Morro Bay Whale Watching- Heartland Charter School

Registration window August 3, 10:00 a.m. -August 9, 7:00 p.m.

Join us for a whale-watching adventure! What whales might we see? Blue whales? Humpbacks? Orcas? We will likely see plenty of sea lions and otters on the way out. We will learn about the adaptations of these marvelous marine mammals while experiencing the sea beyond Morro Bay Harbor.

This is the humpback whale season. This is a three-hour trip. Be sure to dress in layers, as the weather on the ocean can vary during the trip. Feel free to bring water and snacks, and don't forget your camera! Recommend:

• Water
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Camera
• Warm clothes
• Motion sickness aids if needed (take beforehand)
• Adventurous spirit

Ticket cost:

• Students ages 4+ $46.00
• Chaperones $46.00

There are two time slots to choose from. Choose the ticket with the time slot that works best for your family.

• 8:30-12:30
• 12:00-4:00

Choose the ticket with the time slot that works best for your family.

*The price for tickets paid with a credit card will be slightly higher due to the Ticketbud processing fee.

May I pay using my student's planning amount? Yes! You can pay for your student's ticket and one chaperone ticket with your student's planning amount. Reminder: Only one chaperone ticket per family may be purchased using planning amounts. 

What are the check-in procedures? Please check in with Michele at 8:30 for the morning time slot and 12:30 for the afternoon time slot. I will be wearing Heartland gear and standing at the front of the Sub Sea Tours facility. We cannot hold the boat for late arrivals.

Who may attend? Students must be at least 4 years old to attend. If you purchase a ticket for a child under 4, you will not receive a refund. Only one chaperone per family. If you purchase a second chaperone ticket, you will not receive a refund.

Is there on-site parking available? There is a free parking lot across from the docks. If no parking is available there, you can find parking on the streets.

Can we pack snacks or lunch for this event or field trip? Yes, please bring water and snacks for your family.

How do I contact the event organizer?

Name: Michele Whitney

Phone number: 559-593-3909

Email address: [email protected]

You must have a student enrolled at Heartland Charter School to attend this event. We verify enrollment for all attendees.

How to Reserve Your Spot

To officially join us on this field trip, you must complete both steps of our registration process. Please follow these directions carefully:

Step 1: Check out on Ticketbud

Complete the checkout process here on Ticketbud. This initiates your reservation. *If you want to pay with your student funds, please reserve tickets labeled "Paid with student funds through Procurify".

• Confirmation: You will receive an email confirmation from Ticketbud once your order is complete.
• Tip: If you do not see the email within a few minutes, please check your Spam/Junk folder. If you cannot find a confirmation email from Ticketbud, you did not successfully reserve tickets.
• Action: Once you have your confirmation, move immediately to Step 2.

Step 2: Place your Order in Procurify

Your spot is not confirmed until an order is placed in the Procurify system for students who are enrolled in Heartland and their chaperones. You do NOT need to place an order in Procurify for siblings who are not enrolled.

• Search: Log in to Procurify, search the name of this field trip in the catalog, and complete your order as you would for any other educational resource.
• Note: Do NOT place a Procurify order for siblings who are not enrolled in Heartland.
• Deadline: You must place your Procurify order within 3 days of your Ticketbud registration.
• IMPORTANT! Registration Requirement: To avoid losing your spot, both steps must be completed. Failure to place an order in Procurify within the three-day window will result in removal from the attendee list, and funds will be manually deducted from your account.

Heartland events are designed for families to attend together. Students need to be accompanied by an adult chaperone. If your student will be attending with another family, please email the field trip host to let them know once you complete your registration. Chaperones must be the legal parent or 25 years and older. All chaperones must be healthy, ethical people with the skills to be responsible adult chaperones.

Please review our Field Trip Refund & Attendance Policy!

To ensure we can provide these experiences to as many students as possible, please review our commitment and refund guidelines before registering.

All Sales are Final

• No Refunds: Once a ticket is reserved or purchased, we cannot offer a refund for any reason, including illness, scheduling conflicts, or a change of plans.
• Non-Transferable: Tickets are tied specifically to the student account used at registration. They cannot be sold, gifted, or transferred to another family.

The "No-Show" Policy

Because Heartland pre-pays many venues based on Ticketbud headcounts, an unused ticket is a direct loss of school resources.

• Fund Deduction: If a family reserves a spot and does not place an order in Procurify, the student's planning amount will still be manually deducted from their Procurify account, and the student will be removed from the attendee list.
• Loss of Access: Families who are frequent "no-shows" may lose access to future field trip registrations. We track attendance to ensure that limited spots go to families who are committed to attending.

Professional Courtesy: If an emergency arises, and you truly cannot make it:

• Notify the Lead Teacher: Please email the organizing teacher as soon as possible.
• Why it matters: This prevents the entire group from waiting at the venue entrance for your arrival, keeping the educational program on schedule for everyone else.

Our Goal: By only registering for events you are fully committed to, you help us keep our field trip program sustainable and open to all students.