Leaves may be falling across the country, but that doesn’t have to mean all work and no play for your family.
Keep your child’s education a top priority while experiencing excitement and fun adventures across the land, water, and sky.
In part two of her three-part series, Diane Panosian explores educational activities that get kids out of the classroom and into world of experiential learning under and above the seas.
AN AQUARIUM OF EPIC PROPORTIONS
There are aquariums in almost every major city across the U.S., but only one is the world’s largest.
The Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta holds more than 8 million gallons of water, making it the record holder for the world’s most gigantic aquarium. Take a tour and you’ll cruise on past more than 100,000 animals of 500 different species.
The aquarium offers many tours, including a Sea Keepers Tour where families can go behind the scenes of the day-to-day operations. You’ll observe where the aquarium team cares for the animals and prepares their food as you visit the Commissary and Veterinary Clinic and take in the view of the whale shark from high on top of the exhibit.
This aquarium also features classrooms where you can take part in Ocean 101 Workshops for get hands-on lessons relating to conversation and biodiversity- a great way to learn with all your senses.
PIRATE FOR A DAY
Captain Jack Sparrow may be fictional but his ship is not. The Historical Seaport has captured a ship used in Pirates of the Caribbean, the HMS Interceptor, also known as The Lady Washington. Between October 27 and November 4, families in Sausalito, California, can climb aboard during daily walk-on tours or three-hour public sailings.
The Historical Seaport also docks the Hawaiian Chieftain in Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia ports. Pirates weren‘t the only ones to sail the seven seas, explorers such as George Vancouver, Robert Gray, and Charles Wilkes also traversed the Pacific Northwest. The Seaport offers expeditions where you can set sail, stand watch, and take the helm like these explorers and their crew did in the 18th century.
LEARN FROM THE SMARTEST MAMMALS OF THE SEAS
Resorts across the world offer swimming with dolphin experiences, but Dolphin Plus in Key Largo, Florida offers much more. Get up close and personal with bottlenose dolphins and learn about these mammals with cerebral cortices 40 percent larger than humans.
Children of all ages can take part in a variety of workshops. Explore the theories marine mammal awareness, emotion, intelligence, and memory in their Dolphin Body Language Workshop. Shadow a trainer for a day in a one-on-one workshop and gain insight into marine mammal care and training by learning tactics to build a trusting relationship between trainer and animal in private swim sessions.
Unlike other facilities where you merely observe scientists at work, at Dolphin Plus you can take part in collecting data on dolphins. You’ll join their longitudinal study of mother-calf interactions that will eventually provide groundbreaking knowledge to the wider scientific community about both maternal and paternal care. They also offer programs for disabled youth and adults and support the conservation and protection of marine mammals worldwide through education, research, and environmental awareness.
UNDER THE SEA ADVENTURES BY DISNEY
If you’re looking for something a bit more out of the box, try Disney’s newest foray into providing exceptional experiences: Adventures by Disney. Across the globe, Disney guides journey by your family’s side as you explore different cultures and wildlife first hand.
The Australia adventure offers an expedition diving into the Great Barrier Reef. Families will discover the dazzling array of sea life by snorkeling and taking a tour on a glass-bottom boat. Learn about the largest coral reef system in the world straight from the source as a marine biologist will be on hand to answer your questions and guide you on an informative beach walk or snorkeling tour.
In its Costa Rican adventure, you can voyage by boat to the Sea Turtle Conservancy Group and study the renowned naturalist, Archie Carr, and his work with the endangered green turtles. Instead of watching a documentary on life across the world, live it for yourself as your family wanders the pathways that wind through Tortuguero Village and meets the locals.
A MOVING OCEAN INSTITUTE
“Experience is the Teacher” at Dana Point Harbor, California, as the non-profit, educational facility known as the Ocean Institute has become nationally known for its hands-on marine science, environmental education and maritime history programs. More than 110,000 K-12 students and 8,000 teachers annually partake in the Institute’s 61 award-winning, immersion-style programs.
Onboard the 70-foot R/V Sea Explorer, there’s a floating lab equipped with onboard computers, satellite technology, touch tanks, viewing aquariums, video microscopes, and state of the art electronics. Be a part of geographically large-scale research cooperatives when you collect data for projects with SCCWRP, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the State of California.
For a different perspective, try the Bioluminescence Cruise. Hop on board this night cruise during the new moon (it’s darkest then) which highlights animals and plants that glow in the dark.
If your little one is more of a landlubber, they can paint the wildlife of the waters with acclaimed artists. In the Artist by the Sea for Kids series, your child will learn about our oceans by creating their own beauty of the sea. They’ll be taught by the institute’s featured artists who will share their expert techniques on how to illustrate an ocean inspired masterpiece.
By Diane Panosian for PeterGreenberg.com.
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