A Day with Nature

For Take a Child Outside Week, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher branched out to the community. Renee Weeks, special activities coordinator, participated in a day full of outdoor activities when she visited the Sampson County Cooperative Extension for the Home Runners 4-H Club. The group, which is recognized as the 4-H group of the year in Sampson County, had their day filled with interactive activities that focused on the environment.

One of the activities that the children completed was called “listen and feel”. The activity involved the children going outside and closing their eyes to listen to the sounds of nature. They also retrieved items from the environment to touch and feel the texture. The activity is used to help children become more in tune with nature.

Another activity the children completed was a bug juice demonstration. The children got to watch Renee create the bug juice, which was a mixture of molasses and bananas. Then each child dipped a paint brush into the creation and lathered a tree with the mixture. The children were extremely excited that they were feeding bugs in the environment.

After completing all the exciting activities the kids learned about pollution and why they should recycle. The outdoor fun day turned out to be great success!

Outreach Truck Unveiling

Yesterday, the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher unveiled its new outreach vehicle at Halyburton Park. Public and media learned more about outreach programs, toured the vehicle, as well as saw and touched a variety of marine invertebrates that are commonly found along the North Carolina coast, including sea stars, whelks, hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, and other marine invertebrates.

The Outreach program currently brings marine invertebrates, in addition to reptiles and amphibians to schools, libraries, camps, and community groups. By outfitting a large truck, educators will now be able to bring a bit of North Carolina’s coastal environment to students who live in the mountains or the piedmont and may never get a chance to visit the beach.

Features of the van include a life support system, heating and air to maintain proper temperatures, biodiesel fuel capacity and a ramp to allow easy and safe access for the animals and their caretakers.

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher received a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina in the amount of $15,000 to help the aquarium acquire a new outreach vehicle. This is in addition to $55,000 raised by the N.C. Aquarium Society.

We're Getting a New Ride

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher received a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina in the amount of $15,000 to help the aquarium acquire a new outreach vehicle. This is in addition to $55,000 raised by the N.C. Aquarium Society.

The Outreach program currently brings marine invertebrates, like sea stars and hermit crabs, in addition to reptiles and amphibians to schools, libraries, camps, and community groups. By outfitting a large truck, educators will now be able to bring a bit of North Carolina’s coastal environment to students who live in the mountains or the piedmont and may never get a chance to visit the beach.

Features of the van will include a life support system, heating and air to maintain proper temperatures, biodiesel fuel and a lift to allow easy and safe access for the animals and their caretakers.