last and go home with a special birthday card and Polaroid photo of your group, as a gift from your friends at Beaty Centre.   

Have a Whale of a Good Time: Our Birthday parties last up to 90 minutes accompanied by a dedicated staff, but thereafter you and your party are welcome to stay and explore Beaty Centre for as long as you like.  

Bookings must be submitted for a minimum of 14 days prior to the party date. We cannot accommodate same week party requests. Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Halifax Transit Routes 1 and 24 have stops within walking distance of Beaty Centre. Routes 4 and 10 stop at the Student Union Building, which is a short walk to Beaty Centre. 
Bus turnaround

Buses can drop guests off on the side of the Steele Ocean Sciences Building on Edzell Castle Circle.

General parking  

  • Weekdays daytime parking 
  • Street parking on South Street and Oxford Steet  
  • Studley Campus, Alumni West (#16) – Pay and Display 
  • Parking from 4:30 pm to 1:30 am weekdays and all day on weekends 
  • Studley Campus, Steel Ocean Sciences (#21) 
  • Studley Campus, Alumni West (#16) 

  • Payment can be made via cash, credit, debit or cheque made payable to Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity. 

  • There is no food for sale or designated lunch space within the centre. No food can be consumed in and around the aquarium spaces; drink is allowed in a container or bottle with a lid.   

  • Coat rack is available for your group’s personal belongings. A host will bring you to them upon your arrival. The centre is not responsible for the security of items left there. Limited coat storage space is available.

At this time, Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity is not accepting venue rental requests.   

Group Visit

Rates apply for groups of 10 or more paid admissions. All attendees must pay as part of the group at the corresponding rate.

Any changes to the booking should be made by 4 p.m. one week prior to your visit. 

For visits cancelled with less than one weeks’ notice a $50 fee will be charged for the blocked timeslot.

In the event that the group visit is cancelled by Beaty Centre due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, the visit scheduled for that day will be rescheduled to a future date at the group’s convenience within the Beaty Centre’s already confirmed schedule. 

Adult supervisors are expected to remain with their youth through their entire visit. Proper supervision is essential to creating a safe, fun atmosphere at the centre. Groups of children 12 and under are required to have a 1:7 chaperone to child ratio. 

Not-for-profit groups will receive one free adult admission for every 5 youth in a group. If you wish to have additional adults during your visit, they will be charged at the group rate. These requirements do not apply to groups with youth who require additional support. 

Team Building

The team building experience includes 10 admissions, but up to 10 additional guests can be booked for a total of 20 in a group. We recommend at minimum 6 in your group to make the most out of your experience. 

Any changes to the booking should be made by 4 p.m. one week prior to your visit. For visits cancelled with less than one weeks’ notice a $50 fee will be charged for the blocked timeslot.

In the event that the Team Building visit is cancelled by Beaty Centre due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, the visit scheduled for that day will be rescheduled to a future date at the group’s convenience within the Beaty Centre’s already confirmed schedule.

Birthday Parties

Our birthday bookings require a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 25 guests.

Any changes to the booking numbers should be made by 4 pm one week prior to your party. To cancel or change the date of a birthday party, the booking adult must contact Beaty Centre a minimum of 14 days prior to the party date. For cancellations, any refundable balance that has been pre-paid (deposit or estimated balance charge) will be refunded within 21 days of the initial request. No refunds will be issued for cancellations or changes made within 14 days of the party date. In the event that the party is cancelled by Beaty Centre due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, the party will be rescheduled to a future date at the group’s convenience within Beaty Centre’s already confirmed schedule. 

Birthday parties are designed for ages 4 and up, and activities will be tailored to the age of the group. Planning an adult birthday for an ocean lover? You’re never too old for a party at Beaty Centre! 

At this time, Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity does not have rooms available to rent out for birthday parties. Because of this, we cannot host a space for food and decorations. Presents can be exchanged at the craft table.

Looking for a unique and engaging group experience in Halifax? Plan a Group Visit to Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity and dive into the wonders of our ocean world. When you book a group visit, you benefit from our discounted group rates, and an orientation to Beaty Centre from our Ocean Science Interpreters. These visits are ideal for youth groups and camps, clubs, senior homes, and any organized groups eager to learn about Nova Scotia’s marine science and coastal culture! As part of our commitment to accessible marine education, not-for-profit groups receive additional discounted admission rates to ensure everyone gets the opportunity to take part in ocean stewardship.   

Included in your visit:

  • 60–90-minute Group Visit with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 65 people
  • Discounted admission if booking is made one week in advance of visit
  • Orientation to the centre explaining the layout and expectations
  • Space to store coats and bags
Untitled design
Fish (1)

Hours

September 6 – May 2

THU

12PM – 8PM

FRI

10AM – 4PM

SAT

10AM – 4PM

SUN

10AM – 4PM

May 3 – September 5

WED

10AM – 4PM

THU

12PM – 8PM

FRI

10AM – 4PM

SAT

10AM – 4PM

SUN

10AM – 4PM

*Bookings based on availability

Cropped-species-starfish

Organized Groups

$10 + HST

Not-for-profit Groups

$8.50 + HST

Group rates apply to organized groups of 10 or more guests and apply for each person in the group regardless of age. Rates are subject to change without notice. 

Rates

Children 12 years and under will need adult supervision. Not-for-profit groups will receive one free adult admission for every 5 youth in a group. If you wish to have additional adults during your visit, they will be charged at the group rate. These requirements do not apply to groups with youth who require additional support. 

If you have a special request for your group booking, please email us at info@beatymarinecentre.ca. 

Birthday Parties

Create lasting memories that will connect you to the ocean for a lifetime, with this unique, personalized Birthday Party experience. An Ocean Science Interpreter will start the party with an orientation to the centre, then lead your party through our aquaria space to meet our marine life, adventure and play beneath the waves, and then head upstairs to your craft and activity area with a view of our 18-meter whale skeleton. The fun doesn’t have to stop there, as you and your party guests receive free admission to continue exploring Beaty Centre for the rest of the day. Admission rates for birthdays are the same price as a regular visit to Beaty Centre and come with a sea full of extra experiences for you and your Party. Designed for ages 4+. 

Received a Personalized Gift: Tell us about the birthday person, and receive a personalized, hand-made gift upon arrival - a birthday cone hat designed with the birthday star in mind!   

Select your Party Theme: Each party theme has its own collection of games and activities tailored to your interests, so you can plan the underwater adventure of your dreams.   

Invite all your Ocean Friends: When you book your party, you’ll receive our Beaty Centre Party Invitations for you to send out to all your guests.   

A Party to Remember: Make your memories last and go home with a special birthday card and Polaroid photo of your group, as a gift from your friends at Beaty Centre.   

Have a Whale of a Good Time: Our Birthday parties last up to 90 minutes accompanied by a dedicated staff, but thereafter you and your party are welcome to stay and explore Beaty Centre for as long as you like.  

Bookings must be submitted for a minimum of 14 days prior to the party date. We cannot accommodate same week party requests. Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.