Kids Working on Thermometer Turtles

Today at the National Marine Life Center we started our summer programs. We kicked it off with our first week, Turtle Week, which I had the privilege of being in charge of setting up and running. Today, with the help of my fellow interns and volunteers, we started with Fins and Flippers, which included story time with two stories, the first one was read by Dory Estrada and the second one was read by me, Frank Reske III, and an arts and craft which was mainly taken care of by interns Lianna Montgomery and Corissa Bubenick and volunteer Elizabeth St. Germaine. The stories that we read today were Turtle in the Sea by Jim Arnosky and Do you know where Sea Turtles go? By Paul Lowery. For today’s Art and Craft we did Sea Turtle Thermometers. For these you would take a foam turtle and draw any design with any color on its back then a thermometer and a magnet are glued to it so it can be hung up on your fridge. But that’s just the beginning! Later this week on Wednesday, we will have Marine Animal Mystery which is where we will take you through a mock turtle rescue and rehabilitation, showing you what it takes to help an injured or sick sea turtle. Then on Thursday we have another Fins and Flippers. Thursday’s Stories include Tammy Turtle: A Tale of Saving Sea Turtles by Suzanne Tate and Carolina’s Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too! By Donna Rathmell. The arts and craft is Magic Color Scratch Turtles, which you scratch with a stick to reveal a rainbow of colors. So as you can see a lot is ahead so come on down and join the fun!

And if you can’t make it to this week’s excitement, don’t worry; we also have many other weeks this summer with many other different creatures, including, but not limited to, sharks, manatees, whales, dolphins, seals, and many more. To find out more please stop by our Discovery Center and pick up a summer program. So don’t miss out. Programs run July through August, so stop in and visit us.

Frank Reske III

Education Intern

Dr. "Sea" Rogers Williams introduces visitors to the diamondback terrapin hatchlings.

Weekdays at 11 am, we offer an update about our patients and the opportunity to visit our headstarting diamondback terrapin hatchlings and red bellied cooter hatchlings.  Free, suitable for all ages.

Children painting t-shirts during "Fins & Flippers Club"

Weekdays at 2 pm, we offer “Fins and Flippers” club where participating children listen to a story about marine animals and then do a related craft project.  We request a $3 donation/child ($1 for members) to cover expenses.  All ages welcome.  Most suitable for ages 3-8.

From the Discovery Center, visitors can glimpse into the clinic where diamondback terrapin "Patty" is being treated.

Admission to the Marine Animal Discovery Center is FREE this week, and we’re open 10 am to 5 pm through Sunday, February 21.  Stop by and learn more about marine animals, strandings, rehabilitation, and the National Marine Life Center!

Okay.  It’s summer vacation and it’s raining outside.  Did I say, “Raining?”  It’s pouring.  The kids are nursing yesterday’s sunburn from 12 hours on the beach.  And you can’t stand one more rerun of SpongeBob SquarePants.  What is a formerly sane parent going to do?  Who you gonna call?

The smart answer is “the National Marine Life Center at   508-743-9888″  to learn about the day’s happening events at the Discovery Center.  If you called this morning, you would have heard about Story Time with a whale of a tale read by Amanda Chilson, followed by that hands-on adventure of creating Paper Bag Whales coordinated by NMLC education director Joanne Nicholson and ably assisted by interns extraordinaire Chelsea Scudder and Amanda Chilson.

Before you reach Story Time and the Whales, you’ll be greeted at the door by Laura Doucette, Discovery Center manager, who’ll make certain that your every expectation is met and exceeded.  Turtles and seals and whales, oh my!

After satisfying your curiosity for knowledge about marine animals and how they are rescued and rehabilitated, you’ll settle down in Story Time Corner, framed by the exquisite Critter Tank and the Giant Whale Fluke in the background.  Amanda opens her book …

When Story Time is done, kids from four to ninety-four meander into the Activity Center where everything lies in readiness to create Paper Bag Whales.  Never been whaling before?  Never mind.  Joanne and her team will guide you through this wholesome adventure.

Could there be a more perfect adventure than Whale Watching at the National Marine Life Center on a rainy day on Cape Cod?  I think not.

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Summer education programs have begun at the National Marine Life Center at 120 Main Street in Buzzards Bay.  “Fins and Flippers” kicked off this morning in the Discovery Center with kids and parents having a great time assembling sea turtles from recycled CDs.  A donation of $3 for non-members and $1 for members is suggested for this exciting children’s activity.  For more information, click here to visit Summer Education Programs on this web site.

“Fins and Flippers” at the National Marine Life Center

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