April Vacation Week Education Programs

Apr 17, 2017 April Vacation Week

Are you looking for something to do while school’s out? Visit the National Marine Life Center! Our Marine Animal Discovery Center will be open during April Vacation Week, April 14-15 and April 17-23 from 10 am to 5 pm daily. And, from Monday through Friday, drop in to one of our educational classes. Learn more about helping marine animals!

Monday-Friday Education Schedule:

11:00 a.m. ~ Little Flippers: Join us for a marine animal-themed story time and craft project! Different themes every day (see below). All ages welcome; most suitable for children ages 3-8. Children must be supervised. Program lasts 45-60 minutes.
Cost: Members $3/child/program; Non-members $5/child/program.

12:00 p.m. ~ Patient Update: Learn the stories of the marine animal patients currently in our care from a member of our Animal Care Team. View our sea turtles and seals via live TV and meet our small turtles in person. Program lasts approximately 15-20 minutes. FREE.

Children learn how to move a dolphin using a stretcher during Marine Animal Medical Mystery.
Children learn how to move a dolphin using a stretcher during Marine Animal Medical Mystery.

1:00 p.m. ~ Marine Animal Medical Mystery: What does it take to be a marine animal care technician? What are some of the questions and “mysteries” involved in wildlife rehabilitation? Each day, using models, we’ll learn how to care for a different animal (see themes below). Best suited for ages 8-14. Space is limited to 15 children.
Cost: Members $3/child/program; Non-members $5/child/program.

2:00 p.m. ~ Patient Update: Learn the stories of the marine animal patients currently in our care from a member of our Animal Care Team. View our sea turtles and seals via live TV and meet our small turtles in person. Program lasts approximately 15-20 minutes. FREE.

3:00 p.m. ~ Engineering Design Challenge: Animal Prosthetics: How do you help an animal with an injured or missing limb? What can you do for a turtle with a damaged leg or shell? Discover how technology is being used to help disabled animals, and then complete an engineering challenge to design your own prosthetic device for a marine animal. Best suited for ages 8-14. This program is the same every day and doesn’t change based on theme. Program lasts 45-60 minutes.
Cost: Members $3/child/program; Non-members $5/child/program.

4:00 p.m. ~ Patient Update:  Learn the stories of the marine animal patients currently in our care from a member of our Animal Care Team. View our sea turtles and seals via live TV and meet our small turtles in person. Program lasts approximately 15-20 minutes. FREE.

Daily Themes:

  • Friday, April 14: Open, no programs (Patient Update provided upon request)
  • Saturday, April 15: Open, no programs (Patient Update provided upon request)
  • Sunday, April 16: CLOSED for Easter
  • Monday, April 17: Manatees & Dugongs
  • Tuesday, April 18: Turtles & Sea Turtles
  • Wednesday, April 19: Seals, Sea Lions, & Walrus
  • Thursday, April 20: Dolphins, Porpoises, & Whales
  • Friday, April 21: Earth Day
  • Saturday, April 22: Seals (10-2 only, see Seal Pup Shower Open House)
  • Sunday, February 26: Open, no programs (Patient Update provided upon request)