Oceano Dunes District Visitor Center
The Oceano Dunes District Visitor Center is located at 555 Pier Avenue, at the entrance to the Oceano Campground. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the visitor center to learn more about the park and pick up a free park map brochure as they plan their adventure for the Oceano Dunes SVRA. Knowledgeable State Park Staff are available to answer questions and kids can pick up a free activity booklet. Open Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sunday & Monday) from noon to 4pm.
Field Trip Opportunities: In-Park & Virtual Learning
PISMO STATE BEACH MONARCH BUTTERFLY GROVE
Join California State Park interpreters at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove for a 45-minute program designed to help students better understand the annual migration of monarch butterflies, their life cycle, population changes over time, and the importance of protecting monarch habitats including overwintering sites. Students will rotate through three different activities, with each stop on the rotation lasting around 15 minutes. All activities take place outdoors. Please take the weather into consideration, as rain or high winds will cancel this field trip. For more information, please email Mallory.Diepenbrock@parks.ca.gov, or call 805-474-2664.
Activity 1: An interactive talk about the monarch life cycle, insect anatomy, migration and senses.
Activity 2: Take a walk through the habitat, learn about monarch conservation and view monarchs through a telescope.
Activity 3: Hands-on monarch themed activity students can take home.
Age group: K – 4th
Group size: 60 students max, no more than 1 bus per field trip
Dates: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in November, December, January, and early February
Time: 10:30 am to 11:15 am
Location: Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove
Reservations:
Reservations are required to visit the butterfly grove. Browse field trip opportunities here:
Browse Available Dates [LINK COMING SEPTEMBER 1ST 2026]
NORTHERN CHUMASH EDUCATION AT THE OCEANO DUNES VISITOR CENTER/OCEANO LAGOON
Join California State Park Interpreters and Docents for our Northern Chumash Education program. This field trip is designed for 3rd-grade learners and takes a hands-on approach to learning about the ancestral past of the Northern Chumash tribe. Students rotate through a series of three stations where they deepen their understating of Northern Chumash culture and discover the importance the natural world played in providing an abundance of resources for the Northern Chumash tribe for thousands of years. For more information, please email Mallory.Diepenbrock@parks.ca.gov or call 805-474-2664.
Age group: 3rd grade, however other grades can be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to Mallory.Diepenbrock@parks.ca.gov to inquire.
Group size: 60 students max, no more than 1 bus per field trip.
Dates: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in October, March, April, and early May
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Oceano Dunes District Visitor Center, 555 Pier Avenue, Oceano 93445
Reservations:
Reservations are required to visit. Browse field trip opportunities here:
Browse Available Dates [LINK COMING SEPTEMBER 1ST 2026]
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) Programs provides K-12 students the opportunity to connect with the diverse cultural, natural, and historic resources of our State through virtual field-trip experiences.
Teachers who are interested in registering their class for these FREE virtual field trip experience can register online at https://www.ports-ca.us/
"Discovering the Dunes" is offered on select dates during the months of October and March through May. During the live video conference, State Park Interpeters will immerse students into the coastal sand dune habitat. Students will learn about sand dune formation and the rock cycle, in addition to discovering what animals have adapted to survive in this habitat.
"Amazing Monarchs: Milkweed, Migration and Conservation!" is offered on select dates during the months of November through early February. Come along and virtually explore Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove! We'll learn all about monarch migration, their fascinating life cycle, and how YOU can help them. This program is designed for 2nd through 7th grade audiences.
State Park Guided Adventures
Join State Park Staff and Docents on monthly guided adventures! See program dates and descriptions below for Pismo State Beach experiences. Call 805-474-2664 to reserve your spot! Please give us a call with any questions.
Oceano’s Beavers
Saturday, August 15th, 10am-Noon
Join State Park Docent Dan to learn about the beaver’s physical adaptations, their role in our country’s westward expansion, why they were hunted, and their local history. Enjoy an easy paced walk around the Oceano lagoon as we search for evidence and signs of beaver activity.
Meet at Oceano Dunes Visitor Center at the Oceano Campground, 555 Pier Ave, Oceano. Dress in layers with comfortable walking shoes. Bring insect repellent and water: binoculars a plus. Moderate walk; 0.5 miles; 2 hours. Best for ages 8 & up, however all ages welcome. Space is limited, please reserve your spot by calling 805-474-2664.
Guiton Trail around Oceano Lagoon
Every Wednesday through August, 10am-11am
Join State Park Staff on a guided walk around Oceano Lagoon. Learn about native plants and animals while exploring this beautiful habitat. You never know what you will see! Meet in front of the Oceano Dunes Visitor Center. Bring a pair of binoculars if you have them, or borrow one of ours. All ages welcome.
Activity Guides for Kids
Oceano Dunes SVRA Adventure Guide [PDF]
Marine Protected Areas Activity Guide [PDF]
Augmented Reality Coloring Sheets
California State Park Coloring Pack on QuiverVision: https://quivervision.com/coloring-packs/California-State-Parks
Off Highway Vehicle Safety Gear
Summer Interpretive Programs
Campfire Programs
Join State Park Interpreters around the campfire on Saturday nights during the summer season for fun and interactive presentations about local wildlife and cultural topics. All ages welcome.
Junior Ranger Program
Children ages 7-12 are invited to become Jr. Rangers at Pismo State Beach! Join our Interpretive Park Rangers for fun activities as you learn about the outdoors! At your first Junior Ranger program you will get a logbook and badge. Programs are offered in the Oceano Campground Campfire Center and the North Beach Campfire Center during the summer season.
Junior Lifeguard Program
The objective of the Oceano Dunes Junior Lifeguard Program is to provide quality water safety education. Further, the program is designed to improve young people's physical conditioning, their understanding and respect for the environment, and their respect for themselves, their peers and their parents.
Recreational objectives are accomplished by instruction and practice in open water swimming, paddle boarding, body surfing, body boarding, surfboard riding, skin diving, and self rescue. Respect for the environment is increased by the understanding gained by the student’s daily physical contact with the environment and through lecture and discussion of pertinent marine and environmental topics. Increased respect for themselves is gained through the student’s personal progress and pride in self-accomplishment. Respect for others is increased by the student’s constant contact with compassionate Instructors and by working with other youths in a team-building environment.
For more information, visit the Junior Lifeguard Program Page.