Santa Monica Aquarium celebrates end of the season
SANTA MONICA PIER Just because school has yet to begin doesn’t mean kids can’t squeeze in a lesson or two.
The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium — operated by Heal the Bay — will host a series of educational and entertaining programs this weekend as part of its end of summer celebration.
“The Last Waves of Summer” will include a series of presentations and interactive learning activities for children and families to learn about the natural marine-life habitats in the Santa Monica Bay.
The feature presentation today will be headlined by animal ethics expert Thomas White, who will address the relationship between humans and dolphins. The chair of the Center for Ethics and Business at Loyola Marymount University, White will discuss his new book, “In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier.”
The book discussion will be followed by a computer animation presentation on Sunday by computer graphics engineer Stirling Duguid, who will talk about how waves were created in the Sony animated film, “Surf’s Up.”
Smaller activities will be included as part of the summer conclusion celebration, including an arts and crafts station where children can create take-home wave models and a demonstration of the aquarium’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The ROV will be submerged 30 feet into the Santa Monica Bay, giving spectators a glimpse of oceanic life through the vehicle’s camera.
Last Waves organizers hope the weekend’s events will be the first of many to be held annually. The aquarium already hosts similar events at the end of the fall, winter and spring.
“It’s fun for the staff to offer something new and it’s something that keeps the public coming in,” said aquarium Director Vicki Wawerchak.
SANTA MONICA: DEEP DOWN BELOW The aquarium has been educating the public about Santa Monica’s marine life since Heal the Bay took over what was then the UCLA Discovery Center in February 2003. The aquarium opened beneath the carousel building in 1996.
Heal the Bay is a non-profit organization advocating for cleaner coastal waters and watersheds in Southern California.
After the organization took over the facility, the focus was shifted toward exhibiting habitats in the bay.
The approximately 4,500-square-foot space holds 10 tanks, housing aquatic life unique to the Santa Monica Bay, including horn sharks, rock fish and several varieties of rays.
Each of the 10 tanks focuses on a specific habitat and sea creature, including kelp forests, rocky reefs, octopuses and sharks.
The aquarium’s budget is nearly $1 million this year, funded mainly from government grants, membership fees and donations.
Approximately 65,000 people visit the aquarium annually, including 15,000 students on class field trips. Summer is the busiest time for the general population, but spring is the most popular for the aquarium’s educational programs. Wawerchak estimates that more than 23,000 visitors will have come through the doors from June to the end of August.
Ian Alkire, who lives in the Inland Empire, visits the Westside occasionally to see her granddaughter, Juliana, and take her to the aquarium.
Friday was one of those occasions as grandmother and granddaughter took another trip to the pier.
“You can learn by reading, listening or doing,” Alkire said, as 5-year-old Juliana runs around her legs, asking grandma where are the turtles.
“It’s a great place to learn hands on,” Alkire added.
Daily Press intern Gerry Shih contributed to this report.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 25, 2007. Read the original PDF.