Animal Keepers Summer Camp: Private Dive Show

As this week's summer camp sessions wrap up, campers were thrilled to get a chance to see their very own PRIVATE dive show. Behind the scenes, summer campers saw how the divers prepare the for the show and interact with animals in the Cape Fear Shoals tank. During the show, campers "talked"  with divers while they were in the water.

For many campers, this was one of their favorite activities of the week. In their own words, campers explain why they enjoyed the dive show.

"[My favorite activity was] watching the fish. I liked seeing people dive in the water with them." -Kailei
"Seeing our own private dive show [was my favorite activity] because it was interesting." -Madison
"I liked seeing the dive show because it was our very own!" -Anna
"I liked seeing the diver because all the fish were like really close to him." -Parker
"I liked seeing the scuba divers because we got to go to the very top [of the tank]." -Madison

Animal Keepers Summer Camp: Favorite Animals

Summer campers learn what it takes to be an Aquarium animal keeper during this week's session with activities like animal feeding, tank cleaning, water changing and food preparation.

Campers are granted a chance to get up-close and personal with many of the animals in the Aquarium's care.  In their own words, campers describe their favorite animal they cared for this week.

"The jelly fish because they had to be cared for in a way I didn't know." -Madison

"Today, we cared for jelly fish. I thought it was interesting how they move without a brain!" -Anna

"I cared for the invertebrates [and] cleaned their tanks." -Parker

"I liked the porcupine fish the best because he's really cute and playful. I got to feed him!" -India

"The porcupine fish [was my favorite] because they didn't eat as much and they were more patient." -Sara

"I liked caring for the puffer fish because I like them." -Kassi

One of the campers' favorites, a porcupine fish.

Animal Keepers Summer Camp: I Learned...

Animal Keepers summer campers continue to learn what it takes to care for many of the animals at the Aquarium.

From changing water to making carbon, these campers are experiencing all sorts of hands-on animal care that shows them just a little of how hard our aquarists work everyday.

In their own words campers describe something they learned this week.

"I changed water in a Q-15. [Which was] for a sea star." -Quinn
"I made carbon." -Blake
"My favorite animals were the salt marsh fish like mullets and lookdowns because I got to check the PH and saline [levels]."-Kelly
"We didn't care for a particular fish, but changed water for a whole tank." -Christopher
"We made carbon for the moon jellies. I liked it because we were helping." -Helena
"Today we tested salinity and PH [levels]." -Lilly

Animal Keepers Summer Camp: Animal Care

This week, summer campers enjoy the rare opportunity to feed, clean and care for some of the Aquarium's 2,000+ animals. They are helping prepare food, cleaning exhibits and creating animal enrichment all while learning about the animals they care for.

In their own words, campers describe their favorite animal to care for and why.

"Black Sea Bass because I checked salt levels in their tank." -Quinn
"The fish because I fed them." -Blake
"I liked feeding the shipwreck (Blockade Runner Exhibit) because we got close." -Helena
"I helped the sandbar sharks by making salt." -Lilly
"I cared for a black sea bass because we tested (its) water." -Jaden
"Sandbar sharks because we helped them be shipped." -Dylan
"The huge grouper because he was enormous and he snapped his food up quickly and we saw his teeth." -Lily
"Every fish because we tested PH (levels)." -Hunter
"My favorite animal that I cared for was the shrimp because I got to clean its tank to keep ammonia out." -Kelly
"Horseshoe crabs because I helped clean that tank." -Lauren
"My favorite animal that I cared for was the ladyfish because I was able to take care of the water." -Katie
"The turtle, because he enjoyed it and we got to chop up fish." -Christopher

Extreme Animals Summer Camp: Wilson the Wood Duck

As Extreme Animals summer campers learn about animals that adapt and survive, they learned about wood ducks. Unlike other ducks, wood ducks nest in trees to survive.

Wilson, one of the Aquarium's wood duck pair, visited summer campers today. In their own words, campers  explain why meeting Wilson was their favorite activity.

"Encountering Wilson the wood duck because it was funny when he pooped on the floor. (He was stressed about getting his picture taken.)" -Kelsey
"My favorite activity today was meeting Wilson a wood duck because he is like a mallard." -Jessica
"My favorite activity was seeing Wilson the duck because he is intense." -Will
"My favorite thing today was Wilson the wood duck because I learned cool things like they molt their feathers." -Reagan

Extreme Animals Summer Camp: Beach Day

A summer camp session at the Aquarium just wouldn't be complete without a trip (or 2) to the beach! Lucky for our campers, the beach is only a few steps away. Learning about local animals is a lot more fun when you  add a little sun and surf!

In their own words, campers explain why going to the beach was their favorite activity.

"My favorite activity today was going to the beach because it was fun!" - Mary
"My favorite activity was the beach because I got to play in the water and I got to play with Abby!" -Avery
"My favorite activity today was going to the beach because we got to out to the sandbar." -Kelly
"Going to the beach [was my favorite activity] because we got to go to the sandbar." -Lauren
"The beach [was my favorite activity] because it felt good to be in the waves." -Abigail
"I enjoyed going to the beach today because there was a sandbar." -Devann
"My favorite activity today was going to the beach because it was cool to look a the turtle nest and play in the water." -Lara
"The beach [was my favorite activity] because I got to hang out in the water." -Austin
"My favorite activity was  going to the beach and making shirts. The beach was fun because there was a drop-off and we floated over the waves." -Abby

Extreme Animals Summer Camp: Favorite Animals

This week's summer camp session is all about extreme animals. Campers learn who can swim the fastest, jump the farthest and climb the highest in the animal kingdom.


The campers describe their favorite extreme animal encounter from today in their own words:


"I liked the unexpected encounter with the rat snake." - Devann
"A penguin because they are Antarctic animals and they are so pretty and careful with their families." - Lauren
"My favorite extreme animal from today was the eel because they look cool and seem cool." - Lara
"My favorite extreme animal we talked about today was the penguin because of the environment that they live in." - Kelly
"My favorite extreme animal was polar bears because they are cute and they have a lot to do in life." - Avery
"A sea turtle because I think it's cool that they live in water but they are reptiles and breathe air." - Abigail

A green sea turtle.