Oregon Coast Aquarium Jumps Into Summer

(Newport, Oregon) - Summer is here and the Oregon Coast Aquarium is offering a variety of fascinating and fun activities for all ages, in addition to the Aquarium’s exciting new exhibit, Swampland. Children, young adults and families can participate in day camps, enjoy animal encounters, dive presentations or daily animal feedings during the summer months through Labor Day weekend.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Swampland exhibit, which opened Memorial Day weekend, is a fascinating, colorful experience featuring three different kinds of swamps. A 12-foot anaconda and a 6-foot alligator are among the many swamp creatures you can see up close. Visitors can also enjoy the shark tunnel, jellies, sea lions, otters, and sea birds at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Sea Lion Encounters. Every Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day Weekend. 10 – 11 am Ages 8 and up $35 members, $40 non-members (limit 10 people per encounter). Learn about the Aquarium’s pinnipeds, get a sea lion kiss and explore behind the scenes at the aquarium. Make reservations in advance by calling 541-867-3474 Ext. 2313.

August 27. Sea Squirts: Winged Wonders. 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Ages 2-3 with parent. $15 members, $20 non-members. This class will explore the winged world of the Oregon coast through songs, crafts, and stories.

September 5 (Labor Day Weekend) Family Sleepover. 6 pm – 9 am Ages 4 and up $50 members, $55 non-members. Families are invited to sleep with the sharks in the Passages of the Deep tunnels. Enjoy pizza, go on a scavenger hunt, and participate in fun, hands-on activities. Wake up with cereal, juice, coffee, tea and a behind-the-scenes look at how Aquarium staff gets the animals ready in the morning. Register at least two weeks in advance at (541) 867-3474 ext. 5301.

Interpretive Dive Presentations Every Saturday during June, July and August. All Ages - Free after Aquarium admission. 10:30 am 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm

Daily Animal Feedings; fishes, birds, seals, sea lions and sea otters. All Ages - Free after Aquarium admission. (Schedule for specific animals in Aquarium lobby and on website, at aquarium.org)

Touch an Animal from Swampland - 4 times daily. All Ages - Free after Aquarium admission. Times vary; twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon

“Freshwater Swamp” in Theater. All Ages - Free after Aquarium admission. 14 minute documentary plays continuously (except during interpretive program)

Theater Swamp Interpretive Program in Theater. Thursday - Sunday during June, July, August. All Ages - Free after Aquarium admission. 12 pm, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2 pm and 2:30 pm

Octopus Encounters. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 11 am – 12 pm Ages 8 and up $30 members, $35 non-members. Learn about the Aquarium’s intelligent octopuses and watch a feeding. (Contingent upon octopus and guide availability) Make reservations in advance by calling 541-867-3474 Ext. 2313.

July 9 Sea Squirts: Super Swimmers. 10:30 am – 12 pm Ages 2-3/parent $15 members, $20 non-members. Children put on flippers and fins to learn all about how fish swim. A day of fun includes singing and dancing like a fish as children learn what makes ocean animals sensational swimmers.

July 12-16 Oceans of Fun Summer Camp: Animal Adaptations. 9 am – 12pm Ages 4-5 $80 members, $90 non-members. Children learn why sea urchins have spines and how sea anemones catch their food while staying stuck to the rocks. Songs, crafts and games are featured each day.

Sea Squirts: Winged Wonders. 10:30am–12pm Ages 2-3 with parent $15 members, $20 non-members. Children will explore what lives behind the log, sneaks through the grass and swims under the water of a pond and find out why frogs, bugs, and fish call this wet wonderland their home.

July 26-30 Sea Safari Summer Camp: Habitats. 9am – 3pm Ages: 1st – 2nd graders entering fall 2010 $135 members, $150 non-members. An adventure into near shore habitats such as the rocky shore, kelp forest and mangrove swamps. Children will learn through songs, crafts and games.

July 31 Cub Scout Combination Sleepover. 6 pm – 9 am Ages 6 and up $50 members, $55 non-membersScouts are invited to sleep with the sharks in the Passages of the Deep tunnels. Enjoy pizza, go on a scavenger hunt, and participate in fun, hands-on activities. Wake up with cereal, juice, coffee, tea and a behind-the-scenes look at how Aquarium staff gets the animals ready in the morning. Register at least two weeks in advance at (541) 867-3474 ext. 5301.

August 1 - 15 Shark Celebration. 9 am – 6 pm All Ages - Free after Aquarium admission. The Oregon Coast Aquarium will celebrate Sharks August 1 – 15 with a variety of events highlighting the fascinating world of sharks. The celebration spotlights sharks with face painting, shark stations, a shark camera in the Passages of the Deep shark tunnel, dive interpretations, a shark movie, a theater presentation titled “Myths and Misconceptions” and a children’s shark craft. All of the sharks exhibited at the Oregon Coast Aquarium are species native to Oregon’s coastal waters. Visitors will meet the sharks from Oregon’s coast in the week-long glimpse into the world of sharks.

August 15 Breakfast with the Sharks. 8 to 9:30 am. All Ages $30 members $35 non members (includes Aquarium admission). Visitors enter the Aquarium before it opens to the public and enjoy a hearty breakfast while learning about sharks. Breakfast with the Sharks is presented in the Gleason Event Room in front of the private viewing window of the Sharks in the Passages of the Deep exhibit. During breakfast, visitors watch the sharks being fed their breakfast by husbandry staff while an Aquarium biologist gives a talk about their diet, behaviors and physiology. Breakfast is provided by the Aquarium’s award winning Local Ocean Café. Reservations are required by calling (541) 867-3474 ext. 2313.

August 2-6 Oceans of Fun Summer Camp: Animal Behavior. 9 am - 12 pm Ages 4-5 $80 members, $90 non-members. Children learn to bark like a sea lion, dive like a sea bird and change color like an octopus. This camp focuses on how animals act in their home environment. Songs, crafts, stories and games are included each day.

August 13 Sea Squirts: Wonderful Walkers. 10:30am–12pm Ages 2-3/parent $15 members, $20 non-members. Children investigate the different ways sea creatures walk around in and out of the water.

August 16-20 Sea Safari Summer Camp: Open Ocean. 9am – 3pm Ages 1st – 2nd graders entering fall 2010 $135 members, $150 non-members. Children go on a Journey into the ocean to explore the lives of sharks, jellies, sea lions and more.