Kids ages 6 to 8 can learn from a marine biologist and scuba diver, thrill to encounters with live animals, and lots more in a series of fun programs during the upcoming school-vacation week, April 15-19 at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Registration ends Friday, April 5. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
The Maritime Aquarium’s Spring Vacation Camp invites students to explore a different topic involving our natural world each day. But act fast: programs are filling and a sign-up deadline of Mon., April 8 is approaching quickly. Sign up for one, some or all five days.
Eleven Fairfield County attractions are working to reduce the stresses of planning — and accomplishing — visits for guests with special needs through a new partnership called “Accessibility for All.”
Beginning April 2, anyone who wants to know how the 11 attractions accommodate guests with special needs will be able to find the information all on one website —AccessibilityForAllCT.Org. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
Previously, potential guests had to dig through each attraction’s website, in some cases only to end up finding little or no information at all. The 11 organizations participating in “Accessibility for All” are:
• Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, which organized the effort, and Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk
• Earthplace, the nature center in Westport
• Connecticut Audubon Society in Fairfield
• Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and Discovery Museum in Bridgeport
• Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford
• Audubon Greenwich and the Bruce Museum in Greenwich
• Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield
• EverWonder Children’s Museum in Newtown
The new “Accessibility for All” website also will be updated as the attractions present special events geared for this important customer group. Fairfield County attractions have never teamed in such an exceptional way before, said Tom Naiman, director of Education for The Maritime Aquarium. “‘Accessibility for All’ springs from a realization that, by working together, all of our institutions can do a better job of welcoming guests with special needs,” Naiman said.
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts should troop down to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk on Saturday, March 23 to take advantage of admission discounts and special workshops as the South Norwalk attraction celebrates its annual Scout Day. Any Girl Scout or Boy Scout wearing her or his uniform to The Maritime Aquarium on March 23 receives a discounted price: $16 for children ages 3-12; $20 for adults; and $18 seniors 65+. This discount applies to Scouts of all levels, even adult Scout leaders. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
For Scouts, those are thrifty savings off the regular ticket prices of $17.95 for children, $24.95 for adults, and $22.95 for seniors. Those prices also are available now online for March 23, and advance purchase is recommended because only a limited number of Scouts will receive a Maritime Aquarium Scout Day badge.
On the day after the nationwide release of the “Captain Marvel” movie, meet Marvel Comics characters Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Captain America in special live appearances on Saturday, March 9 at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. “What a thrill to welcome four of the greatest superheroes, all in one place, all at one time,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth. “The Maritime Aquarium will be the safest place in America on March 9!”
— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
The visiting superheroes will be the officially licensed costume characters of Marvel Comics. There’s no show or presentation, just the chance for Aquarium guests to pose for photos with these popular legends between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., save for occasional staggered breaks. (Even superheroes like to sit down sometimes.)
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is seeking citizen-scientist volunteers who will be … hoppy to help with a census of frogs in their neighborhoods. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
An army of trained volunteers is needed to provide local data to a national program called “FrogWatch.” The local effort is a collaboration between the Maritime Aquarium, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport and Yale’s Peabody Museum in New Haven. Although it’s called “FrogWatch,” volunteers will be asked to frog listen, not to watch. You don’t have to know anything about frogs and their different calls to sign up. That will be taught during upcoming training sessions at each of the four local institutions.
In light of the Town of Darien considering a ban on plastic carry out bags, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk celebrates such municipal efforts and encourages other communities to take up the cause. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
A public hearing is planned for Wednesday, Feb. 6 to gain Darien residents’ input on a proposal to ban plastic bags. If such an ordinance is drafted and eventually approved, Darien would join Westport, Greenwich and Norwalk in Connecticut, and Larchmont and Rye Brook in Westchester County, New York, in prohibiting retail stores from offering plastic bags for purchases. Many other municipalities in Connecticut and New York are considering similar legislations.
Pursue your interest in marine animals and share your knowledge and enthusiasm with others by becoming a member of the volunteer staff at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Everyone from 15-year-olds to seniors is invited. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
Interviews for potential volunteers — with details provided about a training course in March — will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13 and Thursday, Feb. 21, on both days at 5 p.m. You need attend only one.
Enjoy a unique adults-only night out, sampling fine foods and spirits among sharks and seals, on Thursday, Feb. 7 during the next “Maritime with a Twist” hosted by The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
Sample them all from 6 to 9 p.m. while enjoying the entire Aquarium for one price. Participating restaurants include: Bandido Mexican, The Blind Rhino, Bourbon Raw Kentucky Kitchen, Cantiki Taco Deck, Local Kitchen & Craft Beer Bar, Saltwater, Tablao, O’Neill’s Pub, and Our House SoNo. Plus, CulinArt, The Maritime Aquarium’s onsite caterer for parties and other facility rentals, will have a serving table.
On the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, give your sweetie what he or she really wants: the chance to hand-feed a cow-nose ray. And a horseshoe crab. And a diamondback terrapin. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is making the magic possible by putting a special twist on its popular behind-the-scenes “Feeding Time” program. On Sat., Feb.
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk announces its first-ever hatching of a tortoise: a leopard tortoise on Jan. 6. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
The tiny tortoise is the first member of the turtle and tortoise family (Testudines) to ever hatch at the aquarium. The egg was the result of a pairing among six leopard tortoises added in a new display last summer. “We are extremely proud of our biologists for broadening their range of animal-husbandry expertise,” said Barrett L. Christie, director of animal husbandry.
Rasal the harbor seal with the prognosticating proboscis at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, has made her pick for Super Bowl 53: the New England Patriots. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
The 33-year-old female seal knows how to hold her nose against the hand of her Aquarium trainers, and also against a “target pole” and other objects, including the exhibit window. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, the Aquarium seal exhibit was lined with alternating images of New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams helmets. When instructed to go to the exhibit window, Rasal decisively swam to — and held her nose against — a Patriots helmet, indicating her pick.
For some, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is a place with too many stimuli. So on Sunday, Feb. 3, the Aquarium is planning a special morning to give guests with sensory-processing differences a fun, comfortable and accepting environment. During “Sensory-Friendly Morning,” lights in the Aquarium will be lower, and music and other sounds will be turned down or off. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
On that day the Aquarium will open two hours earlier than usual — at 8 a.m. — so guests with special needs who are averse to crowds will be less likely to encounter them.
Help create an enormous ocean scene using everyone’s favorite building blocks during “LEGO Weekend” Jan. 26 and 27 at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. LEGO experts from Play-Well TEKnologies will be on hand both days to oversee a big, fun coral-reef scene made entirely out of LEGO blocks in Newman’s Own Hall (near the seals). — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
The experts will create the underwater environment, but it needs animals! Aquarium guests can build a small LEGO marine creature that will be part of the finished piece.
Wear your jammies among the jellies and sleep with the fishes on Fri., Jan. 18 during a fun “Family Sleepover” at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. This night of special access is open to children age 5 and older with an accompanying parent or caregiver over age 18. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
“The ‘Family Sleepovers’ are a memorable experience for parents to share with their children, especially children who have expressed a deeper interest in The Maritime Aquarium and our animals,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth. “This upcoming sleepover will be a fun way to kick off the three-day holiday weekend.”
After check-in at 6 p.m. and a tasty dinner, Aquarium educators will fill the evening with a fun- and fact-filled behind-the-scenes tour, games, crafts, snacks and more.
You and your kids can mark the end of the year — including a countdown to 12 o’clock noon — with special family fun on Monday, Dec. 31 at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. The Aquarium is planning fun midday activities for families with young children celebrate the end of 2018 together, but not at the stroke of midnight. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a disc jockey will provide the beat, as well as a countdown to 12 o’clock; 12 o’clock noon, that is. “‘Noon Year’s Eve’ gives parents the chance to count down to a celebration with their children, but without the kids needing to stay up way past their bedtimes to do so,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth.
