Groups of fewer than 15 people are free to visit the Reserve on their own without a reservation. Please familiarize yourself with the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Regulations prior to your visit.
A reservation is required for groups of 15 or more. This ensures an exceptional learning experience for each group and helps control number of people on the reef at any one time, minimizing human impact to marine life and preserving it for future generations.
Groups of 15 or more will be matched with an experienced and trained guide from the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, a volunteer group dedicated to fostering stewardship at the Reserve through science- and history-based education.
For the 2025-26 tour season, which begins August 18, 2025, reservations will be made by phone only. This new process will make it easier to schedule a group tour while also prioritizing more outdoor educational opportunities for schools that receive Title I federal funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act, which helps students who are behind academically, or at risk of falling behind. The funds for each school district are based on a State of California formula that is calculated by the number of students from economically disadvantaged homes.
Title I Schools List
See a complete list of recipients of Title I, Part A school allocations for FY 2024-25. Parks Department staff will be using this list to confirm priority reservations.
Tidepool Tour Schedule
View the upcoming tide season schedule and available reservation opportunities. Please note, dates listed may already be reserved. When calling, please have a few options to share with staff.
Important Details About Tour Reservations
- There is a limit of 100 students/participants per single tour date.
- Reservations will only be accepted for groups with students/participants in grades 3 and up.
- For grades 3-12, one adult chaperone per 7 students is required.
- Additional students/participants cannot be added once the reservation has been completed.
- No tour or reservation fees will be charged.
- When calling please inform park staff of any special accommodations that may be needed during the tour (e.g., language needs, accessibility, transportation-scholarships may be available).
- Schools may inquire about bus scholarships funded by the San Mateo County Parks Foundation; limited scholarships are available.
Tour Reservation Process
The tour reservation process runs yearly on or around August 18 to September 22 and allows groups of 15 people or more to make a reservation for a volunteer naturalist-led tour of the Reserve. An announcement of the reservation process for the upcoming season will appear on the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve webpage yearly beginning on or around August 1.
Reservations can be made by calling the San Mateo County Parks Department’s reservations line at (650) 363-4021, Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am–5:00 pm. Parks Department staff will confirm reservations with school representatives during the reservations call.
You will need the following information to make your reservation:
- Name and location of school;
- Name, email address, and cell phone number of group leader accompanying the group; and
- Number and grade level of students and number of adult chaperones.
Reservations for the 2025-26 tour season will be accepted and made according to the schedule listed in the table below (please refer to the Title I list above before calling):
| Reservation Period | San Mateo County Title I Schools | Other Title I Schools | All Other Schools (including homeschools) | Non-School Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/18 – 8/24 | X | |||
| 8/25 – 9/2 | X | X | ||
| 9/3 – 9/18 | X | X | X | |
| 9/22 and After* | X | X | X | X |
*All reservations must be made by the first of the month that precedes the month of your desired reservation date. For example, if you would like to make a reservation for some time in March, the last day to make that reservation would be February 1.
Missed the Tour Reservations Window?
If you were unable to apply during the priority reservations period listed above and you would like to see if there are any remaining dates available, call the San Mateo County Parks Department’s reservations line at (650) 363-4021, Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am–5:00 pm.
Plan for Your Tour
- Visitors are responsible for following the rules. Please see Fitzgerald Marine Reserve regulations.
- Prepare your class for their trip by taking advantage of our free Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Pre-Field Trip Tidepool Program.
- In addition:
- Please arrive no sooner than one (1) hour before your tour begins and remain in the picnic area until your tour time.
- Make sure everyone dresses appropriately. Layers are encouraged. Extra socks for the trip home are suggested in case of wet feet.
- Students are not allowed to carry backpacks, water bottles, food or any items that would burden their hands during the tour.
- Remember to enjoy with your eyes, not your hands. Do not touch or remove marine life, and be mindful of your step, both for your own safety and for the well-being of the organisms that call the Reserve their home.