SPRING BREAK FUN FOR GILLS AND BUOYS (OF ALL AGES) AT VANCOUVER AQUARIUM

Spring is just around the corner and – to many school children’s delight – so is Spring Break! From March 17 to April 2, Vancouver Aquarium®, an Ocean Wise® initiative, is extending hours and offering additional programs that will keep the young and the young-at-heart engaged and having fun all break long. From rolling up sleeves in the Discover Rays Gallery one last time, to watching an exhilarating new shark-themed 4-D movie, to participating in an egg-citing Easter Scavenger Hunt, there is so much to see and do.

Only until April 2, visitors can enjoy a hands-on experience with cownose and southern stingrays at the Discover Rays touch pool. Visitors get up-close and personal with the gentle and curious rays, watching them glide beneath the water’s surface, touching their slimy skin as well as learning about these often misunderstood animals and how their kind are threatened by overfishing and other human activities. Dive deeper and book aStingray Encounter to go behind the scenes, meet an Aquarium biologist, and participate in an exclusive stingray feeding session.

Starting on March 10, visitors can come face to face with some of the world’s most intriguing shark species from the safety of the Goldcorp 4-D Theatre. Shark: A 4-D Experience introduces viewers to sharks of unique shapes and sizes and explores their extraordinary adaptations that make them the ultimate ocean predators and guardians. Stunning visuals, splashes of water, bubbles, and a frisky soundtrack combine interactive 4-D effects that bring this ocean exploration to life.

Back by popular demand, guests can take a crack at the second annual Easter Scavenger Hunt from March 31 to April 2. Many creatures at Vancouver Aquarium hatch their young in fascinating ways from sitting on eggs to scattering them about to laying them in ‘purses’. Through this self-guided hunt, visitors will journey through the Aquarium to learn eggs-traordinary animal stories then use this knowledge to solve clues and uncover a secret word on the scavenger hunt form. Visitors return their completed form to receive a chocolate treat and enter to win prizes.

Not-to-be-missed, the Meet a Penguin, Meet a Snake, and Meet a Tortoise programs always amaze. Get up close with a Red-footed tortoise or a Ball python or watch an enrichment session with an African penguin daily in the Teck Engagement Gallery.

For a more immersive experience, Spring Break AquaCamps are great way for children (ages four to twelve) to have fun while learning about the oceans. AquaCamps are a mix of activities, including getting hands-on experience with sea creatures, arts and crafts time, and visiting the Aquarium’s galleries. AquaCamps run all day during both weeks of Spring Break.

Vancouver Aquarium is extending its hours and will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March 17 to April 2 for even more Spring Break and Easter fun! For daily program times, visit www.vanaqua.org/experience/today. The Discover Rays Gallery, 4-D Theatre, and Easter Scavenger Hunt are included with admission or membership, both of which can be purchased onsite or online. Animal Encounters can be purchased for an additional cost. Advance booking onsite or online is recommended as these encounters are limited and sell out quickly.

Vancouver Aquarium
Vancouver Aquarium, an Ocean Wise initiative, is one of the world’s leading accredited aquariums, dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life.www.vanaqua.org

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