1 WINTER 2014 • TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM

AQUARIUM NEWS WINTER 2014

2 TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 2014

LETTER FROM OUR CEO

TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 2014

The Texas State Aquarium is

Proud Partners with:

2

Dear Friends,

As 2014 draws to a close, I wanted

to thank you again for your support and share with you a few highlights that your membership support helped make possible:

This spring we announced a transfor-•mational $1 million gift from Flint Hills Resources to create the new Flint Hills Resources Center for Excellence in Sci-ence, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education.

We also unveiled our new Nearshore •Experience, which portrays life at the shoreline, where sand dunes and man-groves meet shallow saltwater habitats. Many of the animals in the new Nearshore were brought to the Aquarium’s Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Program injured or ill, were rehabilitated and deemed not releasable, and now serve as ambassadors to their wild counterparts.

In May, the Aquarium earned the presti-•gious 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized inde-pendent evaluator of charities. Beautify Corpus Christi Association presented theAquariumwithitsfirstSustainabilityAward for our attention to detail in our landscape and maintenance, and we re-ceivedaTripAdvisorCertificateofExcel-lence award, given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.com.

On June 25, we publicly announced plans •for the largest expansion in the Aquari-um’s 24-year history. Bringing the sights, sounds, and vibrant wildlife of the West-ern Caribbean to the shores of Corpus Christi, the $50 million Caribbean Journey addition–whichcompletesthefinaltwophases of the Aquarium’s original master

plan – will transform our Aquarium from a leading regional aquarium to one of the top aquariums in the nation. The news of our impending expansion was met with great enthusiasm both locally and around the state. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times went as far as to say that our Caribbean Journey expansion “will make Corpus Christi bigger, richer and smarter.”

In August, • USA TODAY announced your aquarium had been voted one of the ten best aquariums in North America through the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Aquarium in North Americapoll.Thankstotheeffortsofoursupporterslikeyou,wefinishedwiththesecond highest vote total.

In October, we announced this year’s •list of Wildlife Care, Conservation and Research Fund grant recipients. This year, we awarded a total almost $80,000 to a number of worthy research projects.

Andfinally,onDecember10th,asourcam-paign total reached $27.5 million, we broke ground on the long awaited construction of the Caribbean Journey building.

In 2015, our plans include a complete renova-tion of our Shoreline Grill restaurant, upgrades toourDolphinBayprogram,andanewtemporary exhibit focused on sharks and the exciting work conducted by scientists at the Harte Research Institute. Stay tuned for more information, and thanks again for being a member of the Texas State Aquarium. Happy holidays!

Tom SchmidPresident and CEO

3 WINTER 2014 • TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM

AQUARIUM NEWS

It’s a dream almost 40 years old, and it’s finallycomingtrue!OnDecember10,theTexas State Aquarium broke ground on the largest expansion in its history – a new 65,000 square foot Caribbean Journey expe-rience that will bring the sights, sounds, and vibrant wildlife of the Western Caribbean to the shores of Corpus Christi.

“This is truly a historic milestone for the Aquarium,” said Aquarium President & CEO Tom Schmid. “Over 25 years ago, our founders had a vision to take our guests on a journey from the Gulf of Mexico into the Caribbean Sea. Today, we begin construc-tiononthefinalphaseoftheoriginalmasterplan, and once open in 2017, this expansion will complete that vision. We will have one of the nation’s great aquariums right here in Corpus Christi.”

With an estimated completion date of Spring 2017,theAquariumwillcompletethefinalexpansion of a visionary master plan that will include an exciting Caribbean Journey wing, featuring;Caribbeanfish,bird,andreptilespecies;a4DTheater;afurtherexpan-sion of

our conservation and wildlife rehabilitation programs; and more opportunities for our Flint Hills Resources Center for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education.

The new Caribbean Journey wing will be significantlylargerthantheoriginalGulfofMexico exhibit building. “The new wing will be 50 percent larger, however, in terms of indoor exhibit space. It will more than double what we currently have,” said Aquarium

President and CEO Tom Schmid. “This is going to be a multi-level, highly immersive, state-of-the-art experience.”

The Aquarium launched the leadership phase of Campaign Caribbean, a $50 million capital campaign to raise the required funds for the construction of the Caribbean Journey wing, in 2012. Since that time, a number of gener-ous donors have stepped forward to help

support the Aquarium’s goal and vision, and to date over $27 million has been

raised.

In June of this year, the Aquarium publicly announced its intention to build the Carib-bean Journey expansion at the same time it announced that longtime Aquarium and community supporter H-E-B generously do-nated $3 million to the Aquarium’s expansion efforts.RobHall,GroupVicePresidentofH-E-B Gulf Coast Region stated, “The Texas StateAquariumisoneofthemostsignificanteducational resources in our state. H-E-B is pleased to continue our partnership with the Aquarium because we believe this investment represents our passion for education and our commitment to the communities we serve.”

In March, the Aquarium had announced a $1 million gift from Flint Hills Resources Center to create and fund the Flint Hills Resources Center for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education at theTexasStateAquarium.Overthenextfiveyears, the Center will endeavor to provide leadership in the STEM education commu-nity,empowerstaffandareaeducatorswithbest and “next” practices, demonstrate ex-cellence in STEM and environmental educa-tion through an emphasis on science process skills, double Aquarium education program participation from 60,000 to 120,000 learn-ers per year, and produce measureable gains in environmental, marine, and general STEM literacy among all audiences.

In September, the Aquarium announced a $500,000giftfromValeroEnergydedicatedtowardtheCaribbeanJourneywing.Valero’sgift will sponsor the new entryway into the Caribbean Journey experience, introducing guests to the sights, sounds, and vibrant wildlife of the Western Caribbean.

“Formorethanthreedecades,Valerohasbeen committed to the Coastal Bend Region through the jobs we create and the contri-butions we invest in our community,” said

AQUARIUM NEWS

AQUARIUM BREAKS GROUND ON HISTORIC EXPANSION

“Over 25 years ago, our founders had a vision to take our guests on a journey from the Gulf of Mexico into the Caribbean Sea. Today, we begin construction on the final phase of the original master plan, and once open in 2017, this expansion will complete that vision. We will have one of the nations’ great aquariums right here in Corpus Christi.”

DennisPayne,VicePresidentandGeneralManager,ValeroCorpusChristiRefineries.“This gift for the Texas State Aquarium is another demonstration of our commitment to Corpus Christi, especially causes that focus on education and environmental sustainabil-ity.It’sValero’shopethatthisnewentrywaywill usher in a wave of excitement for tourists, residents, and businesses across the state.”

Another well known Corpus Christi community supporter, Whataburger, announced a $1 million contribution to the Aquarium’s Campaign Caribbean in October. The gift is earmarked for the namingofa4DTheaterintheCaribbeanJourneyexperience–thefirsttheaterofits kind south of San Antonio.

Aquarium President and CEO Tom Schmidsaid,“WhataburgerandtheDob-son family have been steadfast Aquarium supporters and partners for many years.

Thanks to their generous continuing support, we are going to be able to bring the Coastal Bendareaitsfirst4DTheater.4Dwillbringguests the richest theater experience pos-sible – the action spills out of the screen over the audience with thrill-enhancing sensory specialeffects—fromwatermistandsmokeclouds to tremors beneath the feet.”

The theater will be developed by SimEx-Iwerks, which specializes in designing, buildingandoperating4DExperiences®thatfeature blockbuster content licensed from theworld’smajorstudios.Their4Dtheaters,fittedwith3Dhighdefinitionprojectionwithin-seatandin-theatereffectstocreatefullyimmersive experiences, include a variety of specialeffects,includingbubbles,snow,

scent, FX lighting, water mist, seat vibrations, and wind.

As you can see, the Texas State Aquarium will be going through some major changes, beginning soon. We ask you to grow with us, as our master plan has always been and will always be how we can better serve our guests and our community. We’re certain that our expansion will help to set a precedent for excellence in aquariums, sustainability, and conservation, as well as education opportu-nities―bothintheclassroomandout―forminds of all ages to better understand and appreciate the wonderful species of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Give a Gift That Keeps on Giving!The Texas State Aquarium is making gift giving easy this holiday season.

Enjoy 10% off of gift memberships this December with promo code “Holiday.”*

Memberships are the per-fect gift for friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors. The recipients will be able to enjoy free admission to the Texas State Aquarium and free parking for 12 months, so they can come and enjoy the Aquarium as much as they please. They will also receive discounts at the Shoreline Grill, as wellas10%offinourgiftshop.

Members of the Texas State Aquarium receive half-price admission at over 150 other zoos and aquariums across the United States, and nine

of those institutions are here in Texas!

The purchase of a gift membership helps sup-port your favorite Aquarium in our mission to connect people with nature and promote the conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. For more information, please callourMembershipOfficeat (361) 881-1340 or visit our website at texasstateaquarium.org.

*Thisoffercannotbecombinedwith other discounts and is only valid on gift memberships.

TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 20144

YOUR AQUARIUM

AQUARIUM NEWS

A rendering of what the exterior of the Aquarium will look like after the Caribbean Journey expansion is completed.

5 WINTER 2014 • TEXAS STATE AQUARIUMCURRENT EVENTS

CURRENT EVENTS

Aquarium Named One of Top 10 in North America in USA Today Poll

One of the top honors the Aquarium received this year was being named one of the top ten aquariums in North America by the USA TODAY 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards. The TexasStateAquarium,whichfinishedwiththe second highest vote total, was one of 20 nominees selected to vie for the top 10 spots, and was the only nominee from Texas.

The USA TODAY editorial team utilized data provided by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a trade association which holds its members to the highest of industry standards, to choose the 20 nominees for BestAquariuminNorthAmerica.Datain-cluding annual visitor count, square footage, total aquarium gallons, membership num-bers,affordabilityofentrancefees,awardswon, and commitment to conservation effortswerethefactorsweighedtonominatecontenders for the competition. The voting period was July 23 through August 18.

According to Aquarium President and CEO Tom Schmid, “Being nominated by the USA TODAY’seditorialteambasedontheiranaly-sis of AZA data was a great compliment to our Aquarium and the work we do both at our facility and around the Coastal Bend. To now be honored as one of the 10 best aquari-ums in North America is both humbling and gratifying. This honor would not have come without the tremendous outpouring of sup-port from our fans all over and especially our local community. On behalf of the Aquarium, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who voted for us.”

Aquarium Receives 2014 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence

TripAdvisor awarded the Aquarium with its 2014CertificateofExcellenceAward,indicat-ing exceptional hospitality and consistent excellence. The accolade is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor,

and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Establishments awarded the CertificateofExcellencearelocatedalloverthe world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website.

“WinningtheTripAdvisorCertificateofExcel-lence is a true source of pride for the entire team at the Aquarium, and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor,” said Aquarium President and CEO Tom Schmid.

“There is no greater seal of approval than being rec-ognized by one’s customers. With the TripAdvisorCertifi-cate of Excellence based on customer

reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidencetoourbusinessandourcontin-ued commitment to excellence.”

National Weather Service Designates Aquarium as StormReady Supporter

The Aquarium recently received a big honor from the National Weather Service (NWS) by being deemed a “StormReady Supporter.”

StormReady is a nationwide community preparedness program, that helps communities and facilities develop plans to handle all types of severe weath-er—fromtornadoestotsunamis.StormReadySupporters can be local businesses, schools, hospitals, shopping centers, or stadiums that promote the principles and guidelines of the StormReady program in their severe weather safety and awareness plans. The program provides emergency managers and facility operators with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.

DuetotheAquarium’son-siteshelterlocations, preparedness activities, Severe Weather Warning Reception, communication system, and hazardous weather response plan, we were given the honor.

NWSofficialswereveryimpressedwiththeTexas State Aquarium’s hazard weather response plan. The Aquarium has installed multiple NOAA Weather Radio receivers throughout the facility, and has instituted a highly organized plan to notify and shelter employees and visitors in the event hazard-ous weather threatens their site.

Aquarium Named

One of Top 10 in North America in USA Today Poll

CURRENT EVENTS

WCCR SPOTLIGHT

CURRENT EVENTS

Aquarium Establishes Flint Hills Resources Center for Excellence in STEM Education

Flint Hills Resources donated $1 million ear-lier this year to help the Aquarium recognize its vision to reach more chil-

dren through and interest them in STEM (sci-ence, technology, engineering, mathematics) education. The Aquarium has established its Flint Hills Resources Center for Excel-lence in STEM Education, which will bring together best practices and innovation from thefieldsofeducation,researchandindustryto advance STEM education and learning, in and out of the classroom, in South Texas and beyond.

Aquarist Participates in SECORE Efforts in Mexico

In August, the Aquarium was invited to send an aquarist to participate in leading coral conserva-

tion organization SECORE’s (Sexual Coral Reproduction) “Project Mexico” in Punto Morelos, Mexico. The project is ongoing and is focused on coral reproduction and propagation, as well as the conservation of endangered habitat-building coral species, such as Elkhorn coral.

Aquarist Rafael Calderon was excited to be includedintheefforts,whichincludedcol-lecting, analyzing, and helping along the coral reproduction process. Calderon said he was proud to represent the Aquarium and eager to work with SECORE again.

“Elkhorn coral is an important species. Not only does it provide habitats for other corals andoceanlife,italsodiffuseswaveactionsduring storms,” Calderon stated. Calderon is the third aquarist from the Aquarium chosen to work with SECORE.

Aquarium Earns BCCA’s First Sustainability Award

Earlier this year, the Beautify Cor-pus Christi As-sociation (BCCA)

presented the Aquarium with its Sustainability Award for the facility’s attention to detail in its landscapeandmaintenance.Itwasthefirsttime the BCCA has given the Sustainability Award, and the Aquarium was thrilled to be itsfirstrecipient.

Founded in 1968, the Beautify Corpus Christi Association’s mission is to realize a clean, beautiful environment to enhance the quality of life for residents and the enjoyment of visi-tors in Corpus Christi.

AccordingtoBCCAExecutiveDirectorChel-sea Craig, “The Texas State Aquarium is a gem to this community for more reasons than I can count. One of particular interest to us istheAquariumstaff’sunwaveringdedica-tion to the Aquarium grounds. From the time the Aquarium is in view of its visitors, the enjoyment begins. The wonders inside only continue its charm. The Aquarium is beautiful inside and out, and BCCA wanted to take this opportunitytohonortheAquariumstafffortheir continued hard work.”

“Ourstaffhasworkedveryhardovertheyears to maintain attractive grounds while constantly striving to employ environmentally sustainable practices such as converting larger landscaping beds to xeriscape beds, using drought-tolerant plant species, and us-ing crushed granite material instead of plant-based mulch,” explained Aquarium President and CEO Tom Schmid. “We are thrilled to haveoureffortsrecognizedbytheBeautifyCorpus Christi Association.”

Aquarium Announces 2014 Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research Fund Recipients

In 2013, the Texas State Aquarium established the Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research Fund (WCCR) to further the Aquarium’s mis-sion of inspiring conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. Each year, the Aquarium will award funding to programs that focus on habitat resto-ration, wildlife management, conservation, and wildlife rehabilitation in the Gulf. Projects must focus on species in the Aquarium’s living collec-

tion or habitats that support those species. Aquarium President & CEO Tom Schmid says, “Weareveryexcitedtocontinuetoofferthisprogram and help further research and conser-vationprojectsofthatcanmakeadifferenceto the species and ecosystems of the Gulf ofMexico.Asanot-for-profitentity,weareacutely aware of how important grant funding is to projects, so we are thrilled to be able to offerthisopportunitytoothers.”

On October 21, the Texas State Aquarium was pleased to announce the following 2014 WCCR Fund recipients:

Sharks with Spectators II – Real-time, global tracking of Texas’ marine apex predators for science, education, and research

Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi – Harte Research Institute / Greg Stunz and Matt AjemianThis project is awarded $15,000 and will build upontheworkDr.Stunz’steamcompletedwith WCCR funds in 2013. Project scientists will tag and track large sharks. Information concerning the animals’ current location and past movements will be sent to the Coastal Bend and global community allowing for out-reach and education opportunities and better understanding of declining shark populations.

Citizen Science – Larval blue crab monitoring projectMission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve / Ed Buskey and Colleen McCueThis project is awarded $15,000 and will

6 TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 2014

WILDLIFE CARE, CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH FUND

WCCR SPOTLIGHT

WCCR SPOTLIGHT

SECOND CHANCES

continue the work of an existing collaboration of researchers and citizens with the goal of obtaining long term information about the re-cruitment of larval blue crabs to the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Re-serve.Theimportanceoffreshwaterinflowsand passes between the Gulf of Mexico and coastal estuaries in times of drought to blue crab larval recruitment will be investigated.

Identifying nesting habitat for Texas dia-mondback terrapins in the Nueces Estuary with implications for other Texas estuariesTexas A&M University – Corpus Christi – Cen-ter for Coastal Studies / Aaron BaxterThis project is awarded is $14,500 and will attempt to identify nest sites for Texas dia-mondback terrapins in the Nueces Estuary.

Texas diamondback terrapins are a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Texas and it is necessary to identify and preserve func-tional nesting habitat.

Texas Stream Team monofilament findersTexas State University – Meadows Center / Meredith MillerThis project is awarded $14,000 and will engage a well-established statewide citizen science network with partner organizations inmonofilamenteducation,collection,andrecycling.

Biomarkers to assess risks of infectious disease in coralsUniversity of Texas at Austin / Mikhail MatzThis project is awarded $11,900 and will de-

velop biological indicators that could be used to evaluate the risk of infectious outbreak at the Flower Garden Banks as well as other Caribbean reefs.

Validating Atlantic tarpon scale chemistry to track migration in Texas watersUniversity of Texas Marine Science Institute / Benjamin WaltherThis project is awarded $3,000 and will test the use of chemical compositions of Atlantic tarpon scales to reconstruct migration patterns.

BARN OWL REHABILITATED, RELEASED IN SABLATURA PARK

The crate door is opened and the snowy white barn owl darts out in a whoosh of

feathers.Hebanksright,flyingbetweentwolive oaks, turns left toward the horizon, and is gone. If you had asked Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Program Wildlife Care Special-ist Laura Martinelli about the same owl when hefirstcametotheSecondChancesWildlifeRehabilitation Hospital, she would have told youanentirelydifferentstory.

“He was extremely lethargic,” Martinelli said. “His overall attitude was poor, he had lacera-tions on his legs, no tail feathers – he was a mess.”

The adult owl came to Second Chances via Alice, Texas, where a good Samaritan found him in a recumbent state and took the injured bird to the Second Chances Hospital. Upon

furtherinspection,staffsawthattheowlwas dehydrated and also had poor, shallow breathing.

MartinelliandotherSecondChancesstaffkept a close eye on the owl, monitoring his vital signs and his attitude. They tracked his weight gain, hydration status, his diet, and closely examined the growth of his tail feath-ers. Senior Wildlife Care Specialist Kelley Shutt said that the substantial growth of his tail feathers and his substantially im-provedflyingandhuntingcapabilitiesledtheSecondChancesstafftodeterminehewasready to be released.

“Ifabirdcan’tfly,there’snowaywecanrelease it back into the wild,” Martinelli as-serted. “We were all really happy when we noted positive indications – his tail feathers were beginning to grow in.”

Shutt added that birds largely use tail feath-erstosteerwhentheyfly.WhenMartinellisawtheowlliterallyflyoffinto the sunset at Sablatura Park near Robb-stown on November 13, she said releases are her favorite part of her job. “It’s such a greatfeeling.Youseethemhurtanddown

when they come in, and it can be really hard sometimes. But seeing them return to freedom, to their natu-ral habitats, it makes everything worth it,” explained Martinelli.

The program’s name truly says it all. “I mean, I love what we do here,” said Shutt, “We take in injured animals, heal and release them back into the wild, and give them a second chance at having a healthy life.”

So far in 2014, Second Chances as rehabili-tated and released 215 animals back into the wild.

7 WINTER 2014 • TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM

“I love what we do here,” said Shutt, “We take in injured animals, heal and release them back into the wild, and give them a second chance at having a healthy life.”

CALENDAR

Dec. 15 – March 2015: Food Court Renovation In order to bring you and your family the best dining experience possible, our Shoreline Grill restaurant will closeforrenovationsonMonday,December15andisexpectedto reopen inearlyMarch2015.Duringthisperiod, the Burger Barn window - location between Shoreline Grill and the Dolphin Bay UnderwaterViewingRoomon thegroundfloor -willbeopen toserve guests. We will also be serving food out of our mobile cooking unit, which will be stationed at the KochPavillion,locatedbehindDolphinBayandtotheright of the Aquarium main building.

Dec. 13-24: Scuba Santa; Scuba Santa will visit our daily “Diver in the Water”presentations at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Flower Gardens exhibit. After Santa hands out goodies to the fish and other Flower Gardens residents, he willbe available to take photos with guests who want to appear as if they are underwater with Scuba Santa!

15

13-24 Hours of OperationSummer Hours: Winter Hours:9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Monday – Sunday Monday – Sunday(beginsMarch1) (beginsLaborDay)

Our MissionConnecting people with nature and inspiring conservation of the Gulf of Mexico.

Our VisionTo be a nationally-recognized Aquarium leader in creating entertaining, educationally-enriching programming; con-ducting wildlife rehabilitation; and supporting conservation.

How To Contact Us:Accounting (361) 881-1286Admissions (361) 881-1230Donations&Development(361)881-1324Education & SeaCamp (361) 881-1204ExecutiveOffices(361)881-1200Event Rentals (361) 881-1244Food Court (361) 881-1239General Information (361) 881-1200Gift Shop (361) 881-1232Group Reservations (361) 881-1307GuideOffice(361)881-1250Injured Animal (361) 881-1210Membership (361) 881-1340Volunteers(361)881-1381

The Texas State Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA is America’s leading

accrediting organization for zoos and aquariums, and ac-credits only those institutions that have achieved rigorous, professional standards for animal care and management, veterinary care, wildlife conservation and research, educa-tion,safety,staffing,andmore.LookfortheAZAlogowhenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 ac-credited members, AZA is building North America’s largest wildlife conservation movement and is your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit www.aza.org.

The Texas State Aquarium was designated as a Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center in 1998. Coastal America combines the resources of federal agen-cies with marine educational centers. The mutual partnership extends to involving

communities in protection, preservation, and restoration projects throughout the Nation.

SeaCamp Registration Open for MembersSeaCamp is a memorable and educational way for your child to spend the summer! Members are invited to register early here beginning on February 1st:http://texasstateaquarium.org/programs-camps/summer-seacamp/

Science Teacher Workshop: Integrating Real World Applications Series: From the Field to the Classroom Grades 6-12TheAquariumwillbehostingaworkshopspecificallyfor science teachers about how to translate real world knowledge and practices to the classroom. For more information or to register, visit: http://texasstateaquarium.org/programs-camps/teacher-resources/

4th Annual Valentine’s Day DinnerBring your honey and have the most romantic date night in town! For more information or to register, please call (361) 881-1244 or email reserve@txstateaq.org.

Homeschool Program: Ocean ExplorationHow do you explore something so vast and huge? Come learn how we delve into the depths of the ocean at our Homeschool Program. The morning program is from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and the afternoon program is 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Kindergarten through 2nd grade is $8, 3rd – 5th grade is $8, and 6th – 8th grade is $10. Call or email Randy Slayton at 361-881-123 or rslayton@txstateaq.org to register or for more information.

Homeschool Program: InvertebratesFrom insects to crustaceans, corals to sponges, learn all about invertebrate creatures and what kinds we have here at the Aquarium. The morning program is from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and the afternoon program is 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Kindergarten through 2nd grade is $8, 3rd – 5th grade is $8, and 6th – 8th grade is $10. Call or email Randy Slayton at 361-881-123 or rslayton@txstateaq.org to register or for more information.

Sensational Sustainable SeafoodIt’s back! We’ll be hosting another Sensational Sustainable Seafood event at the Aquarium from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. It’s sure to be an educational and delectableeveningasweexaminefarmraisedfish.!

H-E-B Splash Park OpensThe H-E-B Splash Park opens for the season and will beopenweekends only untilMemorialDayweekendwith the exception of Spring Break (March 14-22), during which the Splash Park will be open daily.

1

3

14

2118

27

1

DECEMBER/14 FEBRUARY/15

JANUARY/15

MARCH/15

CALENDARTEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 20148