Celebrate each other this Valentine’s Day at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. “That’s A Moray!” is an exclusive evening for just 26 couples, featuring a four-course dinner, a souvenir photo and dancing while surrounded by the magic of the ocean. Private tables for two will be placed in front of captivating exhibits such as Cape Fear Shoals, Sharktooth Ledge, Hawaiian Fishes, and Moon Jellies.
Couples may reserve the table/exhibit of their choice on a first-come, first-serve basis. For the private or engagement minded couple, one exclusive table boasts its own dining room and personal view of the Cape Fear Shoals Exhibit in the “A Moray” Eel Cave with elegant décor.
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2009 Volunteer of the Year Jo Wainwright
In 2009, 362 volunteers donated their time, talents and energy to the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, contributing over 26,000 hours. On January 28th, the Aquarium honored its outstanding volunteers at the annual Volunteer Appreciation and Awards dinner. Volunteers who donate their time in a variety of departments were honored and Jo Wainwright, of Wilmington, NC was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award.
This retiree regularly volunteers on Mondays where she is most often found at the Touch Tank. She assists with special events such as Aquababies, Scales and Tails and Trick or Treat Under the Sea, where she dresses up as “Rose Greenhowe” for story time. From June to August, she teaches six weeks of summer camp. Whether keeping a watchful eye on kids during camp, sewing a costume for a puppet show or narrating the Aquarium’s dive program, Wainwright is great with visitors, not only making their visit educational, but more enjoyable.
Suzanne Holtzclaw, volunteer coordinator says of Wainwright, “She is invaluable to the Aquarium. She builds lasting relationships with the visitors, staff and fellow volunteers, all with a smile.”
Do you like being up and close to rarely seen animals? The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will host their annual Scales and Tails event on March 6-7. The event is a two-day celebration of our amphibian and reptile friends. Visitors will have an opportunity to see, touch and learn about our cold-blooded neighbors.
Aquarium staff and invited experts will introduce the public to dozens of live amphibians and reptiles, including alligators, snakes, iguanas, lizards, turtles and MORE! There will be exhibitors and Aquarium staff personal collections of rare and interesting animals that aren’t normally on display.
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That old rod and reel in your attic or garage may be worth more than you think. It could put a big smile on a needy youngster’s face. Rick Wilkinson, a surf-fishing instructor at the aquarium, spends his spare time rebuilding donated fishing gear as a volunteer. He then hands over the good-as-new rigs to area youth and adult groups.
The refurbished equipment goes to groups like Big Buddy, Community Boys and Girls Club, the Brigade Boys and Girls Club, and St. Mary’s Social Ministry. “I really like bringing old fishing gear back to life,” Rick says. “And if a fishing rod I reworked can make someone’s life a little happier, then that’s just great.”
Get ready to run, walk or shuffle…the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is hosting the second annual 5K Race for the Planet on Sunday, April 25, 2010. Race time is 8:00 am with packet pick up and on-site registration beginning at 7:00 am.
Scenic Fort Fisher will be your route as this race starts and ends at the aquarium. This flat, mostly asphalt course is scenic with views of the ocean, maritime forest, and historic Fort Fisher Civil War site. Tag timing provided by Brunswick Timing Services.
The first 200 pre-registered runners are guaranteed an organic cotton t-shirt. Afterwards, enjoy live music by The Casserole, refreshments, and vendors booths. Prizes will be awarded to top 3 male and female overall finishers, top 3 finishers in the masters categories and top 3 in each age group.
Download the registration form here. Race fees are $20 before April 16; $25 after April 16 and 10% OFF for NC Aquarium Society members. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 910-458-8257 ext. 211 for more information or email amy.kilgore@ncaquariums.com. Proceeds benefit Aquarium educational programs.
Renee Weeks (l) and Julie Johnson (r)
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher honored its employees this month by awarding its annual Sea Star and FISH PhilosophyTM awards. These awards honor a permanent, temporary or seasonal state or society employee that has gone above and beyond their usual job responsibilities to make the Aquarium a better place to work and visit.
Julie Johnson, an Aquarist Technician in the Husbandry department won the Sea Star award and Special Activities Coordinator Renee Weeks was awarded the FISH PhilosophyTM award. Employees are nominated by their peers and are awarded $250 from the N.C. Aquarium Society, a recognition plaque, dinner for two at Sticky Fingers, and recognition in Aquarium News magazine.
FISH PhilosophyTM award nominees included: Matt Babineau, Martha Latta, Ginger Black, Tom Coit, Chad Goodson, Bob Griffin, and Doug Noonan. Sea Star award nominees included: Matt Babineau, Terry Bryant, Dennis Doremus, Hap Fatzinger, Doug Noonan, Nancy Peterson, and Tiffany Walker.
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Diane L. Perry, Seamaid 2
Diane L. Perry’s exhibit in the Spadefish Gallery at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher evokes a passion for wetland wildlife and a deep love for art. On display December through February, Perry’s art is a collaboration of acrylic and pastel paintings and woodblock printings.
Perry became fascinated with wetland wildlife as a child living in Maryland, where her playgrounds consisted of the Severn River and the Eastern shore. After earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education and Art from the University of Maryland, Perry moved to Europe where she lived for over ten years. She now resides in North Carolina where she continues to create nature inspired art. Her art can be found in several private and public collections throughout the world, including the United States, France, Germany and England.
Perry’s specialty is woodblock printing. Each masterpiece is a result of pressure applied to a hand carved block that has been coated with a water soluble ink. Several blocks and pressings are used to create multicolored prints. This unique style of art allows each print to be different in color, texture, and design.
Perry says, “Woodblock printing is my current passion. I was introduced to woodblock prints at an exhibition of artwork by master printer Hiroshige. Captivated by the versatility of traditional Japanese techniques, I have studied and practiced the ukiyo-e method or style, most recently at Printmakers in Edinburgh, Scotland. I find that the very nature of the medium is suited to the portrayal of coastal scenes and wildlife.”
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The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher aided in the rescue of a loggerhead sea turtle on December 7. After receiving a call about a lethargic loggerhead floating in the Carolina Beach boat basin by Harbor Masters Restaurant, Aquarium staff pulled the turtle from the water and transported the animal to the Aquarium.
The 116-pound female loggerhead sea turtle was cold-stunned. “Cold-stunning” is a process that causes sea turtles to become immobile due to the dramatic decrease in water temperature, making it impossible for them to escape the cold water and migrate to warmer water. A cold-stunned sea turtle may appear to be dead, but may actually be alive. Without proper intervention, a cold stunned sea turtle will inevitably die. It can be a race against time.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Education awarded the North Carolina Aquarium Society $580,000 for the Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s proposal “Using marine mammals to communicate solutions to ocean issues”. The Aquarium plans to increase public understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness of people and the environment, with a focus on climate change impacts, through statewide outreach using a portable, inflatable GeoDome theater and an on-site exhibit upgrade.
The Aquarium will work in collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the Elumenati LLC, University of North Carolina Wilmington and Duke University Marine Laboratory to develop marine mammal and climate change programs for GeoDome presentations. Ultimately, teenagers aged 14-17 will become engaged in climate and ocean literacy through a better understanding of marine mammals.
