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06/23/2010
At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, special summer activities offer great ways for children, adults and families to experience the wonders of the ocean. Visitors can go behind-the-scenes with aquarium experts, take part in a sailing excursion aboard a 65-foot research vessel, put their kids in SCUBA gear for a diver’s-eye view of marine life, feed an abalone or a sea urchin, scoop plankton from the bay using the same tools as scientists, and sleep under their favorite exhibits with friends or family members.
All that and more are part of the many exciting “Aquarium Adventures” programs available throughout the 2010 summer. A full schedule and online tickets for all Aquarium Adventures is available online at www.montereybayaquarium.org/adventures.
Back by popular demand this year, the public can attend a “Family Seashore Sleepover” on four Saturday nights: July 17 and 24, August 28, and November 20. Aquarium fans can sleep under their favorite exhibits and experience the aquarium after hours. Special presentations, feeding opportunities, a midnight snack and continental breakfast are all part of this exclusive evening. “Youth Group Seashore Sleepovers” are available for youth groups on three other nights through September.
Behind-the-scenes tours, offered several times daily throughout the year, give visitors an inside look at the nation’s No. 1 aquarium. Each 50-minute tour is different, depending on what’s happening that day. All tours show what it takes to care for animals and exhibits at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and occasionally include an opportunity to feed the fish. Regular Behind-the-scenes tours are for ages 6 and up. Tour times vary daily and cost $12 for the general public, $10 for members, plus aquarium admission. New this summer at 11:30 a.m. daily is a “Family Tour” designed specifically for families with young children (8 and under). Each tour combines hands-on experiences mixed with fun animal stories.
“Sailing Adventures” expeditions return again this year. Visitors can choose between two distinct Sailing Adventures aboard the eco-friendly Derek M. Baylis, a 65-foot research sailboat. During “Day Sails” visitors work alongside aquarium naturalists gathering plankton, observe seafloor animals and learn about the intricate Monterey Bay ecosystem. Each participant takes a turn at the helm, steering the boat and learning about navigation and sailing, while fellow sailors keep an eye out for migrating whales, rafts of otters and pods of dolphins. On summer evenings, “Sunset Sails” participants relax on the elegant ship while sipping wine, enjoying hors d’oeuvres and watching the bay come to life as evening approaches. Seals, sea lions, otters, dolphins and whales are common in Monterey Bay. Sunset Sails programs run through September 5 and cost $45 for aquarium members and $55 for the general public.
The popular “Underwater Explorers” surface SCUBA experience for kids 8 to 13 resumes in mid-June and continues through early September. “Morning Rounds” behind-the-scenes feeding tours happen on select days year round.
Extended hours return this summer with more time to enjoy the aquarium on summer weekends during “Evenings by the Bay.” Each Saturday and Sunday from July 3 through September 5, visitors will have two additional hours – until 8 p.m. – to commune with their favorite exhibits, including the most popular special exhibition to date, “The Secret Lives of Seahorses.” The evenings include live music, wine samplings and a front row seat to favorite exhibits.
Most Aquarium Adventures programs run through September; some are offered year-round. Costs vary per program; aquarium members receive a discount. Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org/adventures for program details, previews and tickets (a detailed list of Aquarium Adventures is included below). Advance registration is recommended; register by calling 866-963-9645 or stop by the Aquarium Adventures Desk or Member Desk in the main lobby of the aquarium.
Regular aquarium admission is $29.95 adult; $27.95 senior (65+) and student (full-time college, with I.D.); and $17.95 children 3-12 and the disabled. Children under 3 are admitted free of charge. Discounted tickets for members of the military and their families can be purchased in advance at many California and Nevada installations.
The aquarium is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer months and extended hours until 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays July 3 through September 5.
In 2010 the Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates more than 25 years of inspiring ocean conservation.
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Editors: Contact Public Relations for still images and video b-roll of
“Aquarium Adventures” programs.
AQUARIUM ADVENTURES PROGRAMS
2010
Behind-the-scenes Tours
Five to seven times daily through September 6
Ages: 6 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Family Tour: 11:30 a.m., open to all ages
Fee: $10 members; $12 general public, plus aquarium admission
Visitors can get an intimate look at the inner workings of the aquarium during any of the daily behind-the-scenes tours. A guide will lead a group of visitors on a 50-minute tour behind one of the aquarium’s main exhibits. New this year, families with children under 8 years of age can opt for the 11:30 a.m. Family Tour, where a trained naturalist focuses on the most popular animals at the aquarium while guiding the group behind-the-scenes. Daily feedings of fish are a regular part of all behind-the-scenes tours.
Underwater Explorers
Four times daily from June 19 through September 6
Time: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. (90-minute program)
Ages: 8 to 13
Fee: $59 per member; $79 per general public, plus aquarium admission
Kids can get a fish-eye view of marine life as they don mask, regulator and dry suit and take the plunge in our Great Tide Pool for a surface SCUBA experience. Our certified dive staff will assist participants in the water and introduce them to the critters that live along the rocky shore. The small group size ensures a safe and educational adventure for everyone. No previous SCUBA experience is required, though you must have basic swimming skills.
Sailing Adventures: Day Sails
Wednesday through Sunday: June 14 through September 5
Time: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (3-hour sail)
Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Fee: $49 per member youth (10-17 years); $59 per member adult; $59 per general public youth; $69 per general public adult.
Step aboard the Derek M. Baylis, a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly 65-foot research sailboat for the adventure of a lifetime. In this exclusive program you’ll spend three hours getting hands-on experience as you learn how marine biologists study the life of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Sailing Adventures: Sunset Sails
Wednesday through Saturday: June 14 through September 5
Time: 5:30 p.m. (90-minute sail)
Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Fee: $45 per aquarium member; $55 per general public
Join aquarium naturalists for a great evening of natural history and ocean wildlife aboard the Derek M. Baylis. Enjoy wine and light refreshments as you learn more about the many animals that make Monterey Bay their home and discover how we can keep our oceans healthy.
Youth Group Seashore Sleepovers
Saturday, July, 10; Saturday, August 14; Friday, September 10
Time: 7 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Ages: Youth groups with children, age 5 to 14; one adult chaperone 21 years or older is required for every five youth campers.
Fee: $60 per person (entrance to the Aquarium before or after the sleepover is not included)
Youth group sleepovers are a special way to enjoy the aquarium after hours and sleep next to your favorite exhibit. We’ll offer activities throughout the evening, or you can explore the aquarium on your own. The evening concludes with a bedtime snack. In the morning you’ll wake up with the fishes and enjoy a continental breakfast in the Portola Cafe.
Family Seashore Sleepover
Saturdays: July 17 and 24, August 28, and November 20
Ages: 5 to Adult
Fee: $50 members; $75 general public (entrance to the Aquarium before or after the sleepover is not included)
Family sleepovers are a special way to experience the aquarium after hours and sleep next to your favorite exhibit. We’ll offer activities throughout the evening, or you can explore the aquarium on your own during this exclusive event. The evening concludes with a bedtime snack and movie. In the morning you’ll wake up with the fishes and enjoy a continental breakfast in the Portola Cafe.
Morning Rounds: Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Most Thursdays and Sundays, all year round
Time: 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
Ages: 8 and older, under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Fee: $45 per member; $65 per general public, plus aquarium admission
Join us for a rare opportunity to interact with our exhibit animals as an aquarist would. The 2-hour morning tour includes a private viewing of a sea otter feeding and training session. Then you’ll go behind the scenes on “morning rounds” and help prepare food, feed animals and learn daily maintenance for exhibits.
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