Center for Aquatic Sciences

What Center for Aquatic Sciences does

Center for Aquatic Sciences is a Camden, New Jersey-based nonprofit environmental education organization founded in 1989, originally as the New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences to operate the New Jersey State Aquarium. After spinning off aquarium operations in 2005 (when the facility became Adventure Aquarium) and rebranding in 2014, the Center repositioned as a community-anchored marine science and environmental justice catalyst serving the Camden region, with programs spanning PreK through teen years.

Its product surface is unusually broad for a nonprofit of its size (101–250 employees) and is built around three delivery modalities: on-site at Adventure Aquarium (1 Riverside Drive, Camden), mobile outreach across NJ/PA/DE/NY schools, libraries, and community sites, and virtual programming via Zoom. Core offerings include summer camps (Ocean Explorer ages 6–11, Junior Marine Biologist ages 12–15), the flagship multi-year CAUSE youth development pipeline for Camden 7th–9th graders, birthday parties, overnight programs, a Teen Marine Science Institute, kayak and fishing programs, field trips to the Pinelands and Jersey Shore, and an emerging immersive Watershed Tunnel exhibit. Supporting infrastructure includes Salesforce Sites for registration/donations, IATS Payments, and proprietary curriculum content including Virtually Camden digital resources.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: unit-priced program fees (e.g., $425–$450 per camp week, $25 per field trip student, $75–$80 per overnight, $500 for a large-group outreach session), individual donations (one-time and recurring via an online portal with employer matching), and foundation/corporate grants from funders including the William Penn Foundation, Camden Education Fund, Subaru Foundation, and American Water Charitable Foundation. Many programs for Camden residents and CAUSE are provided at no cost, with the Center operating as a hybrid of fee-based programming and donor-subsidized community access.

Name

Center for Aquatic Sciences

Legal name

Center for Aquatic Sciences

Website

https://aquaticsciences.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Center for Aquatic Sciences is a Camden, NJ-based nonprofit founded in 1989 that delivers aquatic and environmental education programs—including summer camps, youth development, field trips, and free Camden kayaking and fishing—to families, K–12 schools, and Camden residents through its partnership with Adventure Aquarium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Marine science education
• Youth STEM development
• Aquatic conservation programs
• Watershed stewardship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Camden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees charged for summer camps, field trips, overnight programs, birthday parties, outreach visits, and teen programs. Revenue is per-program/per-participant with seasonal variations.
2. Individual Donations: Online donation portal accepting one-time and recurring contributions with options for memorial donations and employer matching.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations like William Penn Foundation, Camden Education Fund, and Subaru Foundation, and corporate sponsors for specific programs and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Center for Aquatic Sciences delivers hands-on environmental and marine science education programming for youth, families, schools, and Camden community members. Core offerings include summer camps at Adventure Aquarium, the multi-year CAUSE youth development program for Camden students, mobile school and library outreach, teen career exploration programs, outdoor kayaking and fishing on local waterways, and free Camden community programs.

Product overview

Center for Aquatic Sciences is an environmental education organization offering a diversified portfolio of programs centered around aquatic science, marine biology, and environmental stewardship. The core offerings include: Summer Sea Camp (Ocean Explorer for ages 6-11 and Junior Marine Biologist for ages 12-15) held at Adventure Aquarium; the flagship CAUSE youth development program for Camden students in grades 7-9; Birthday Parties and Overnight Programs at Adventure Aquarium; Teen Marine Science Institute and Aquatic Career Tour for teen career exploration; and outdoor Camden Programs (Kayaking, Fishing, Petty's Island) serving 400+ residents annually. Additional offerings include Outreach Programs traveling to schools and libraries, Field Trips (Pinelands, Beach, Kayaking, Aquarium), and Virtual Programs via Zoom. The organization partners with Adventure Aquarium and is a member of the Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River, operating as a regional leader in STEM-based youth development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Sea Camp Summer camp program at Adventure Aquarium for children ages 6-15 featuring behind-the-scenes tours, exhibit exploration, hands-on science activities, citizen science projects, and conservation education. Includes Ocean Explorer Camp (ages 6-11) at $425/week and Junior Marine Biologist Camp (ages 12-15) at $450/week with dissections and field trips.
• CAUSE Program (Community and Urban Science Enrichment) Multi-year STEM-based youth development program for Camden 7th-9th grade students preparing them for college, careers, and leadership through immersive science experiences, mentorship, and community service. Interns receive paid minimum wage starting end of 9th grade. Free for Camden students, entirely funded by donors.
• Birthday Parties 90-minute interactive science birthday party experience including live ocean touch table, hands-on craft, and animal presentation featuring species like turtles, snakes, and insects. Priced at $425 for up to 20 children plus travel fee. Voted Best of Philly: Kids Party for small groups in 2025.
• Overnight Programs Overnight camping experiences at Adventure Aquarium featuring self-guided tours, behind-the-scenes access, live animal encounters, and themed nighttime adventures. Friday nights $75/person; Saturday nights $80/person with 25% non-refundable deposit. Suitable for families, scout groups, and organizations with children ages 6-12.
• Teen Marine Science Institute Exclusive 8-program series for aspiring marine scientists featuring career exploration, fieldwork and lab skills, dissections, and behind-the-scenes aquarium access. Can be purchased as single dates or whole series.
• Aquatic Career Tour 3-hour behind-the-scenes experience for middle or high school students exploring aquarium careers and daily life of marine biologists with exhibit access and animal interactions. Priced at $75 per person.
• Kayaking Programs Free kayaking programs for Camden residents on the Delaware River back channel and Cooper River from April through October, including guided excursions around Petty's Island with Philadelphia skyline views. Also available for corporate team-building groups.
• Fishing Programs Fishing education programs at Cramer Hill Waterfront Park teaching children and families how to fish, aquatic life identification, and river habitat protection. Children under 16 participate without NJ fishing license.
• Petty's Island Environmental Education Environmental education programs on 350-acre Petty's Island (off Camden shoreline) partnering with NJ Natural Lands Trust. Island features American Bald Eagles and 150 acres of freshwater tidal marsh. Public access limited to scheduled program participants.
• Virtually Camden Collection of online virtual tours, scavenger hunts, fact sheets, and activities for smartphone-accessible exploration of Camden parks and waterways. Includes fact sheets on local wildlife, invasive species, scavenger hunts for Cramer Hill Nature Preserve and Gateway Park, and virtual tours of Delaware River Back Channel, Cooper River, and Petty's Island.
• Outreach Programs Mobile science education programs traveling year-round to schools, daycare centers, summer camps, libraries, community centers, and events. Includes large group lessons, small group lessons, STEM labs, and virtual options with live animals covering environmental topics.
• Field Trips Outdoor field programs including Pinelands hiking (3 hours examining streams and rare plants), Jersey Shore beach exploration (bird watching, plant ID, aquatic species collection), and guided kayaking excursions on the Delaware River. Also includes trips to Adventure Aquarium. $25 per student with minimum 20 students.
• Aquarium Classes, Labs & Tours Behind-the-scenes tours (Ocean Realm Tour, Behind-the-Scenes Tour), auditorium programs (Global Habitats, Deep Dive into Sharks, Sea Senses, Penguin Fun, Aquarium Career Talk), and classroom/lab programs aligned with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.
• Virtual Programs Interactive virtual sessions via Zoom featuring live education animals, marine biologist insights, hands-on activities, and real-time field observations. Programs include Ask an Axolotl, Hello Hippos, Horseshoe Crabs: Under the Shell, Legless Lizards, Little Blue Penguins, Animals Wow, and Pinelands Adventure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% high school graduation rate and 100% college enrollment for CAUSE interns
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CITGO (formerly)minorOthers · 1 January 2009CITGO previously operated a fuel/oil storage operation on Petty's Island and donated the island to NJ Natural Lands Trust in 2009 for conversion to an urban nature reserve.
• Philadelphia-Camden Informal Science Education Collaborative (PISEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Since 1992, the Center has been a founding member of PISEC, which includes the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, the Franklin Institute Science Museum, and the Philadelphia Zoo. PISEC has operated continuously for more than three decades providing hands-on science opportunities to over 50,000 people.
• Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware RivercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for Aquatic Sciences is one of 23 centers in the Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River. Working within the network, the Center provides education and recreational opportunities that promote appreciation for the watershed. One of the key events is the Delaware River Festival occurring each fall.
• RiverwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiverways is a consortium of organizations working together to create safe access to the region's waterways using youth as catalysts for change and stewardship. The Center's CAUSE teens kayak the backchannel of the Delaware River with groups, exploring the history, ecology, and conservation issues of the area.
• Discover the DelawarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a partner in Discover the Delaware, the Center provides high-quality educational opportunities for Camden Residents along the backchannel of the Delaware River. Through kayaking, fishing, and park-based activities, the Center and other partners promote equitable access to the Delaware River.
• New Jersey Natural Lands TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for Aquatic Sciences partners with NJ Natural Lands Trust to provide environmental education programs on Petty's Island. Under the conservation easement terms, public access to Petty's Island is only permitted as part of a scheduled program.
• Adventure AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center operates from Adventure Aquarium at 1 Riverside Drive, Camden. Programs include behind-the-scenes tours, overnight experiences, summer camps, and birthday parties at the aquarium facility.
• Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPISEC member providing collaborative science education programming with the Center since 1992.
• Franklin Institute Science MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPISEC member providing collaborative science education programming with the Center since 1992.
• Philadelphia ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPISEC member providing collaborative science education programming with the Center since 1992.
• Cooper Ferry PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center is partnering with Cooper Ferry Partnership to develop and implement trail enhancements along the Camden waterfront, including interpretive trail signage with conservation messaging in four key areas: Wiggins Park, Adventure Aquarium entrance, Cooper's Poynt Park and Pyne Poynt Park.
• Rutgers University-CamdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Director of Science and Conservation Alejandro Vagelli continues his work inspiring students at Rutgers University. The Center partners with Rutgers Ignite Afterschool program for Watershed Tunnel programming.
• Delaware Riverkeeper NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer collaboration on Partners Protecting our Water initiative to monitor and record water quality trends in Camden and the region. CAUSE youth continue to monitor waterways.
• Camden County Municipal Utilities AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer collaboration on Partners Protecting our Water initiative to monitor water quality trends in Camden region.
• Urban Promise AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer collaboration on Partners Protecting our Water initiative. CAUSE youth continue monitoring waterways.
• Camden City School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Read Across America Day events and CAUSE program recruitment of Camden students.
• Girl Scouts of Central & South JerseyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual STEM Conference hosting and scout badge program partnerships.
• NaturePlayShare! PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-museum partnership including Creative Kids Club, Falomi Club, Indochinese American Council, Center for Learning in Out-of-School Environments at University of Pittsburgh, Children's Literacy Initiative, Unite for Literacy, and Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@centerforaquaticsciences3024
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/New-Jersey-Academy-for-Aquatic-Sciences/313170718506?ref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centerforaquaticsciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforaquaticsciences/?hl=en
• Xx.com/Center4AqSci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Center for Aquatic Sciences