This week we welcomed the third week of Young Explorers to the aquarium for learning and fun. Check out the photos below to see what we were up to this week.
Learning about external fish anatomy by playing Create-a-Fish.
Each Young Explorer had to give their fish a name, and let us know where it lives and what it eats.
Exploring the intertidal zone at low tide.
The Young Explorers found lots of tiny crabs!
We discussed how to tell if a crab is a female (wide, curved tail) or male (skinny tail with straight sides).
Can you colour the flounder to be camouflaged to the seabed?
Herring dissection!
We uncovered the heart, gas bladder, liver, stomach, gills, and eyes.
Bay of Fundy Fish Bingo!
A scavenger hunt around the aquarium.
Building a deep-sea lander.
Testing out the prototype.
To our surprise, we found a Jonah crab. This species is not usually found on the beach so we promptly got it back in deeper water.
Tuesday Conner from Sunbury Shores helped us out. (Conner is part of the SCAMPS program this summer with Sunbury Shores, Kingsbrae Garden, and the Huntsman. Registration is available online.)
One of the Young Explorers found a rock gunnel fish and was excited to show the others.
Another cool beach find was longfin squid eggs.
We brought the squid eggs back to the lab to have a look at them under the microscope. We will keep them in the lab and check on the development.
This video, from a few years ago, is a newly hatched squid.
We talked about bioluminescence in the deep sea...
and made some glow in the dark art!
We also played the lanternfish game. Can you find your match?
Watch out for the splash during the salmon feeding!
We learned about baleen.
Humpback's have unique patterns on the underside of their fluke. Can you match all of the humpback flukes?
The Young Explorers did a heat exchange experiment to learn about whales, blubber, and surface area.
One Young Explorer found a live dogwinkle on the beach!
Humpback whale food chain.
Studying sound vibrations and echolocation in toothed whales.
Watching the lumpfish feeding.
The Young Explorers are doing an invertebrate and vertebrate scavenger hunt around the aquarium.
Echinoderm day! (echinoderm = spiny skinned)
We explored some of the echinoderms that occur in the bay including, sand dollars, blood stars, common sea stars, brittle stars, spiny sunstars, and urchins.
Everyone thought the brittle star was pretty cool!
Observing sea stars and urchins using a microscope.
Watching the seal feeding.
What shell is your favourite?
Learning about molluscs by drawing and describing shells.
How many pennies can your aluminum foil boat hold? The highest today was 73!
On the search for animals living in the intertidal zone.
One of the Young Explorers found a crab that had recently moulted. It was very soft!
If you are curious about upcoming Young Explorer days, please visit our website (click Book Now).
This summer we launched Huntsman Marine Experiences. Explore the local marine environment solo or with your family and friends on these exciting programs. Register online (click Book Now).
Also, new this summer is the Experience St. Andrews Pass - three awesome attractions, unlimited entry over three days, one great price! Register online (click Book Now).
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