The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk in Connecticut continues with a full program as we enter August School vacation. Here are highlights of what you’ll see.

The Aquarium that focuses on Long Island Sound has a number of special exhibits running at the moment. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can see when you visit in August, 2009.

PENGUINS ON THE LOOSE:

At times in The Maritime Aquarium’s new “African Penguins” special exhibit, the penguins swim right against the viewing windows.

But how fun would it be if you could remove the glass from between the birds and visitors’ delighted eyes? Pretty cool – right?

So this July and August, once each day, the barrier will be removed and visitors can enjoy seeing a penguin wander right in front of them unfettered.

“Penguins on the Loose” will be offered at 11:15 a.m. daily near the Marine Care & Culture Lab.  Visitors can sit and stand around a special penguin mat, while one or two penguins will be invited out to wander, explore and generally do what penguins do.

Don’t be surprised if one walks right up to you and checks you out and because penguins don’t follow scripts, each presentation is sure to be a bit different.

An Aquarium biologist will talk about the aquarium’s African penguins and how they care for them, about penguins in general (including conservation issues that penguins share with Long Island Sound animals) and answer any other questions you may have.

“There’s something about being among these birds without the glass between you that everyone finds thrilling and special,” said Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “Many people feel a meaningful and exciting connection to the penguins by sharing their space.”

Even better, “Penguins on the Loose” will be free with Aquarium admission.

BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR:

Continuing with its popular “Behind-the-Scenes Tour” on Saturday August 8th the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk opens its backstage spaces for a rare behind-the-scenes tour. Conducted before the Aquarium opens, from 8:15 to 10 a.m., the guided tour offers unique opportunities to see how the animal-husbandry staff  meets the varying food and water needs of some 2,000 resident animals.

The tour includes stops at the Aquarium’s “fish kitchen,” where 18 tons of fish a year is prepared, and above the 110,000-gallon Open Ocean tank, where the dorsal fins of 8-foot sand tiger sharks cut through the water surface. Learn the delicate requirements of a jellyfish “nursery.”  And perhaps get the chance to hand-feed the cow-nosed rays. The light suction felt as a ray takes its breakfast from your hand is a truly unique experience.

Participants must be at least 10 years old; under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost is $30 ($20 for Aquarium members) and includes Aquarium admission. The tour is limited to 25 people, so reservations are strongly recommended. Walk-up tickets will be sold, space permitting.  For reservations or more details, call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.

OTHER SPECIAL EXHIBITS:

The Maritime Aquarium continues with it special exhibits “African Penguins” and “African Underwater Safari” daily in August. Both these exhibits are included with the price of aquarium admission.

MARITIME LIFE STUDY CRUISES:

Cruise out for close encounters with crabs, fish, lobsters and always a few surprises when you come aboard the research vessel Oceanic for The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s new season of Marine Life Study Cruises. In August cruises depart daily at 1:00pm.

These exciting outings reveal what is, to many, a surprising and amazing diversity of marine life just off our shores in Long Island Sound.  Aquarium educators onboard put participants to work in collecting and examining animals from all levels of the water column:  tiny wriggly plankton gathered at the surface (and viewed with a video microscope), little crabs and worms grabbed from the muddy bottom, and an always-unique variety of fish, crabs, lobsters and surprises brought up in the Oceanic’s trawl net.

For the full schedule, go online to the aquarium cruise schedule

Weekday chartered cruises are available for school groups. Tickets for a Marine Life Study Cruise are $20.50 or $18 for Aquarium members. Maritime Aquarium Study Cruises are good for ages 8 and older.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Space on the research vessel Oceanic is limited so advance reservations are strongly recommended.  Walk-up tickets will be sold, space permitting. The cruises depart from the dock outside the Aquarium’s IMAX movie theater.

SOUND SCIENTISTS:

Summer day programs for children entering Grades 1-5 continue in August. Kids can spend their summer days diving into the exciting and fascinating ocean world through “Sound Scientists,” The Maritime Aquarium’s summer day programs. They’ll discover the fun side of science inquiry, with lots of hands-on activities and experiments.  Each session is different, so pick from one, some or all.

One-Week Program for Grades 1-3:

Cost:  $385 each

Aug. 3-7 – “Ocean World”

One-Week Programs for Grades 1-4:

Aug. 10-14 – “Sound Art & Science” $400.

Aug. 17-21 – “Water Wonders” (co-hosted with Stepping Stones Museum for Children) – $400.

One-Week Programs for Grades 4 & 5:

Cost:  $385.

Aug. 3-7 – “Junior Marine Biologists”

“Sound Scientists” meets from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Precare is available beginning at 8:30 a.m., for $15 for the one-day programs and $65 for the weeklong sessions. Extended care runs until 5:30 p.m., for $30 for one-day programs and $130 for weeklong sessions.

For reservations or more details, call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.

IN THE IMAX MOVIE THEATER:

The IMAX theatre has a full program planned as well and includes movies about the Grand Canyon, the South African ocean, and basketball great Michael Jordan. Admission price is separate from aquarium admission to exhibits.

“Deep Sea” at noon, 2 & 4 pm daily. Swim with some of the planet’s most unique, dangerous and colorful creatures, from the unusual wolf eel to the giant Pacific octopus, in this fascinating undersea exploration narrated by actors Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet.

“Deep Sea” brings audiences face-to-face with these underwater inhabitants to witness their peculiar and amazing behaviors. Thrill to 6-foot long Humboldt squid, frogfish, basket stars, manta rays, jellyfish, ocean sunfish, a variety of prowling sharks and more.

“Animalopolis” at 11 am and 1 & 3 pm daily. Singing lions bears that waltz, sea lions turning somersaults. Otters pray, flamingos squawk, a calf who’d rather dance than walk. They’re all “stars” of this uniquely entertaining IMAX film developed for young children. With 12 hilarious segments, each featuring a different animal and narrated in almost Seuss-like rhymes, “Animalopolis” will appeal to young children as well as the young at heart.

Hollywood films on IMAX – check aquarium web site for schedule. This summer films featured include “Star Trek,” “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince” and other Hollywood smash hits on the giant IMAX screen.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

“Dolphins: The Ride:” This motion-simulator ride film lets you experience the world of dolphins as if you were one yourself. Two Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins swim at your side as you glide effortlessly through the water, then leap high above the surface. Venture downward to explore a colorful coral reef and mingle among exotic fish, then emerge one last time in a display of spirited acrobatics! Riders must be at least 36 inches tall to board.

Visit the Toy Boat-making Workshop every Saturday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for a fun 20-minute boat-building project.  Build and decorate a toy sailboat to take home as a special keepsake of your visit.  Cost: $5 per child (plus Aquarium admission).

Further information on any of these exhibits and activities can be found at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk official web site at http://www.MaritimeAquarium.org

For lots more ideas on things to see and do, and places to stay in Norwalk region check out my special Southwest Connecticut vacation guide here.

Another New England post by one of our writers is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.

Joan Daniels
Staff Writer
New England Online Magazine

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