Brandon Moore gets excited about every trip he makes to the Tennessee Aquarium. “I would go every day if I could,” the 11-year-old declared. When asked what he would like to do if he worked at the Aquarium, Brandon says he’d enjoy working with butterflies or sharks. “I would like to be one of the divers because they get to go underwater. They have the best view of all the sea creatures.”
Amelia Hunt also loves spending time with animals.
If the seven-year-old could work at the Aquarium now, she would, “Be a herpetologist and work with the reptiles.” Amelia has had wonderful experiences in Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari touching geckos and a hedgehog. Like Brandon, she also ranks butterflies among her favorite Aquarium animals. Both are looking forward to venturing behind the scenes as Keeper Kids during spring break.
From March 15 through April 15, the Tennessee Aquarium will offer kids, ages six and up, special activities designed to give children like Amelia and Brandon more of what they crave – up close encounters with cool creatures. Young visitors can sign up for two of the 17 different adventures upon arrival. These are offered FREE with Aquarium admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Whether it’s feeding feisty otters, trout or turtles, kids love meeting Aquarium experts and touring areas that are normally off-limits to guests.
Like other nature-loving kids, Brandon and Amelia have so much fun learning about animals they’re fired up about sharing their knowledge with others. “I learned that the gecko doesn’t blink his eyes, he licks them instead,” said Brandon. “And, I learned that the Atlas Moth is the biggest moth in the world.”
Besides being fun, spending time at the Aquarium during spring break helps open young eyes to the world around them. Amelia agrees that Keeper Kids programs are fun and educational. “Most kids don’t know about this kind of stuff, so they could really learn a lot.”
To see the complete list of Keeper Kids activities, go to: http://www.tnaqua.org/SpringBreak.
Families may also choose to explore nature aboard the River Gorge Explorer. The Williams Island Family Adventure Cruises give everyone a chance to view a heron rookery and osprey nest during a special 90-minute excursion for kids. Naturalists lead an on-board scavenger hunt in addition to their duties pointing out wildlife and historic points of interest. “A pair of bald eagles is frequently seen near Williams Island,” said Aquarium naturalist John Dever. “Our younger passengers always have fun identifying and calling out great blue herons and kingfishers. It’s fun to see them getting excited about wildlife.” The Williams Island Family Adventure cruises depart from the Chattanooga Pier daily at 12:30 pm from March 23rd through April 14th. Special Spring Break pricing will be offered for these cruises: $20 / per person (age 3 and up), $18 / per person under age 3. To make a reservation, go to: http://www.tnaqua.org/RiverGorgeExplorer.
Two of the highest-rated films ever shown at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater are now showing. According to audience satisfaction surveys, no other 45-minute movie has been as popular as Born to be Wild 3D and Flight of the Butterflies 3D. Both films combine stunning cinematography to draw viewers into compelling stories.
Audiences also love the way filmmakers employed new 3D technology to capture close-up shots of colorful sea creatures in The Last Reef 3D, the third film on the Spring Break film schedule.
For showtimes or to purchase tickets online, go to: http://www.tnaqua.org/IMAX.
Learn about additional Chattanooga Spring Break Safari adventures at: http://springbreaksafari.com.