Best Kept Secret

Today, cool temperatures and rain greeted the McMackin family on their first day of vacation in Holden Beach. Instead of getting down, they decided to follow a friend's advice and head up to the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

"This is our first time here," said Jim McMackin.

Jim, his wife Karen and their sons, Jack and Josh, hail from Johnson City, Tenn.

The Aqaurium offered them an exciting opportunity to see animals they've never seen.

"The eel is fascinating," said Karen.

"Look, he's right there," said Jack, pointing excitedly to a chartreuse Moray keeping watch from under a rocky outcropping in the Cape Fear Shoals exhibit.

The Coquina Outcrop Touch Pool with its horseshoe crabs, sea urchins and sea stars also fascinated the McMackins.

From the fresh water habitats of the Cape Fear Conservatory to the colorful reefs teeming with hundreds of fish in the Marine Building, the McMackins discovered a visit to the Aquarium made their day.

"This is like a best kept secret," said Jim.

Ocean Explorers Blog 5

Last day for our last group of Ocean Explorers for this summer. What was today's favorite activity? What did they learn about an "extreme animal"?

Jessie: "Taking the tour was my favorite. I saw some new stuff." "The king snake. It has no venom, but it will eat other snakes."

Jackson: "My favorite - the kingsnake. I got to pet him. The kingsnake eats rattlesnakes."

Sarah: "My favorite activity was touching the snake." "We learned about snakes."

Katy G: "I liked touching the snake. His skin was so smooth." "My favorite extreme animal was the girafffe. It has a 22-lb heart."

Anica: "I finally overcame my fear of snakes by touching a kingsnake." "The whale is an extreme animal ... its awesome song."

Kolten: "My favorite was going to the Megalodon exhibit, because their teeth are huge." "A kingsnake - it eats rattlesnakes."

Kelly B. "I liked touching a kingsnake, because who gets to touch a snake every day?" "Today I learned about the great white shark. They are the largest top-predator shark."

Jessie R. "My favorite activity was exploring the Aquarium, because there are so many fascinating creatures." "Today I learned about the kingsnake and its appetite for venomous snakes."

Peyton: "My favorite activity was touching the snake." "Kingsnakes can eat venomous snakes and can process the venom."

Katie F: "I liked touching/petting Hunter Helpington the 9th (the kingsnake) because I liked the name!" "My favorite extreme animal is the Megalodon, because I like its big jaws."

Kaylee P: "I enjoyed touching the kingsnake. The kingsnake easts venomous snakes."

Chris: "I liked learning about a kingsnake, and it was really cool. I learned that a kingsnake eats other snakes."

Chase: "I enjoyed meeting Hunter Helpington the snake." "A hyena's bite is stronger than a lion's bite."

Davis: "Touching a snake was awesome!"

L.J. "My favorite was the Aquarium tour. We saw the Megalodon exhibit." "A hyena -- it looks like a dog but it is not."

Tommy: "I liked going behind the scenes and seeing the fish." "A peregrine falcon can fly 200 mph."

Ocean Exporers Blog 4

Another day of fun in the sun, plus behind-the-scenes learning opportunities. Here are log entries from our 10- to 12-year-old Aquarium campers.

Peyton: "My favorite activity was behind-the-scenes, because I saw a sandbar shark." "Extreme animal - the fidder crab. It can dig into the ground to hide from predators."

Sarah R: "My favorite was canoeing, because we went to Zeke's Island." "We learned about sea turtles on the coast."

Anica: "My favorite was seeing the sea turtle." "The rock fish -- it blends with the rocks."

Jackson: "The canoe trip was my favorite, because we saw a stingray." "My favorite extreme animal was plankton, because some types turn into other animals."

Jessie H: "Going behind the scenes -- I got to see a baby sea turtle." "The moon jellyfish -- we learned about its life cycle."

Jessie R: "My favorite was going behind the scenes to see animals, because I got to see sharks sticking their fins out of the water for the first time." "Today I learned about coral, and the different abilties it has to catch plankton."

Tommy: "Behind the scenes, because we got to see crabs and turtles." "Sharks have a black top and a black bottom, for camouflage."

Katie F: "I learned a lot behind the scenes." "Plankton can change into different animals."

Katy G: "My favorite activity today was canoeing. It was my first time, and it was fun." "I learned about plankton. Some plankton can change."

Kolten: "My favorite thing today was going to Zeke's Island. I saw a stingray." "Coral can swim in the underwater."

Kelly B: "My favorite activity was canoeing, because I have only been once before." "I learned about plankton. Plankton can be an animal or a plant."

Chase: "Canoeing was fun. Seeing a stingray was cool." "An octopus can shrink to the size of its beak."

Chris: "I liked the backstage tour, because it was educational." "I learned that some jellyfish have points that release from the tentacles when it touches something."

Kaylee: "I enjoyed canoeing and going to Zeke's Island." "Jellyfish -- a type of plankton, no brains, stingers!"

L.J.: "Canoeing; we saw a live manta ray." "Coral needs lots of sunlight."

ONLY ONE MORE CAMP DAY LEFT THIS SUMMER!

Ocean Explorers 3

Here are log-book entries for Wednesday, from our intrepid Ocean Explorers. They describe their favorite activity of the day, and tell what they learned about an "extreme animal."

Jackson: “My favorite was the beach, because I got to boogie board the whole time.” "Some starfish species can regenerate themselves."

Sarah: "Going behind the scenes, because it was fun.” “We learned about the sea turtles and how they migrate.”

Chris: “I liked it when we learned about sea urchins because I learned a lot about them. I learned that sea urchins are vegetarians.”

Peyton: "Making shirts, because I had a lot of fun.” “Emperor Penguins – they can grow to be 5 feet tall.”

Jessie R: “My favorite activity today was painting green T-shirts because it made me excited to wear a shirt I made.” “Today I learned about many creatures of the Galapagos Islands. The iguanas have adapted to marine life and do not live in the water.”

Jessie H: “I had fun making the T-shirts!” “The sea urchins curl using their spikes.”

Katie F: “My favorite activity today was the T-shirt making because it was a craft.” “I learned about deep sea animals and that they can go under tons of pressure!”

Kelly B: “I liked going to the beach because it started raining.” “We saw a star fish. It sticks its stomach out of its mouth and dissolves its prey.”

Kaylee: “I learned that the Arctic tern travels 50,000 miles.”

Chase: “The beach because it was so fun boogie boarding.” “Starfish because if you cut them in half they will grow back.”

Katy G: “My favorite activity today was getting rained on at the beach. I liked it because the rain water felt so good.” “I learned about the box jellyfish. The Australian ones are venomous.”

Tommy: “Getting to see and touch starfish and sea urchins.” “Galapagos iguanas that can dive and eat the algae that grows on rocks.”

Anica: “Making the box jelly." “The box jelly strings are poisonous.”

MORE TOMORROW!

Ocean Explorers Blog 2

Today our campers made their own paper with recycled fiber, and used it to make covers for their daily logbooks. They also explored the Aquarium's behind-the-scenes life-support and holding areas, saw a sea-turtle film, and made sea-creature masks. Oh, and they went to the beach for a swim!

Jessie: "Today my favorite activity was making sea-creature masks, because I enjoyed seeing my paper plate slowly evolve into a cuttlefish." "I learned about the loggerhead turtle and its 30-year-long from the coast of America to nearly Africa!"

Chase: "My favorite was behind the scenes, because it was very interesting." "The extreme animal I learned about was the sea turtle. It travels so far!"

Sarah: "My favorite activity was going behind the scenes, because it was fun." "We learned about sea turtles and how they migrate."

Kelly: "I liked going behind the scenes and seeing the frog fish, because I haven't seen it before." "I learned about a humpback whales, and how they talk to each other by 'singing.'"

Jessie: "Going behind the scenes -- it wuz fun!" "I learned about the loggerhead turtle and its life cycle."

Peyton: "My favorite activity was behind the scenes, because I saw some cool underwater animals." "The loggerhead can act like a leaf at the top of the water."

Davis: "I liked going behind the scenes." "The angler fish has a little light on its head. The little light attracts prey."

L.J. "My favorite was behind the scenes, because we learned about the Aquarium!" "I learned about the loggerhead turtle. It goes back to where it was born."

Katy: "My favorite part of today was going to the beach. I rode tons of waves and had fun with my friends." "My favorite extreme animal was the sea turtle. I learned the route they swim."

Kolten: "I liked playing at the beach, cause I rode my boogie board." "The extreme animal I learned about was the loggerhead sea turtle. They swim a long distance."

Kaylee: "I liked the movie about the instincts of a turtle, because every animal has instincts." "The angle-fish lives in pitch blackness at the lowest depths of the sea and it has a little light to attract prey."

Jackson: "I liked the beach because I boogie-boarded the big kahuha!" "I liked the angler fish, because it has a lure to lure in prey."

Chris: "Today I liked going to the beach, because you get to play with everyone." "I learned that a loggerhead turtle is born on land."

Katie F. "My favorite activity today was going to the beach, because I liked going under the waves." "I learned about sea turtles, and learned that turtles can swim around the world."

Anica: "We made angler fish masks today. It was fun." "The extreme animal and its adaptation: the angler fish has a light that attracts prey."

Tommy: "We went to the beach and caught some waves." "Humpback whales travel from the Antarctic to the Caribbean."

MORE TOMORROW!

Ocean Explorers Blog 1

Today we welcomed the last of our Ocean Explorers for the summer. They started out their week visiting the tide pools of the only rocky outcrop on the North Carolina Coast -- it's very near the Aquarium! They also met Wilson the Wood Duck, they studied about "extreme animals" of the Arctic, and then they made shadow-box dioramas to illustrate what they learned.

Kolten: "I enjoyed the craft, because we got to make collages of extreme polar animals." "I learned about the Arctic Tern, which is a bird that migrates the farthest of any animal."

Katie F.: "My favorite activity was making the shadow box, because the creativity part was really fun." "I think Wilson the Wood Duck was cool because his feathers were waterproof."

Katy G.: "My favorite was going to the rocky outcrop. I liked it because I found some cool shells." "I learned the Wood Ducks camouflage to their surroundings."

Peyton: "Wilson the Wood Duck had cool adaptations." "The polar bear has adaptations; his skin is really black so it absorbs heat."

Sarah: "My favorite was Wilson, because he was interesting." "We learned about birds and how they are related to reptiles."

Chase: "Seeing Wilson the duck was my favorite activity, because he is so funny, and very interesting." "The great white shark is extreme because it can live for days in brackish water."

Jessie: "My favorite was meeting the duck Wilson, because I didn't know that much about ducks. A duck lives up to 20 years."

Kaylee: "My favorite thing today was going to the coquina rocky outcrop. I found a crab exoskeleton." "I learned about the Arctic tern. It travels 50,000 miles."

L.J. : "I liked finding all the sharks' teeth. I liked it because you got to impress others with what you found." "I learned that the wood duck molts to get rid of germs."

Anica: "I enjoyed finding cool seashells and sharks' teeth, because I haven't been able to do so (before)." "I learned about the leopard seal. It lives in Antarctica."

Chris: "My favorite thing today was to meet Wilson, because he pooped everywhere and flew everywhere." "I learned that the Arctic Tern is the farthest traveling animal ever."

Kelly: "I liked seeing Wilson the Wood Duck because he went crazy; he was flying and jumping out of the cage." "I learned about a polar bear. They have black skin and then two layers of clear fur. The look white from the reflection of the sun."

Davis: "My favorite was the rocky outccrop, or you can call it the coquina." "I learned that the penguins swim to find food instead of flying."

Tommy: "My favorite was when we went to a rocky outcrop and found a starfish and a hermit crab." "I learned that giraffes are extreme animals. They have to have long tongues so they can reach leaves."

Jackson: "My favorite was when we met Wilson the Wood Duck. I liked it because he attacked my friend." "I learned about the penguin. It has feathers that can withstand hundreds of degrees below zero."

Jessie: "My favorite today was going to the coquina, a group of mossy rocks with an abundance of wildlife, becuase I enjoyed finding and watching the animals." "I learned that the Wood Duck has many adaptations, such as molting feathers, webbed feet, and its bill, to survive in bodies of water."

WHAT WILL THEY EXPLORE TOMORROW? VISIT AGAIN AND FIND OUT!

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Our Ocean Explorers log their last day at camp. They describe today's favorite activity, and what they learned about an "extreme animal," and its adaptations.

Mason: "I liked touching the snake, because it felt really scaly." "A black rat snake can climb really well."

Emily: "Today my favorite activity was taking the tour and learning about all the animals." "Today I learned about an anteater. The anteater is a mammal."

Simon: "The dive show was really cool!" "A chameleon camouflages by changing colors."

Hannah: "My favorite activity was touring the aquarium, because it was really cool." "I learned that the bush baby is the smallest primate."

Michael: "I liked meeting the rat snake, because I got to touch it." "I learned that the black mamba is the fastest snake, and it is venomous."

Erin: "My favorite activity was touching the rat snake. It was the cutest snake I have ever seen (besides my corn snake)." "The bush baby -- the bush baby can jump 20 feet!"

Anna: "My favorite activity was going to the top of the fish tank." "My favorite extreme animal was the black rat snake. They shed their skin."

Kerrigan: "My favorite activity was going behind the scenes, because we got to see baby animals." "A black rat snake squeezes its prey before eating it."

Laura K: "I liked seeing the snake. The snake is very beautiful." "I learned that the peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the world."

Savannah: "I liked touring the Aquarium, because we got to see the Megalodon exhibit." "Snakes -- they use their forked tongue to sense direction."

Alyssa: "I loved touring the Aquarium, because the Megalodon exhibit was very good." "I like the African lungfish because it can go four years living in mud even though it has gills."

Laura: "My favorite activity today was touring the Aquarium. I liked doing that because I got to see all the different animals and exhibits." "The cheetah is my favorite extreme animal -- it can run extremely fast."

Sophia: "My favorite was meeting the rat snake, because we got to pet it." "The extreme animal I learned about was the Nile crocodile. It is the largest crocodile in Africa."

William: "Going behind the scenes, seeing animals I never knew about." "The giraffe's adaptation is its long neck and legs, so they can reach tall things."

Emily: "I liked seeing the snake, because we got to touch it." "I learned about the ostrich, and that it has 3 eyelids."

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! (Tune in again Monday, when another group of Ocean Explorers comes to the Aquarium!)