Spend summer on the water with the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. The Aquarium offers a canoeing program that takes participants on a three-hour exploration of the Zeke’s Island Estuarine Research Reserve, considered to be one of the most unusual areas of the North Carolina coasts. The trip includes an almost one mile paddle across the basin to Zeke’s Island. Common animals seen while touring the salt marsh include pelicans, seagulls, egrets, herons, ibis, sea turtles, and dolphins.

After arriving on the island, participants search for blue crabs, small fish, and invertebrates using crab rigs and dip nets, and also learn how to use cast and seine nets to catch fish. Throughout the journey, information on the history and maritime culture of this breathtaking area is described by the instructors.

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June is National Zoo and Aquarium month. Come celebrate at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher! This month long recognition focuses on helping people learn how to preserve America’s wildlife. Summer is an excellent time to visit your local zoo or aquarium, as well as their websites and blogs.

What’s new at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher? Luna, a rare albino alligator has a new home at the Aquarium. She is growing daily, and loves her new found fame. Also new on display are Amazon milk frogs, which are a large species of arboreal frog that was originally discovered in Brazil, and is mainly found in South America. Check them out in the exotic Dart Frog exhibit.

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Think your teens are too old for summer camp? Think again! The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s Coastal Crusaders summer camp on June 29-July 3, is designed especially for young adults, ages 13-14. Additional dates for Coastal Crusaders are also available.

Throughout the week, teen campers hit the beach, go crabbing in the salt marsh, tour behind the scenes of the Aquarium, canoe at Holly Shelter, conduct underwater archaeology at Fort Fisher Historical Site, visit the Sea Turtle Hospital in Topsail Beach, and try out surfing.

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The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher has become an organizational member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), allowing the Aquarium, with proper training, to assist, collaborate or participate on other local research entities such as UNC Wilmington’s underwater archeology department, National Undersea Research Center (NURC), and the other state Aquariums. In turn, the scientific diving community will gain statistical data about the dives being conducted that will help further develop safe diving procedures.

AAUS members commit to meeting AAUS’ stringent requirements and adhere to a set of recognized standards of practice within the scientific diving community.

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The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher spreads the love and relaxation of living in a coastal environment with its new Spadefish gallery art exhibit. The Sun & Sea Celebration art exhibit will be on display during June, July, and August. The exhibit will showcase paintings that are inspired by the joy and overwhelming love for the coast. The works of art were created by award winning artist, Barbara Bayer.

After discovering the immense energy and creative enthusiasm that Barbara Bayer received from the coastal environment, she decided to relocate to areas where the shoreline was near. Her works are all created by watercolor, with a vibrant and lighthearted feel. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout North Carolina and Florida, and her work, “Park N Lights” was selected for the Pleasure Island’s Annual Island of Lights ‘06 Christmas card. Barbara currently resides in Carolina Beach where she was recently one of the major art contributors for the Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project.

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More than 1000 toads have been raised and released back into their normal habitat thanks to New Hanover County students and N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher staff.

For the second year, the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher offered “Amphibians in the Classroom” to foster a sense of environmental stewardship among students, while creating a better understanding of amphibians and the environment we share.

Four area New Hanover County schools quickly had tadpoles, then toadlets, and soon had tiny Southern toads. Students from Carolina Beach Elementary, Freeman Elementary, Mary C. Williams Elementary, and St. Mary’s Parish released the toads they raised at the NC Fish Hatchery, in Watha in late May.

After much anticipation and hard work, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is opening its new albino alligator exhibit on Friday, May 29. Visitors to the Aquarium got a sneak peek at her in March during “Scales and Tails” when the Aquarium launched a naming contest. Community interest piqued and over 1500 submissions were received onsite and online, some from as far away as Germany and Scotland. County schools were invited to submit their entries as well. From Lilly to Allie and Pearl to Opal, Aquarium staff voted on their favorite name and Luna won!

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Want to spend a day at the beach surf fishing? As summer approaches, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher prepares to begin their popular surf fishing workshops. This three-hour workshop includes one hour of classroom discussion, then fishing on the beach nearby. In the classroom, participants learn about common fishing equipment, baits, and fish identification. Then the fishing begins. Participants practice the catch and release method as they search the waters for fish and then learn how to use a cast net to catch their own bait fish.

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