Spring 2019 VAQ

SPRING 2019

Virginia Aquarium Quarterly Member Magazine

ALL ABILITIES WELCOME LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE AQUARIUM’S ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES p.6

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MEMBERSHIP QUICK FACTS HOURS OF OPERATION

CONTACT INFORMATION

9 –5 AM

(757) 385-0279

PM

VirginiaAquarium.com Membership@VirginiaAquarium.com

Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas

DAILY ADMISSIONS PER MEMBERSHIP LEVEL The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science

INDIVIDUAL

FAMILY

INDIVIDUAL + 1

FAMILY + 1

Center’s mission is to inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research and sustainable practices.

SPRING 2019, VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2 VAQ is published four times a year by the

MEMBERSHIP PERKS Behind-the-Scenes Sea Turtles | $15 Above & Beyond | $15

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation located at 717 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451.

EDITORS Matthew Klepeisz, Taylor Saunders

$

Cardholder must be present during each visit. Philanthropic memberships are also available through our Giving Societies. Learn more at www.VirginiaAquarium.com/join.

ADVISOR Caryl Thompson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ashley Laginestra CONTRIBUTORS Alex Mason, Alexis Rabon, Amber Giancola, Ashton Matheny, Barb Beverage, Chip Harshaw, Hales Parcells, Jenny Hill, Julie Levans, Karen Burns, Lesile Clements, Lisa Grigolite, Mike Mizell, Sue Barco, Trish Carrier

We care about conservation VAQ is printed with soy-based inks on post-consumer recycled paper.

FREE WITH ADMISSION!

Easter Bunny Encounter April 13, 14, & 20 | 11am–1pm Meet Esther the Easter Bunny, snap a photo, and receive a rainforest-safe treat!

Please remember to recycle VAQ when you’re finished reading & sharing it.

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Discounts Cafe | 10% off Aquarium stores | 10% off Additional admission tickets | $18 & $12

VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY | SPRING 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Upcoming Events Join us this spring!

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5 All Abilities Welcome!

Tricks are for Kids

Learn about our sensoryfriendly events

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Enrichment Day Join us April 27

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Programs & Events Guide | You won't want to miss these!

Tracking Sea Turtles | What we've learned so far.

Kids Page | Springtime means babies! Learn about baby animals and their parents.

Meet Miss Jenny | Our younger guests love her!

You Make a Difference | We count on donations to fund our mission based programs!

On the cover Avi and his mother enjoy the Red Sea Tunnel.

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Upcoming Events Summer Camp Member Registration March 27 | 4:30pm – 6 pm

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Eleanor & Henry Watts Conservation Speaker Series

Training: Essential to Great Animal Care from Dogs & Cats to Seals & Elephants March 26 | Doors open at 5:30pm Giant Screen Theater | Free & open to the public Come explore the many ways that training can be used to improve the life of your pets, animals at the aquarium, or animals in the wild with renowned trainer Ken Ramirez. He is a biologist and animal behaviorist with 40+ years of experience with animal care and training. Ken will look at how training enhances the quality of life for our pets as well as animals in a zoo or aquarium. In fact, training can even be used to help animals in the wild and assist with conservation and protection of endangered species. Ramirez is currently the Executive Vice-President and Chief Training Officer of Karen Pryor Clicker Training and previously worked at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

Beer, wine & snacks are available for purchase during Happy Hour starting at 5:30pm.

Presentation starts at 6:30pm.

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VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY | SPRING 2019

Summer is just around the corner and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center has just the camp for the child in your life. Discover the wonders of science and nature through hands on activities, experiential learning, and outdoor adventures.

Camps range from ages 6-15. Members receive discounts on camp fees. Registration opens to nonmembers Monday, April 1. Please call 757-385-0278 for more information.

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April

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April

15

M ay

April

Sensible Seafood Fest

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presented by PNC Bank

April

29 Mermaid Mondays April 8, 15, 22, 29 | 6–8:30pm Members $22.95 | Non-members $32.95 No charge for children under 2

May 16 | 7–10pm $55 Early Bird Special | $65 After April 7 $75 Day of Event Did you know that Virginia is the third largest seafood-producing state in the country? Join us for this annual event celebrating the bounty of ocean-friendly seafood available in Hampton Roads! Sample sustainable dishes from Sensible Seafood partner restaurants and vote for your favorite! Enjoy local beer & wine and meet awardwinning chefs, all while supporting the Virginia Aquarium’s sustainability initiatives. This event is for guests aged 21 and above.

Ticket sales start March 18. Purchase tickets at VirginiaAquarium.com.

The mermaids return with even more friends for special encounters all over the Aquarium.

In addition, King Neptune will greet guests and activities will be spread throughout the building.

Guests will also be able to visit with a mermaid at the Ray Touch Pool, Norfolk Canyon Aquarium, and a mermaid at the Chesapeake Bay Aquarium.

This year’s event also includes story time with a mermaid, a mermaid puppet show, live musical performances, and other activities and photo opportunities. You will select a time to see the mermaid swimming in the Red Sea Aquarium to avoid overcrowding in the tunnel. Reservations are required for this exclusive event. Tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable.

Tickets on sale now at VirginiaAquarium.com.

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ALL ABILITIES

WELCOME! The Virginia Aquarium is taking steps to include everyone no matter their ability.

By Leslie Clements & Karen Burns

New Partnerships Nearly one in five people worldwide, twice the population of the United States, live with a disability. Visiting community venues like sports arenas, museums, and, yes, aquariums can often be difficult for these individuals.

The Virginia Aquarium has always welcomed guests of all abilities to enjoy our animals and exhibits, and this year new partnerships will open even more doors for Aquarium guests with special needs.

Some of the Aquarium’s accessibility features look familiar to our members and regular visitors, because the Aquarium meets all the requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) established in 1990. The ADA ensures that public facilities like the Aquarium meet standards that give staff and guests equal access to our exhibits, programs, and services. Other services enable guests who have different abilities to experience what the Aquarium has to offer during a daily visit or a special event.

Some of these include

Avi & Padmaja Avi and his mother, Padmaja, are members who reached out to us and offered feedback on their experiences. Their sugguestions have helped mold our Inclusion efforts.

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checking out available wheelchairs at no additional cost, requesting a sign language interpreter, and using assistive devices in our Giant Screen Theater.

Additionally, Aquarium staff recognized the importance of offering more resources to guests with sensory needs like PTSD, autism, dementia, and strokes, to name a few. Loud noises, bright lights, smells, and crowds can be overwhelming to these guests because of the way they process sensory input. Padmaja Akkina and members of the Autism Society, Tidewater Virginia provided valuable feedback after their visits to the Aquarium to help staff better understand the challenges for people who are sensitive to sensory input.

The Inclusion Support Services Team from the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department also offered feedback and training for staff who interact with guests who have different abilities.

Special Needs Under the Sea In October 2017, the Aquarium piloted the first Special Needs Under the Sea program. The Aquarium opened early on a Sunday morning and modified lighting and sounds while providing other accommodations to a limited number of members and non-members alike.

This ensured guests could visit the Aquarium in a calm and comfortable environment. Last year, Special Needs Under the Sea continued to offer a sensory-friendly experience during early morning openings and has expanded in 2019 to include early morning and late afternoon openings.

This year, the Aquarium is also taking steps to offer a sensory-friendly experience daily in partnership with KultureCity®. KultureCity® works to create acceptance and inclusion for all individuals with unique abilities by providing accessibility resources for individuals, families, and organizations. Through their Sensory Inclusive™ Certification program, the Aquarium has undergone a full sensory assessment and developed resources to help us welcome children and adults with special needs.

All staff who work with guests have also taken KultureCity’s® online training to create an accepting environment and inclusive atmosphere at the Aquarium. A new social story is available for guests to read before they arrive.

Sensory-friendly bags that contain headphones, a fidget toy, an emotion identification card, and a VIP lanyard will be available to check out from the Guest Services office on a first come,first served basis. Also, look for signs that identify noisy and quiet zones for those who wear headphones during your next visit.

Visit VirginiaAquarium.com for the Special Needs Under the Sea schedule and for details on the Aquarium’s accessibility features. Look for new resources from our partnership with KultureCity® coming soon!

Sea e h t r e d eds Un e N l a i c e Sp See all of our animals and exhibits in a calm, comfortable environment.

April 14 | 7:30-9am May 22 | 5-6:30pm July 14 | 7:30-9am

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VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY | SPRING 2019

Members are free!

Alex enjoying our submarine by the shark exhibit.

Explore El Salvador with the Virginia Aquarium August 18-24, 2019 Jiquilisco Bay is one of the most important nesting sites in the eastern Pacific for the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle. Guests will assist researchers in collecting data & restoring habitat to ensure the continued survival of these majestic creatures. At the same time, experience the best El Salvador has to offer, with trips to Joya de Cerén, a UNESCO World Heritage archeological site, accompanied by an expert archeologist and Volcanoes National Park to learn about El Salvador’s geology and volcanic history.

THE CHALLENGE:

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ENROLL: Contact Karen Burns at 757-385-0272 or email kpburns@VirginiaAquarium.com.

Pledge to skip the straws you don’t need.

Join us in taking the first step to pollution-free waters by skipping plastic straws at pledge.ourhands.org.

Once you take the pledge, encourage local businesses to join the First Step movement by leaving behind the insert included in this issue.

New Options for Family Memberships Now allowing second & third named adults to be unnamed guests.

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Family

Family + 1

1 named adult & 1 adult guest + up to 4 children in the same family under the age of 18

1 named adult & 1 guest + up to 4 children in the same family under the age of 18 + an additional adult guest

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Programs & Events Guide MARCH–MAY 2019 | DETACH AND KEEP FOR QUICK REFERENCE!

SPECIAL EVENTS Special events are free with admission, unless otherwise noted.

Member Summer Camp Registration MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE March 27 | 4:30–6:30pm Members are invited to register for summer camps before registration is open to the public. Camps are available to children ages 6–15. Registration opens to non-members April 11. For more information call 757-385-0278.

Registration fees apply.

Main Building

Mermaid Mondays April 8, 15, 22 & 29 | 6–8:30pm See a mermaid up close and in person!

Sightings are guaranteed. Reservations required. Call 757-385-3474 (option 3). $22.95 Members | $32.95 Non-members Main Building

Mermaid Balee’s Bubbly Boutique April 15 & 22, 2019 | 4:30-6pm Transform into a mermaid princess at our under the sea salon. Receive the full beauty treatment; hair makeup and nails. Participants will enjoy a special encounter with the mermaids in the Red Sea Aquarium! Reservations required.

Tickets available now online or by calling 757-385-3474 option 3. $100 Children | $22.95 Member Adult $32.95 Non-member Adult Main Building | Promenade Room

Animal Enrichment Day April 27 | All day event Discover how treats and training encourage our animals to create comfy homes, eat a nutritious diet, problem solve, and stay healthy. Watch training and enrichment sessions throughout the day.

Main Building

Easter Bunny Encounter April 13, 14, & 20 | 11am–1pm Meet Esther the Easter Bunny, snap a photo, and receive a rainforest-safe treat!

Main Building | Promenade

Special Needs Under the Sea April 14 | 7:30–9am May 22 | 5–6:30pm We are proud to welcome families with children or adults with special needs for a chance to see all of our animals and exhibits in a calm, comfortable environment.

Free for Members | $24.95 Non-member adults | $19.95 Non-member children Main Building

It takes a lot to keep our Aquarium running, and our Behind-the-Scenes experiences give you a chance to see all of it! Sponsored by The Oceanfront Inn.

Above & Beyond* Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays | 12:30pm Take a peek at the inner workings of a public aquarium and learn about how we care for our fish and other marine animals during this tour of selected Aquarium service areas in the main building. $15 Members | $20 Non-members Main Building

Sea Turtles* Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 1pm Go above the Chesapeake Light Tower Aquarium to observe aquarists conducting a feeding and behavioral training session with our sea turtles. $15 Members | $20 Non-members Main Building

*Reservations are required by noon. Program

Sensible Seafood Fest May 16 | 7–10pm Presented by PNC Bank, this event celebrates ocean-friendly seafood!

Sample a variety of mouth-watering dishes featuring sustainable seafood.

Age 21 & up. To purchase tickets visit VirginiaAquarium.com. $55 Early Bird Special | $65 After April 7 Main Building

World Oceans Day June 8 | 11am–3pm Celebrate our blue planet with live animal presentations and activity carts, and learn what we can do to help protect our oceans!

Main Building

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Behind-the-Scenes

VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY | SPRING 2019

lasts about 45 minutes. Participants must be at least 8 years old, 48" tall and able to climb stairs. Children under age 13 must be accompanied by a paying participating adult.

Earth Day is April 22 Every day is Earth Day at the Virginia Aquarium! Plan a trip to the Aquarium to see some of Earth’s most beautiful and important creatures up close, and know that your support helps us fulfill our mission.

Toddler Programs

S.T.E.A.M.

Boat Trips

These specially designed programs help encourage lifelong learning and are included with admission.

Geared for ages 3–7 and focused on integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Reservations required. Call (757) 385–0278 or email programs@VirginiaAquarium.com to register. $7 Members; $9 Non-members

Virginia Aquarium boat trips engage adults, families and student groups in coastal marine ecology by providing opportunities to observe dolphins, whales, and other marine life in their natural habitat. Sightings not guaranteed.

Visit VAQboats.com to purchase tickets.

Toddler Tuesdays Every Tuesday | 10am & 11am Bring your little ones for this ageappropriate program that includes story time, songs, and activities.

Main Building | Classroom

Toddler Trek Every Thursday | 10am & 11am Join us for an exploration session for early learners to discover a new animal, color, and shape through fun outdoor activities. Takes place inside during inclement weather.

Main Building | Changing Exhibit Hallway

Curious Scientist

Dolphin Discoveries

March 6 | 3:30–4:30pm Join us for hands on experiments while creating hypotheses and learning about the scientific method.

Main Building | Classroom

Windy Weather March 20 | 3:30–4:30pm Learn how wind is created while building a wind turbine.

Main Building | Classroom

Chasing Rainbows April 3 | 3:30–4:30pm Create a kaleidoscope and do experiments with light to find out how rainbows are formed.

Main Building | Classroom

Join us as we learn about the water cycle through hands on activities and exeperiments.

Main Building | Classroom

March 9 & March 10 | 2pm Catch eye-level observations of seals while learning about the species that frequent our waters, and the most recent research conducted by the Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Response Team. $26 Members | $29.95 Non-members Aquarium Boat Dock

Discover the magic of Owls Creek on a 60-minute nature exploration led by Tansy and Fern, our resident fairies!

Reservations required as space is limited for this enchanting excursion. $15 members, $17 non-members Aquarium Boat Dock

Ocean Collections April 20 & May 18 | 9am

Playtime with Miss Jenny

Wednesdays 10am–Noon Join Miss Jenny & Friends for playtime, activities and fun.

Main Building | Changing Exhibit

Seal Spotting

April 13 | 9am

April 17 | 3:30–4:30pm

March 19, April 16, May 21 | 10am & 11am On the third Tuesday of every month, our Toddler Tuesday features a live-action puppet show to accompany story time.

Main Building | Promenade

Take an unforgettable 90-minute excursion exploring for Virginia’s most common and charismatic marine mammal, bottlenose dolphins! $20 members, $22.95 non-members Aquarium Boat Dock

Sea Fairy Seafari

Let it Rain

Puppet Shows

March 16-October | Check website for dates, times, and special trips.

Invisible Forces May 1 | 3:30–4:30pm Learn how to do magic tricks using forces like magnetism, gravity and friction.

Main Building | Classroom

The Heart of the Matter May 22 | 3:30–4:30pm Build a heart model and learn why a giraffe’s heart is larger than our own.

Main Building | Classroom

This 75 minute cruise, led by Aquarium educators, allows participants to collect and observe a variety of local fish and invertebrates up close and personal. $20 members, $22.95 non-members Aquarium Boat Dock

Craft Brews Cruise

Sponsored by O'Connor Brewing Co. & Hoffman Beverage May 17 | 7pm Set sail with the Virginia Aquarium for the first in our 2019 series of Craft Brews Cruises. During this two hour trip, you will be treated to special offerings from our Sensible Seafood program partners, $33 members, $35 non-members Aquarium Boat Dock

Carefully detach and enjoy the fish poster on the other side once you've been to all our events!

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Where Do All Those Turtles Go?

By Sue Barco Since 2011, the Research & Conservation division of the Virginia Aquarium has been funded to study the movement of wild and rehabilitated loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley turtles using satellite telemetry. The project is coming to a close, and the last turtle in the project was released in the fall.

Satellite tags allow us to track turtles by using earth orbiting satellites which receive a signal from a tag when the turtle comes to the surface to breathe. For most of the tags, when at least three satellites receive a signal, the turtle’s location can be triangulated, and the higher the number of satellites, the more accurate the signal.

While individual tracks provided us with information on each particular turtle’s movements, now that we have a large telemetry data set, we are able to complete complicated analyses to gain population level information about habitat use, migratory routes and timing, as well as seasonal range in the mid-Atlantic region.

Locally, our research questions are centered on how loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley turtles use the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and when they arrive and leave the area. Answering these questions will provide valuable information to two of our funding partners, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Navy (U.S. Fleet Forces Command). NOAA is interested in how sea turtles use the waters of Chesapeake Bay in order to help designate critical habitat for sea turtle species and to determine the effect(s) of dredging and other marine construction on these protected species. The U.S. Navy is interested in understanding sea turtle movement and habitat use within its at-sea training and testing areas as well as around its installations in order to reduce potential impacts and develop effective mitigation measures.

We have also contributed our data to several larger projects where the goals are to answer questions about turtle presence in the western North Atlantic ocean. To date, there have been three scientific papers published that used Virginia Aquarium satellite telemetry data, and we expect several more to be submitted in the near future. The sea turtle telemetry data set we have collected will provide us with ways to continue to study local sea turtles for years to come and we are excited to be able to contribute to important conservation research.

"... Now that we have a large telemetry data set, we are able to complete complicated analyses to gain population level information..."

A Kemp's ridley sea turtle heads towards the ocean with a satellite tag on its carapace.

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KIDS PAGE

s l a m i n A Baby Family Activity

How do baby animals breathe inside of eggs?

All animals need oxygen to live including babies growing inside of an egg. The experiment below will show how oxygen moves into an eggshell.

What You’ll Need Chicken Egg

1 1/2 cup water

1/4 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

1/4 teaspoon blue food coloring

Bowl (large enough to submerge chicken egg)

2014

2 0 19

Cleetus is one of four black rat snakes that hatched at the Virginia Aquarium in 2014. She's now an animal ambassador and interacts with guests.

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Set-up: In the bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cup water, 1/4 teaspoon dishwashing soap, and 1/4 teaspoon food coloring. Place the egg in the bowl. Make sure the egg is completely submerged by the solution. Let the egg remain submerged for 24hrs. Remove the egg from the bowl.

Crack the eggshell open removing the contents of the egg and placing them in the trash. Rinse the eggshell gently with water. Examine the inside of the eggshell.

What Happened?

Eggshells have tiny pores, to allow small particles to move in and out of the eggshell. When the egg was submerged in the solution of water, soap, and food coloring, the solution was able to move in and out of the eggshell by diffusion. You can see that this happened by the blue dots left by the food coloring on the inside of the eggshell. The blue dots on the inside of the eggshell mark the pores where small particles like oxygen are able to move/diffuse, into the eggshell.

als with im n a lt u d a e th h tc Ma arrows. g in w ra d y b s ie b their ba

Monkey

Infant

Fish

Tadpole

Frog

Caterpillar

Owl

Fry

Butterfly

Calf

Hippo

Owlet

A baby fox is called a kit. In the past, they've been seen on the Nature Trail in the springtime.

R O F T S JU LAUGHS What do you call a baby bear with no teeth?

A gummy bear!

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ANIMAL FEATURE

Tricks are for Kids

By Chip Harshaw When you hear the words “animal training,” do you think of performing tricks, like a dog sitting or a parrot repeating human words? As a professional animal trainer I can tell you: “tricks are for kids.”

What I mean is that our old way of thinking about training is often incorrect. In fact, our primary reason for training is not for amusement, but instead to teach animals how to live in environments we provide for them. While a dog sitting when asked has its place in animal training, the important piece is the behavioral concept behind the behavior. What we aim to teach is cooperative training.

By applying behavioral principles into our daily work, our animals learn to trust and cooperate with us.

Russell, our American crow, voluntarily participates during a routine check-up.

This type of training teaches our seals, Komodo dragons, or even sea turtles how to cooperate with us during daily routines such as feeding, moving from one location to the next, or even medical procedures. Did you know that we can take a blood sample from our harbor seals without restraint? Try this with your dog or cat!

By applying behavioral principles into our daily work, our animals learn to trust and cooperate with us. Having a 200 pound Harbor seal sit still while we insert a needle into its flipper is the same as your doctor taking a blood sample from your arm.

Developing the level of trust to accomplish this without restraint can require months of training and reinforcement, but it helps to ensure the best possible care for our animals at the aquarium, and the same principles can be applied to your pets at home!

Our spotted eagle rays are used to human touch which enables us to perform checkups without adding stress to the animal.

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FEATURE

Animal Enrichment

Sand baths are popular among our smaller animals.

Tenrecs and bobwhites, both pictured, enjoy this type of environmental enrichment.

By Ashton Matheny Have you ever strolled through the Virginia Aquarium and noticed a colorful object floating in the seal exhibit, or snake skin hanging in the Komodo dragon habitat?

These are some examples of what we refer to as animal enrichment. Animal enrichment is a crucial part of caring for animals in a zoo or aquarium environment, as it encourages them to express natural behaviors.

There are 4 types of animal enrichment: • Animal Husbandry • Environmental Enrichment Devices • Food Enrichment • Sensory Enrichment Animal Husbandry: Allows animals to be trained to conduct natural behaviors that influence their care. For example, the Tomistomas are being trained to follow a target (long pole with colored tape on the end) in order to be moved on to a scale.

Animal husbandry enrichment

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Environmental Enrichment Devices: Any object (toy, food, etc.) that is used to change an animals’ habitat to stimulate the brain through physical, mental, and social interactions. For example, many of the birds and reptiles at the Virginia Aquarium investigate new colorful cardboard boxes that get placed in their habitats on special occasions.

Food Enrichment: Feeding animals in certain ways even counts as enrichment, as it encourages natural behaviors like hunting, foraging, and problem solving. For example, the aquarists will stuff KongÂŽ balls (dog toys) with giant pieces of lettuce and let the fish of the Red Sea exhibit munch on it similar to if they were eating sea grasses.

Environmental enrichment

Sensory Enrichment: Any new or different sights, smells, or sounds introduced to the animal. For example, many animal ambassadors that we use for special up close and personal programs live behind the scenes. When Aquarium staff bring them out to visit our guests, they are getting a change of scenery and they get to hear all sorts of different sounds that come from children.

Food enrichment Sensory enrichment: Cleetus, one of our black rat snakes, makes an appearance with one of our education staff. Guests have the opportunity to play a role in her enrichment for the day.

Animal Enrichment D Many of these enrichment activities will be highlighted on Animal Enrichment Day that will take place on April 27th all throughout the aquarium. There will be a variety of training sessions, feedings, interesting objects, and live animal programs taking place.

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April

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Miss Jenny

Early Learners Programs Coordinator

What do you do for the Aquarium?

I develop and run programs geared towards 0-5 year olds. Currently, the Aquarium offers story times, puppet shows, nature walks, and a S.T.E.A.M. program (see p. 13 for details.) The programs offer learning in an informal setting through structure and play with hands on activities and experiments about science and conservation.

What do you like best about your work and why?

I like interacting and engaging with children and their parents and/or caretakers. I like seeing children learn and grow and being proud of them. And, I like having an outlet to share what I’m passionate about: science, conservation, and education.

What part of your job do you strive to be better at?

Keeping up with and continuously adapting programs and their delivery to new literature on how children learn, trends in informal education, and how to incorporate conservation messaging. The changing structure of education with the development of and embracing of STEM programs is exciting. Children are exposed to and learning so much more at a quicker rate than when I attended school. I strive to keep up and keep moving forward.

What is your favorite experience while working at the Aquarium?

Miss Jenny interacting with our younger guests during an adventure through our Upland River Room.

Playtime with Miss Jenny

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to develop friendships with young families. Many children and their parents and/or caretakers return week after week to the programs until the child ages out of the program and goes to preschool or kindergarten. Recently, I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with volunteers who as children grew up in the Early Learners programs. It has been an unexpected gift to maintain friendships with families as their children continue to grow and learn.

Wednesdays 10am–Noon Join Miss Jenny & Friends for playtime, activities and fun.

Main Building | Changing Exhibit

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THANK YOU TO OUR PHILANTHROPISTS!

Contributions from October-December 2018 | To donate visit www.VirginiaAquarium.com/SaveTheOcean *Gifts of $100 or greater are listed.

To see a complete list of contributors, visit VirginiaAquarium.com

CONSERVATION SOCIETY MEMBERS Thomas Berger Richard & Lynn Epps Michael D. Minter Janis Prock DONORS Individuals Anonymous Beverly Baird Linda Barnes Bruce & Lilly Bradley Thomas C. Broyles Jill Campbell Barbara Ciara Michelle & Richard Collins Paula & John Demosthenes Jo H. Engels Lynn & Richard Epps George Faatz via Virginia Natural Gas Morris H. Fine Claire Floege Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Fort Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Fraim Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Fraim Sr. Thomas R. Frantz F. D. Fulton Mr. & Mrs. Craig Grube Dorcas Helfant-Browning Mr. & Mrs. Bert Henderson Katherine & Aaron Hines Simon Ho Clarence A. Holland Harold Horden Ann W. Host Charlotte M. Klamer Mollie & Kyle Korte Mr. & Mrs. Edward Kramer Troy Lindsey via Dominion Energy Kent Lion William M. Macali Cory Mayo Delceno Miles Wiley Mitchell via DonateWell Elly & Richard Mladick Suzanne C. Nowers Dr. & Mrs. Thomas O'Hara Mr. & Ms. Vincent R. Olivieri Denise Parker Gerald M. Post Mr. & Mrs. Charles Purrington Mr. & Mrs. C. Mac Rawls

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Michael Rice Rev. & Mrs. Robert J. Robertson, III Mr. & Ms. Tim B. Robertson Howard Rodman via The Benevity Community Impact Fund Mr. & Mrs. David Roland Mr. & Mrs. Dan Ryan Missy & Bert Schmidt Audrey & John Settle Kathy A. Shield Conrad Shumadine Susanna Skovgaard Judy Sparrow Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Steinberg Mr. & Mrs. William M. Swingle Marion & Robert Taylor Kathy & Ray Toll Cathie J. Vick Senator Frank W. Wagner Debbie & Scott Waitzer Keri & Mark Whitfield Corporations Checkered Flag Motor Co. STIHL Inc. The Williamsburg Winery Foundations The Brock Foundation via J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund The Camp Foundation Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation Matching Gift Carrie S. Camp Foundation, Inc. Checkered Flag Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation Douglas & Marianne Dickerson Foundation of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation R & C Dickerson Family Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation ExxonMobil Foundation Matching Gift Fain Family Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation Elsie N. (Sis) & Monroe Nash Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation Norfolk Southern Foundation Matching Gift via DonateWell ODU Institute for Learning in Retirement Youth Foundation Service Club of Virginia Beach

VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY | SPRING 2019

TRIBUTE GIFTS In Honor of Rendy Adams David Adams Rayan Arif Imran Arif Susan Barco Marian Childress Abigail Bowman Thomas M. Shackleford Michelle Collins Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation Laura deLalla Benjamin Chidester Dawn Flora David Hartzog Kylie Garcell Mary Vaughan Jowdie Glass Vinnie Abijaoudi Ella Howard Kathy Spradlin James & Soussan Dye Sara Howard Phil Spradlin Devon Kendall Karen Hines Hannah Kosky Susan Castillo Philippa Lipscomb Kevin Lipscomb Lisa Parks-Huber Steven Huber Catherine Roberts Richard Steinkamp Kate Rooney Donna Childers Vic & Laura Sonnino Susan & Daniel Beals Morgn Von Haden Angela Jones Hana Walker Pamela Jaeger Natasha Skillin Sally Walker & Roy Hoffert Birgit Paddon-Jones In Memory Of Jean V. Davies Sal Vitale Noel F. Dudley Lyle Dudley Rachael Feigenbaum Mr. & Mrs. Gerald C. Jaffe Bonita Krochmal Martha Pacilio Judith & John Sullivan Majorie E. Foreman

Christine Pollard Timothy Ewell Roberta Roe David W. Finlay Jacqueline Douglas Robert L. Foreman Christine Pollard Yolanda Gerard Robbie Dale Smith Ruth Hauck Janet Hauck Lyn Hurwitz Rosalyn DiLeonardo James Regal Nancy L. Kelly Arlayne Sanders Robert C. Nusbaum Rendy Adams Pamela Parker Allan Parker Morgan Brooke Rayman Tina Thompson Ed B. Snyder Rendy Adams ACCESS College Foundation Mrs. Jane P. Batten Nancy D. Brickell Brian & Natalie Broadbent Mrs. Joan Brock Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks Mr. & Mrs. Raymond C. Carlile CBRE | Hampton Roads Crowe, LLP Martha DeMarco Dr. Fredric Fink Angela Finley First Team Auto Group FM99 WNOR, 106.9 THE FOX Sharon Freeman Mrs. Barbara J. Fried Genesis Cabling Services, Inc Goldman & Associates Public Relations Mr. Robert C. Goodman Jr. Cathy Hodges Mrs. Amy Lauer Mr. Barclay Leib Gene & Angie Loving Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Lyons Jr. Mr. & Mrs John F. Malbon Susan Marley McKenzie Construction Corporation Maureen Olivieri Barry Ostrowsky Porsche Financial Services Mr. Douglas Sacks

SL Nusbaum Insurance Agency Terrie Snyder-McKelvey Katee Thurman Tidewater Jewish Foundation Turrell Fund Votenza Systems Richard D. Woodward Jr. NIGHT AT THE AQUARIUM Title Sponsor Capital Group Ray Touch Pool Sponsor Leslie & Lee Entsminger Exhibit Sponsors Checkered Flag Coca-Cola Hoffman Beverage Marsh & McLennan Companies Optima Health The Port of Virginia PRA Group Virginia Natural Gas Waypoint Advisors Orange Crush Sponsor Belle Isle Wine Sponsor Mermaid Winery Contributors 21St Street Seafood Raw Bar Atlantic Bay Mortgage Axis Global Enterprises BDO USA, LLP Beach Ford Moe & Sal DaBiero MASA Corporation Old Point National Bank Olympia Development Q.E.D. Systems, Inc. The Ruffin Family Foundation – Edmund, Alice & Dare Marie S.B. Ballard Construction Company STIHL, Inc. SunTrust Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects, Inc. Williams Mullen WTKR News 3 Live Auction Either Ore Jewelers Strawbridge Sodexo Southwest Airlines Additional Support Dragas Mortgage Company Satterwhite Equipment Virginia Beach Travel & Tourism Foundation

Now Play i n g On the largest screen in Virginia Virginia Aquarium's Giant Screen Theater

The Adventure Park is open! For information and tickets visit www.VBTrees.com.

SPRING 2019 | VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY

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717 GENERAL BOOTH BLVD VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23451 (757) 385-FISH VirginiaAquarium.com A PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA AQUARIUM & MARINE SCIENCE CENTER FOUNDATION

Postmaster: Please deliver by March 30, 2019

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums, and World Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

CRAFT

MAY 17 | 7-9pm | $33 | $35 MEMBERS

NON-MEMBERS

Come aboard the Atlantic Explorer for our 2019 Craft Brews Cruise series.

Boat leaves from the Aquarium boat dock.

Tickets are available at VirginiaAquarium.com.

Thank you to our sponsors, O'Connor Brewing Co. & Hoffman Beverage!

24 VIRGINIA AQUARIUM QUARTERLY | SPRING 2019