The Aquarium at Fort Fisher has had an excellent year….thanks in part to our loyal visitors. This holiday season, we have a gift for you.

Visit the Aquarium Saturday, December 12 & Sunday, December 13 between 9 am and 5 pm each day at the child’s rate…all visitors admitted for only $6 each.

* Have your photo taken with Santa (don’t forget to bring him your wish list!)

* Enjoy holiday crafts

* Watch “Mickey’s Magical Christmas” on the big screen

* See a puppet show called “Polar Opposites”

* Visit with Scuba Santa in the big tank!

The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher will be closed on Christmas Day and will reopen at 9 am on December 26. Happy Holidays!

Pack a diaper bag and bring your camera…we’re showing off our babies! The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will host an “Aquababies Weekend” November 21-22, 2009 from 9 am to 5 pm each day.

The Aquarium’s tremendous success producing baby animals will be highlighted all weekend. Meet our ‘youngsters’ including: jellyfish, sea turtles, alligators, sea horses, fishes, snakes and more. “This is a unique opportunity for the community to see babies that were either born here at the Aquarium or came to us as babies,” says Hap Fatzinger, aquarium curator.

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Get your fill of fun at the Aquarium over the Thanksgiving holidays. The Aquarium is closed only on Thanksgiving Day itself. You can gobble up a variety of hands-on special activities and free programs throughout the rest of the week.

* Tantalize your taste buds while the Crab’s Claw chef shares the secret to a great fish dish in Succulent Seafood, on Monday starting at 2 p.m.
* See the hidden side of Aquarium life in a thorough behind-the-scenes tour on Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
* Feast with the fishes and other creatures in Dinner with the Critters on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
* Spend Sunday afternoon aiding in animal care during the Aquarist Apprentice program from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Or, take a peek behind-the-scenes from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

These activities require additional fees and advance registration. (more…)

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is looking for volunteers who want to immerse themselves in their work. The Aquarium’s volunteer dive team is recruiting new members for 2010. The deadline to apply is Nov. 30.

The program offers certified SCUBA divers a unique and rewarding underwater experience. Volunteer divers inside the 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck converse with visitors about the many animals gliding around a replica of the U-352, a famous World War II shipwreck. Volunteer divers also assist with other programs underwater, as well as help care for animals and maintain exhibits.

Divers selected during the fall recruiting drive start their duties in January. In addition to SCUBA certification, divers must be at least 18 years old, be in good health and be willing to make time and training commitments. See the Pine Knoll Shores Volunteer page for application forms and more information on the program and requirements.

Let the North Carolina Aquarium’s Succulent Seafood series help you jazz up your holiday feast with a tasty dish of local fish.

The course takes you to the area’s top restaurants, where master chefs demonstrate their own favorite culinary creations with local fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Future sessions include:

Nov. 23 (Monday) - Crab’s Claw, Atlantic Beach
Dec. 1 (Tuesday) - Riverside Steakhouse, Swansboro
Dec. 7 (Monday) - Crab’s Claw, Atlantic Beach (more…)

A bouquet of coastal plant portraiture blooms in a winter photo exhibit at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. “Wild Portraits - Local Flora of Back Roads and Beaches” is on exhibit through the end of January. The exhibit is free with admission or membership.

The works of Down East nature photographer and artist Susan Mason bring out the beauty of sedge, pitcher plants, blanket flowers and other local plants, grasses and flowers that often blend into an unnoticed roadside blur.

“I would be pleased if people look at my images and think, ‘Wow, look at that. I never noticed that before,’” she said. “Even the smallest, most insignificant little plant has wonderful design and great beauty.” (more…)

Do a good deed and get a good deal at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores on Saturday, Dec. 12. Donate a can of corn, a jar of peanut butter or another pantry staple to visit the Aquarium for free, and snag some face time with St. Nick in the bargain.

One non-perishable food item per person will be accepted in lieu of admission throughout the day. Regular admission fees apply to visitors not donating food. Each year, the Aquarium collects food to help stock the shelves at Martha’s Mission Cupboard of Morehead City. The charitable organization distributes the supplies to those in need.

Santa takes requests thoughout the day at various times. Foto FX is available for souvenir photos. The Aquarium and the Gift Shop are open  9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as usual.

This holiday season the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is collecting gifts for our four legged friends at the Outer Banks SPCA.

Starting Tuesday, December 1 through December 22, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island will be accepting donations with free admission given to any individual bringing in 7 lbs. or more of dry food, puppy or kitten chow and dog or cat food.

These are items requested for this year’s Santa Paws donation:

• Bleach
• Paper Towels
• Pillowcases
• Blankets
• Cat Toys
• Dog Toys
• Dry Cat Food
• Dry Kitten Food
• Dry Dog Food
• Dry Puppy Food
• Kitty Litter

Help us spread the holiday cheer to our furry friends at the Outer Banks SPCA by making your generous donation today.

For more information call 252-473-3494 or visit www.ncaquariums.com.

Click the photo to see how much solar energy these panels are capturing.

The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is on the beam when it comes to energy conservation.

Solar panels near the Aquarium entrance silently harness the power of the sun. The residential-scale panels meet a small percentage of the facility’s power needs with an environmentally friendly energy source. The panels, placed at the front of the building so visitors can see them at close range, are also an educational exhibit.

“The system is a visible and functional representation of the Aquarium’s commitment to conservation and education,” said Pat McNeese, the Aquarium’s Conservation and Research Coordinator.

A live read-out on the amount of solar energy being collected can be viewed via the web-based Sunpower® monitor. The monitor also provides cumulative totals, and a scorecard of reduced emissions. (more…)

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.