Elf Camp

Looking for time to do holiday shopping without the kids? North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is offering Holiday Elf Camps:

December 6th, 13th, or 20th
Ages 7-10
9:00am to 3:30pm
Pre-registration is required. Call 910-458-7468 to register

$50.00 program fee includes aquarium admission, pizza lunch, snack, crafts, holiday gift-wrap, instruction, and countless wonderful memories.

Frogs on the 4's

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher has been celebrating our slimy friends all year, and you only have one more chance, on December 4, to join us for the final Frogs on the 4’s. Frogs on the 4’s was designed to support the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s 2008 Year of the Frog initiative by providing one day each month specifically focused on amphibians. All programs, films, activities, feedings and crafts are themed towards our slimy stars.

Two interactive auditorium programs will be presented, a Creature Feature at 11:30 am and a Wetland Odyssey at 1:30 pm, For the final Frogs on the 4s, the Aquarium has created a new program, Slime vs. Scales, where an educator leads a debate between two costumed characters, a frog and a snake, about whose adaptations make them the coolest animal in the swamp. In Swamp Symphony, the audience helps create a suitable habitat for these awesome amphibians and meet a few live critters while having a stomping, clapping good time.

Four films will be offered focused on amphibian or their habitats. Frogs, Fact or Folklore? discusses the reputation and myths surrounding amphibians, Spring Forth and Multiply! goes into detail about vernal ponds necessary to the amazing life cycle of our native frogs and toads, while Eyewitness Amphibians and Eyewitness Pond give the viewer an inside look at these animals and their habitats.

An amphibian classroom will be filled with lily pad magnet crafts, coloring, games and prizes. Enjoy frog sounds, games, and a wonderful reading nook complete with a huge “froggie” pillow to sit and explore a book! A froggie hat clad greeter will welcome you upon arrival and explain the schedule as well as a building-wide scavenger hunt. Visitors can spend time finding the amphibian exhibits, programs, and extras then return their hunt for a prize.

One of the most popular Frogs on the 4’s additions is our Tadpole Table. At this temporary exhibit, we take a look at the amazing life cycle of a frog then recreate a pond complete with all the stages that everyone can take home with them. And last but not least, our costumed character, Froggie the Fabulous, will make appearances to delight visitors throughout the day.

Thank you, Star-News!

Star-News reporter Gareth McGrath and photographer Paul Stephen visited the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher on Monday to cover our upcoming Aquababies Weekend.

A great story appeared on the front page of Tuesday's paper and Hap Fatzinger, aquarium curator, was interviewed. The interview can be accessed below:

Aquarium Interview

Be sure to visit the Aquarium this weekend to see our babies!

Aquababies!

Pack a diaper bag and bring your camera...we're showing off our babies! The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will host an “Aquababies Weekend” November 22-23, 2008 from 9 am to 5 pm each day.

The Aquarium's tremendous success producing baby animals will be highlighted all weekend.
Meet our 'youngsters' including: jellyfish, sea turtles, alligators, sea horses, fishes, snakes and more. “This is a unique opportunity for the community to see babies that were either born here at the Aquarium or came to us as babies,” says Hap Fatzinger, aquarium curator.

Baby animals will be on view, as well as stingray, turtle and snake x-rays from pregnant mothers. The Aquarium’s education department will provide activities to help visitors appreciate the animals on display as well as the challenges to on-site propagation.

Vote for the Aquarium!

Just when the elections ended, it's time to vote again. This time for the Best of Wilmington awards hosted by Encore Magazine. Log on and vote the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher as the "Best Attraction". We think we're the best and hope you do too! Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Level 5 on February 7 at City Stage at Level 5. 

Make your voice heard and cast your ballot today by clicking the image above.

Trick or Treat Under the Sea A Success!

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s seventh annual Trick or Treat Under the Sea was a huge success thanks to the community, vendors and donors. Over 2,300 visitors enjoyed indoor trick-or-treating from local businesses and organizations that decorated booths set up among the exhibits and galleries.

Kids of all ages also enjoyed Scotty the Pirate Magician, playing games, seeing alligators bobbing for apples, fishes munching on jack-o-lanterns and scary divers in the Aquarium’s 235,000 gallon Cape Fear Shoals tank.

The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher would like to thank the following booth vendors:

• Atlantic Chiropractic
• Bluewater Carpet Solutions
• Dr. Henry D. Browning IV, DDS
• Carolina Hurricane Shutters
  
• Chips Computers
• Costco
• Coastal Tumble Gym
• Fan Boy Comics
  
• Golden Corral
• Federal Point Family Practice
• Mad Science / Sandpiper Subs
• Mary Kay Cosmetics
  
• Med Care of North Caorlina
• Microtel Inn and Suites
• Preferred Alternatives
• RE/MAX Coastal Properties
• Sea-Comm Media
• Shoreview Medical Associates
• Simply Play
• Snip It Inc. / Great Clips
• Sylvan Learning Center
• Taylor's Heating and Air
• Dr. Skip Tyson, DDS
• Sound Decisions
• Urgent Care of Wilmington
• Well Care
• Wilmington Ice House
  

Judges Rhonda Bellamy with WAAV 980 AM, Meghan Packer with WWAY TV3 and Kim Ratcliff with WECT had the difficult task of choosing winners in the booth decorating contest. Congratulations to first place winners Urgent Care of Wilmington, second place winners Mad Science / Sandpiper Subs and third place winners Dr. Skip Tyson, DDS for their amazingly creative booths.

“This event isn’t possible without our booth vendors and donors who contribute to the evening’s festivities,” Terry Bryant, events coordinator said.

Special thanks to the following donors and volunteers:

• McAnderson’s (McDonald’s)
• BB&T
• Best Buy
• Bon Appetit
• Chick-fil-A / Chick-fil-A Cow Character
• Coastal K-9 Bakery
• Costco
• Got-em-on Live Bait Club
• Island Florals by Roxanne
• Island Gazette
• N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher Volunteers
• Ocean Grill
• On Time Marketing
• Snip It Inc. / Great Clips
• Tarheel Challenge Parking Volunteers
• Town of Kure Beach
• Two Guys Grill
• UNC Wilmington Seahawk Character
• Wilmington Ice House
• Wilmington Media

*Photo: First place booth winners: The Graveyard Band