55 Music Concourse Dr.
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco CA
94118
415.379.8000
Regular Hours:

Daily

9:30 am – 5:00 pm

Sunday

11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Members' Hours:

Tuesday

8:30 – 9:30 am

Sunday

10:00 – 11:00 am
Closures
Notices

The Academy will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

There are no notifications at this time.

 

Academy Sleepovers

Get ready for the wildest sleepovers ever! This May and June unroll your sleeping bag at our Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover, learn about speedy ocean animals, and be one of the first to see the new exhibit Built for Speed. Tickets are selling fast make your reservation today!

Penguins+Pajamas

Sleepover Dates

  • Saturday June 15th, 2013
  • Friday, September 20th Sleepover for Grownups (21+)
  • Friday, October 18th Brilliant! Science Extraterrestrial Sleepover
  • Friday, November 8th Hidden Treasures Sleepover
  • Saturday, December 28th Tis’ the Season for Science Sleepover

Listen to the evening songs of the rainforest birds and sing “twinkle twinkle” to a sea star at the Discovery Tidepool. Then head over to Tusher African Hall to interact with a Penguin specialist and become a stargazing guru during an after-hours planetarium show. Before bedtime, settle in for story time while snacking on cookies and milk and learn about Pierre — the Academy’s famous wetsuit-wearing penguin. When the lights go out, unroll your sleeping bag in African Hall, next to the swaying kelp of the California Coast tank, or even at the Swamp window, face-to-face with Claude, the albino alligator. In the morning, rise and shine, then head over to the Academy Café for a continental breakfast.

Sleepover Includes

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco family events, Bay Area kids attractions, Tusher African Hall, Natural History Museum, Steinhart Aquarium, penguins, Pierre the Penguin
  • Overnight stay in African Hall, Aquarium, Lower Swamp, or Islands of Evolution
  • Live animal demonstrations
  • Rainforests of the World Exhibit until 8:00 pm
  • Two Planetarium showings
  • Late-night snack and full breakfast
  • Overnight parking in Music Concourse Garage
  • Next day admission to the Academy
  • Complimentary Sharpshooter Photo Per Group ($20 value) additional photos avaialble for 50% off the regular rate, Photo Pick-Up 6:30-9:30PM in Front Lobby

Pricing and Tickets

Tusher African Hall

Pricing

$99/person Non-members
$79/person Members
Group rates available for groups of 10 or more.

Tickets

 Click here to download a group reservation form for groups of 10 or more [474k].

Important Information & Eligibility Requirements

Information

  • Admission to the Sleepover begins at 6:00 pm, and the event ends at 8:00 am the following day. If you would like to spend the day at the Academy after the Sleepover, you may get your hand stamped and re-enter when the building opens for the day. There are no in/out privileges during the Sleepover. If you leave the Sleepover for any reason before its conclusion, you may re-enter when we re-open for the day.
  • Sleeping areas — African Hall, Aquarium, Lower Swamp and Islands of Evolution exhibit — are available on a first come, first served basis. Areas may not be reserved.
  • Dinner and drinks are available for purchase. The Academy Café is open from 6-9pm.
  • Parking is included; bring your ticket with you to check-in for validation. There is no overnight street parking as per Golden Gate Park regulations. The garage is not operated by the Academy and, as such, the Academy makes no representations concerning the garage or your ability to park in it.
  • Smoking is prohibited in Golden Gate Park, therefore, smoking is not permitted in the Academy.
  • The Academy Lab Junior Store is open from 6:30 - 9:30 pm in the evening and 7:00 - 8:00 am in the morning.
  • Complimentary Sharpshooter Photo offer is only valid during the evening of the sleepover event. Multiple photo capture locations in the museum will be available from 6:00-8:30pm. One complimentary photo per group. Additional photos avaialble for 50% off the regular rate. Photo pick-up is 6:30-9:30pm in the front lobby at the photo redemption desk.
  • For more information about Academy Sleepovers, please call (415) 379-5333.

What to bring » [PDF, 86kb]

Eligibility Requirements

PLEASE READ, and agree to abide by, the Academy’s Eligibility Requirements

  • Penguins+Pajamas is a program for children between the ages of 5 and 17, who must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who is 25 years of age, or older. There must be one adult chaperone for every group of up to 5 children, and adults cannot attend unless there is a child in their party. Similarly, no unaccompanied children may participate in the Sleepover. Guests between 18 and 24 are welcome, but may not serve as chaperones.
  • The Academy requires a signed Waiver of Liability form for EACH adult and EACH child attending the Sleepover. For children, the Waiver must be signed by the child’s parent or guardian. The Waiver of Liability must identify the adult who will be responsible for the child during the Sleepover. Only original Waivers will be accepted; no faxes or copies. No one will be admitted without a completed Waiver.

Safety Rules

For the enjoyment, safety and security of your group, other guests, the staff and the animals, the following activities are prohibited:

  • Running, yelling, climbing, or throwing materials of any kind
  • Touching, or attempting to frighten the animals in any manner, including tapping on aquariums or other exhibits
  • Taking anything out of, or putting anything into, the exhibits
  • Using the tanks, and/or windows as writing surfaces (they scratch easily)
  • Bare feet; shoes or soled slippers must be worn at all times
  • Smoking, either in the Academy or GG Park; including use of smokeless tobacco products
  • Bringing in food or drink, except in connection with dietary restrictions
  • Using cell phones, except in the case of an emergency.

Grownup Sleepovers

Sleepover Date

  • Friday, September 20th - Tickets on sale soon!

Highlights

Academy crowd
  • Overnight stay in African Hall, Aquarium, Lower Swamp, or Islands of Evolution
  • Live animal demonstrations
  • Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Gem & Mineral Vault
  • Rainforests of the World Exhibit until 8:00 pm
  • First Time we will be showing all 3 of our Planetarium Shows in one night! Fragile Planet, Life: A Cosmic Story, and our new show Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet
  • Nature themed Pajama Contest with Prizes
  • Late-night snack and breakfast Saturday morning
  • Overnight parking in Music Concourse Garage
  • Next day admission to the Academy
  • Commemorative Gift

Pricing and Tickets

The Moss Room

Pricing

  • $99/person Non-Members
  • $79/person Members

Group rates available for groups of 10 or more.  Click here to download a group reservation form for groups of 10 or more [474k].

Additional Information

  • Admission to the Sleepover begins at 6:00 pm, and the event ends at 8:00 am the following day. If you would like to spend the day at the Academy after the Sleepover, you may get your hand stamped and re-enter when the building opens for the day. There are no in/out privileges during the Sleepover. If you leave the Sleepover for any reason before its conclusion, you may re-enter when we re-open for the day.
  • Sleeping areas — African Hall, Aquarium, Lower Swamp and Islands of Evolution exhibit — are available on a first come, first served basis. Areas may not be reserved.
  • A late-night snack and light breakfast are provided.
  • We do not sell bottled water, however water fountains are available; we suggest you bring a reusable water bottle.
  • Parking is included; bring your ticket with you to check-in for validation. There is no overnight street parking as per GG Park regulations. The garage is not operated by the Academy and, as such, the Academy makes no representations concerning the garage or your ability to park in it.
  • Smoking is prohibited in GG Park, therefore, smoking is not permitted in the Academy.
  • The Academy Store is open from 6:30 - 9:30 pm in the evening and 7:00 - 8:00 am in the morning.
  • For more information about Academy Sleepovers, please call (415) 379-5333.

Eligibility Requirements

PLEASE READ, and agree to abide by, the Academy’s Eligibility Requirements

  • The Penguins+Pajamas for Grownups sleepover program is open to adults 21 years of age and older. Children may not attend this event, but are welcome to attend any of our other family sleepovers held throughout the year.
  • The Academy requires a signed Waiver of Liability form for each adult attending the Sleepover. Only original Waivers will be accepted; no faxes or copies. No one will be admitted without a completed Waiver.

Safety Rules

For the enjoyment, safety and security of your group, other guests, the staff and the animals, the following activities are prohibited:

  • Smoking, either in the Academy or GG Park; including use of smokeless tobacco products
  • Running, yelling, climbing, or throwing materials of any kind
  • Touching, or attempting to frighten the animals in any manner
  • Taking anything out of, or putting anything into, the exhibits
  • Using the tanks, and/or windows as writing surfaces (they scratch easily)
  • Bare feet; shoes or soled slippers must be worn at all times
  • Bringing in food or drink, except in connection with dietary restrictions

Supplies/Gear

DO BRING
  • Signed Liability Waiver (required)
  • Sleeping bag, pillow
  • Air mattress or sleeping pad (electricity is available)
  • Towel/washcloth/toiletries (showers not available)
  • Appropriate sleepwear and comfortable layered clothing
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Earplugs and night mask (optional)
  DON'T BRING
  • Flashlights (flashing lights disturb the animals)
  • Outside food or drink, except in connection with a special diet; no coolers
  • Chewing gum
  • Tents
  • Balloons, gifts or party favors
  • Wheeled shoes, skateboards, scooters
  • Radios, MP3 players, DVD’s, computers (electronics)
  • Weapons
  • Alcohol
  • Illegal drugs are prohibited
  • Tobacco products

Sleepover Reservations

   

Tickets may be purchased below the Penguins+Pajamas or the Grownup Sleepovers tabs on this page.

For groups of 10 or more, click here to download a reservation form.

Penguins + Pajamas
Media Sponsor

   

Radio Disney

P+P Merchandise

   

t-shirts

To preorder and prepay for your Penguins+Pajamas T-shirts, click here.

Visit our Lab Junior store during the Sleepover. The store will be open from 6:00 - 9:00 pm and 7:00 - 8:00 am.

Dining at the Academy

   

View the sample menu from the Academy Café. Offerings will be based on availability. During the Sleepover, the Academy Café will be open from 6-9pm.

Academy Membership

   

For more information on how to become an Academy member, click here.