Living Coast Discovery Center

What Living Coast Discovery Center does

Living Coast Discovery Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife and environmental education facility founded in 1987 and located on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Chula Vista, California. The organization operates outdoor and indoor exhibits (Turtle Lagoon, Shark & Ray Experience, Raptor Row, Tidepool, Shorebird Aviary), guided guest adventures, private animal encounters, day camps, overnight programs, and scout programs, alongside a portfolio of K-12 education products delivered both on-site and via Zoom-based virtual field trips ($50-$225 per class). Conservation work centers on the Team Clapper Rail coalition (1,000 light-footed Ridgway's rails reintroduced since 2001 with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, SeaWorld San Diego, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife), the Western Burrowing Owl Recovery Program, and zero-waste/community cleanup initiatives (30+ tons of waste removed since 2015).

The business model is a diversified nonprofit operating budget funded through individual admissions, annual memberships ($75+ with a current promotion through June 29, 2026), private event hosting (birthday parties $575-$725, corporate events, weddings, and private clean-ups for 20-400 guests), fee-based virtual and in-person school programs, donations (one-time, Wave Makers monthly, and the Coastal Alliance planned giving program), and the annual Farm to Bay fundraising gala. Title 1 schools receive free programming underwritten by sponsors including U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Unified Port of San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric, and ArtsBusXpress. Technology is operational rather than differentiated, relying on Blackbaud for donations and ticketing, Zoom for virtual delivery, Volgistics for the 28,000 annual volunteer hours, and Recite Me for accessibility. Partnerships span federal and state agencies, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, SeaWorld, Port of San Diego, City of Chula Vista, and corporate sponsors led by Collins Aerospace as Presenting Sponsor of Farm to Bay 2026.

Name

Living Coast Discovery Center

Legal name

Living Coast Discovery Center

Website

https://thelivingcoast.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Living Coast Discovery Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife and environmental education facility on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, serving families, K-12 schools, and corporate groups through exhibits, conservation programs, virtual field trips, and private events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Center

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation center
• Environmental education programs
• Zoo aquarium exhibits
• School field trips
• Coastal habitat restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Chula Vista

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Admission and Tickets: Individual and group admission fees for visitors to the wildlife center, exhibits, and animal presentations.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership subscriptions offering free admission, guest passes, member-only events, and discounts on programs. Currently offering promotion: 2 free guest passes ($44 value) through June 29, 2026.
3. Wave Makers Monthly Giving: Monthly recurring donation program where supporters contribute regularly to sustain conservation and education programs.
4. Private Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting birthday parties (Standard $575/Deluxe $725), corporate events, weddings, and private clean-up programs.
5. Education Programs: Fees for virtual field trips ($50-$225 per class), school outreach programs, and educational workshops.
6. Farm to Bay Fundraising Event: Annual premier fundraising event featuring food, beverages, and entertainment to support the organization's mission.
7. Planned Giving and Estate Donations: Legacy giving program accepting bequests, vehicle donations, stock gifts, life insurance, retirement plan beneficiaries, and charitable gift annuities through the Coastal Alliance program.
8. Donations: General donations, corporate sponsorships, and grant funding from foundations and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Living Coast Discovery Center operates a wildlife and aquarium center on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, providing public access to native Southern California animal exhibits, guided guest adventures, and educational programs. It sells admissions, memberships, school field trips, virtual classes, summer camps, overnight programs, birthday parties, private event hosting, conservation species-recovery initiatives, and composting education. The center is sustained by donations, grants, and sponsorships from foundations, government agencies, and corporate partners.

Product overview

Living Coast Discovery Center is a nonprofit zoo and aquarium offering a unified portfolio of visitor experiences, educational programs, conservation initiatives, and community engagement opportunities. The core visitor-facing offering includes outdoor exhibits (Turtle Lagoon, Shark & Ray Experience, Raptor Row, Tidepool, Shorebird Aviary) and guided guest adventures. Education products span Virtual Field Trips, Field Trips/School Outreach, Wildlife Day Camps, Overnight Adventures, and Scout Programs. Conservation programs feature species recovery (Ridgway's Rail, Burrowing Owl), Composting (workshops, Master Composter Course), and environmental cleanup initiatives (Trail to Bay Challenge, Team Up to Clean Up). Community engagement includes Birthday Parties, Private Clean-Ups, Corporate/Event Hosting, Volunteer Program, Internship Program, and annual events (Farm to Bay). Supporting infrastructure includes Membership, Donations, and Planned Giving. The center integrates with Zoom for virtual programming, Recite Me for web accessibility, Volgistics for volunteer management, and Blackbaud for donations and ticketing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wildlife Exhibits and General Admissions Outdoor and indoor exhibits featuring native Southern California wildlife including sea turtles, sharks, rays, birds of prey, and tidal creatures at the Turtle Lagoon, Shark & Ray Experience, Raptor Row, Tidepool, and Shorebird Aviary; open to the public on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
• Guest Adventures (Guided Tours) Guided educational tours led by trained staff, including raptor encounters, eagle presentations, and wildlife presentations offering up-close experiences with animal ambassadors for general visitors.
• Private Animal Encounters Private up-close experiences where guests interact with selected animals, featuring touch tanks and trained animal handlers.
• Virtual Field Trips Online educational programs for K-12 classrooms including live animal encounters ($50 per class), live Zoom lessons ($225 per class), and pre-recorded lessons aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core standards, delivered via Zoom.
• Field Trips and School Outreach On-site and outreach educational programs for K-12 classes, including Living Lab Field Trips, Coastal Climate Champions (Middle School), and Compost 101 (Grades 3-12), with free programs sponsored for Title 1 schools.
• Wildlife Day Camps Summer and seasonal day camps for Pre-K through 6th grade featuring animal encounters, conservation activities, and outdoor games.
• Overnight Adventures Overnight programs allowing groups to experience the center after hours with guided activities and animal encounters.
• Scout Programs Badge-focused programs for scout groups aligned with scouting curriculum requirements.
• Birthday Party Packages Two birthday party packages: Standard ($575 for up to 25 guests, 1.5 hours guided activities, 2 animal encounters, nature craft, 30 minutes cake/food) and Deluxe ($725 for up to 30 guests, 2 hours guided activities, 3 animal encounters, 60 minutes cake/food and games).
• Private Clean-Up Events Corporate team-building cleanup events at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge including exclusive refuge access, staff guide, materials, private lunch area, animal encounter, and complimentary center visit.
• Event Venue Hosting Event venue rental for 20-400 guests, including corporate meetings, weddings, and celebrations with zero-waste options and optional private animal encounters.
• Conservation Species Recovery Programs Species recovery initiatives including the Light-footed Ridgway's Rail Propagation Program (1,000 rails reintroduced since 2001 via Team Clapper Rail) and the Western Burrowing Owl Recovery Program.
• Master Composter Training Course Free seven-week Master Composter training course with 30 hours of required volunteer service for certification, offered in partnership with the City of Chula Vista Office of Sustainability.
• Composting 101 Virtual Webinar 30-minute private virtual workshop for groups covering sustainable living and worm bin creation, priced at $200 per session.
• Trail to Bay Challenge Free environmental challenge combining 3 guided hikes and 1 cleanup, with completion rewards including family four-pack ($88 value) and Sustainability Hiking Pack.
• Annual Membership Annual membership starting at $75+ providing 2 free guest passes ($44 value), member discounts on programs and birthday parties, member-only events, and ongoing benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ tons of waste removed from local coastlines since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Western Burrowing Owl Recovery Program and Team Clapper Rail. Supports conservation breeding goals for species reintroduction in San Diego County.
• SeaWorld San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Team Clapper Rail coalition dedicated to study, restoration, and reintroduction of light-footed Ridgway's rails in Southern California.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner in Team Clapper Rail and sponsor of Living Lab Field Trip program for Title 1 schools. Organization is located on San Diego National Wildlife Refuge.
• Huntington Beach Wetlands ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Team Clapper Rail coalition supporting rail population through collaborative propagation and field research.
• California Department of Fish and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner in Team Clapper Rail for rail conservation and recovery efforts in California.
• City of Chula VistacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Trail to Bay Challenge, composting education (Master Composter certification), and Composting 101 sponsorship for Chula Vista schools. City Office of Sustainability sponsors composting programs.
• Chula Vista Elementary School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner benefiting from sponsored programs and field trip opportunities for district schools.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Birch Aquarium is a San Diego-based aquarium operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, offering marine exhibits, K-12 education programs, and conservation messaging on a coastal setting — directly comparable to Living Coast's aquarium exhibits (Shark & Ray, Tidepool), STEM-aligned school programs, and refuge-based coastal mission.
• Ocean Institute: Ocean Institute in Dana Point is a Southern California marine education nonprofit offering immersive tidepool and ocean programs, overnight adventures, and school field trips — closely mirroring Living Coast's hands-on marine education, overnight programs, and coastal STEM curriculum.
• CuriOdyssey: CuriOdyssey is a small zoo and aquarium in San Mateo, CA, combining wildlife exhibits with STEM education and conservation — a close operational analog to Living Coast's mix of native wildlife exhibits, school programs, and mission-driven nonprofit structure at similar scale.
• Aquarium of the Pacific: Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach operates marine exhibits, K-12 education, and conservation programs from a similar nonprofit operating model — directly comparable in audience (families, schools) and core products (exhibits, virtual field trips, animal encounters, member programs).
• Ocean Discovery Institute: San Diego-based nonprofit delivering marine science education to underserved youth through field programs, citizen science, and family engagement — closely aligned with Living Coast's Title 1 outreach, Coastal Climate Champions curriculum, and citizen-science-adjacent conservation programming in the same South County region.

Broad incumbents

• SeaWorld San Diego: SeaWorld San Diego is a much larger marine theme park and aquarium in the same regional market — an incumbent with overlapping marine education, animal encounters, and conservation partnerships (including Team Clapper Rail with Living Coast), but operating at vastly greater scale and with broader entertainment focus.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is the large, internationally recognized zoological organization that partners with Living Coast on the Western Burrowing Owl Recovery Program and conservation breeding — operates as a broader incumbent in wildlife conservation and visitor experiences.
• San Diego Natural History Museum: San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is a regional museum and nature institution delivering exhibitions, school programming, and nature-based learning — comparable in mission area (nature education, family visitation, school field trips) but operates as a much larger incumbent museum rather than a small wildlife center.

Emerging players

• Pacific Marine Mammal Center: Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach is a smaller marine nonprofit combining animal rescue/rehabilitation with K-12 education programs and community outreach — an emerging peer with partial overlap in marine education, citizen engagement, and nonprofit conservation programming.

Others

• WILDCOAST: WILDCOAST is a San Diego–based nonprofit focused on coastal and marine ecosystem conservation through policy, habitat protection, and community programs — an adjacent peer in coastal conservation mission and San Diego/Baja geography, but does not operate a visitor center or formal education programs comparable to Living Coast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thelivingcoast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thelivingcoast

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Living Coast Discovery Center