Families play and learn for World Oceans Day

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium hosted World Oceans Day Family Festival June 2.

  • By Kayleigh Omang
  • | 12:43 p.m. June 2, 2018
  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Children and their families visited Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium June 2 in honor of World Oceans Day. 

Through plenty of interactive fun, attendees learned about the ocean and the effects humans have on the oceanic environment. Kids were able to pet the stingrays and starfish, look through microscopes and talk to Mote volunteers and interns about oceans and the animals that inhabit them. 

There was also photo opportunities with Gilly the shark, a scuba diver, face painting and live entertainment. 

Henrik Bonasera gets his face painted.
Henrik Bonasera gets his face painted.
Luke Cordes reaches out into the pool.
Luke Cordes reaches out into the pool.
Guests viewed the sharks and other fish from above.
Guests viewed the sharks and other fish from above.
A scuba diver swam in a tank for photo opportunities.
A scuba diver swam in a tank for photo opportunities.
Linh, Eloise, Alex and Gwenyth Chau
Linh, Eloise, Alex and Gwenyth Chau
The Garbage Men entertained guests with live music.
The Garbage Men entertained guests with live music.
Jacob Hockett tries out the virtual reality glasses.
Jacob Hockett tries out the virtual reality glasses.
Mark and Andrew Naughton rinse their shark teeth.
Mark and Andrew Naughton rinse their shark teeth.
A stingray swims around the pool.
A stingray swims around the pool.
Mike Schuster reaches out to touch a stingray.
Mike Schuster reaches out to touch a stingray.
Gabby Stokes smiles for a photo in the hurricane simulator.
Gabby Stokes smiles for a photo in the hurricane simulator.
Zachary Reiner, Avery Holoubeck and Alissa Holoubeck pet the sea urchins, star fish and other creatures in the pool.
Zachary Reiner, Avery Holoubeck and Alissa Holoubeck pet the sea urchins, star fish and other creatures in the pool.
Charlie Fromer and Mason Grim press their faces against the glass to look at the fish.
Charlie Fromer and Mason Grim press their faces against the glass to look at the fish.
Gilly the shark walked around for photo opportunities with the guests.
Gilly the shark walked around for photo opportunities with the guests.
Topher Bauer successfully matched up the sharks body parts.
Topher Bauer successfully matched up the sharks body parts.
Dylan Sato pours cherry syrup on his Kona ice.
Dylan Sato pours cherry syrup on his Kona ice.

 

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