How About An Ocean Quest?
When I’m not busy writing, I am lucky to be a volunteer at the New York Aquarium. It’s a super cool job—I get to dive in all the exhibits, visit all of of my underwater friends, and learn about our marine world. But more about that some other time. Today, my question is: would you like to go on an ocean quest? Do you have what it takes to be a shark researcher? Do you think you can find animals hidden in our underwater coral city, Glover's Reef?
What's a quest? Well, quests are usually challenges. Sometimes in books, they are things that our heroes have to accomplish to get to a goal. Fortunately for you, today, we're not talking about quests that involve quicksand or tidal waves or ferocious, imaginary beasts.
To celebrate World Ocean Week, the New York Aquarium has some super fun activities planned. One of them is a quest! Instead, this quest has some challenges that help you to gather information, perform cool tasks, and triumph as you become an OCEAN EXPERT! When you get to the aquarium, you pick up your quest brochure. Then, as you visit the different exhibits at the aquarium, you complete a quest and get a special stamp! If you can accomplish all of the quests, that will be QUITE a day at the New York Aquarium AND you'll know a lot more about the ocean!
2017 Quest Booklet for World Oceans Day at the New York Aquarium
You can be a shark scientist for the day! What do you think you can learn by watching our sand tiger sharks, our sandbar sharks, and our nurse sharks? Do you think you could learn 3 differences between those sharks so you know which ones are which when they swim by to say hello in the exhibit?
I love to geek out learning new things—especially when I use my super powers of observation. How about you? Are you up for a little fun learning? If so, and if you’re in NYC this weekend, see if you and your parents can visit the aquarium for a fun time!
Bonus! The aquarium is also giving away these amazing maps of the New York Seascape for free! Produced by National Geographic and the Wildlife Conservation Society, the map shows the abundance of animal life right off of our New York City shores. I got a copy of the map today and I can't wait to hang it up in my office. I always say, it’s amazing to think about the fact that New York City dwellers are actually island people!
Make sure you head up to the boardwalk too! There are several cool new murals, winners of this year's conservation mural contest, underway. I got a sneak peek of them today. Here they are in process!