Florida Aquarium facts for kids
Exterior of the Florida Aquarium
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| Date opened | March 31, 1995 |
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| Location | Tampa, Florida, United States |
| Coordinates | 27°56′39″N 82°26′42″W / 27.94417°N 82.44500°W |
| Volume of largest tank | 500,000 US gallons (1,900,000 L; 420,000 imp gal) |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Florida Aquarium is a special place in Tampa, Florida, United States. It's a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to help animals and teach people.
This large aquarium covers about 250,000 square feet (23,226 square meters). It's approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This shows they are leaders in protecting animals and teaching others.
The aquarium is home to over 7,000 aquatic plants and animals. These amazing creatures come from Florida and all over the world. The Florida Aquarium first opened its doors in March 1995.
Contents
History of the Florida Aquarium
Before the Florida Aquarium was built in downtown Tampa, it was known as the Clearwater Marine Science Center. It was located on Clearwater Beach. In 1992, the city of Tampa agreed to build the new aquarium downtown.
When the aquarium first opened in 1995, it didn't have as many visitors as expected. This caused some money problems for a while. In 1999, the city of Tampa helped the aquarium with its debt. Some staff changes were made to help the aquarium get back on track.
The Florida Aquarium worked hard to become successful. They focused on making visits fun and exciting. They also wanted to teach people about Florida's amazing natural places. Each year, they teach about 100,000 school children!
Turning Things Around
Jeff Swanagan became the CEO of the Florida Aquarium in 1998. He is known for helping the aquarium become successful. He brought in new exhibits with animals from other parts of the world. This helped attract more visitors.
Some of the new exhibits included "Dragons Down Under." This exhibit featured leafy sea dragons from Australia. There was also an albino alligator and an exhibit called "Frights of the Forest" with snakes and bats.
Under Jeff Swanagan's leadership, the aquarium became financially stable. The number of visitors also grew. In 2002, a record 620,000 people visited the aquarium. Jeff Swanagan left in 2002 to lead the Georgia Aquarium.
New Additions and Growth
Thom Stork became the new President and CEO after Jeff Swanagan. He continued the aquarium's success. In 2005, the aquarium added "Explore A Shore." This was a 2-acre outdoor water play area for kids. It made people want to stay at the aquarium longer.
In 2008, the aquarium changed one of its galleries into "Ocean Commotion." This new gallery was very interactive. It even used "smart wi-fi" to send information to visitors' smartphones.
In 2011, the aquarium added large sand tiger sharks to its main exhibit, the Coral Reef. This huge tank holds 500,000 gallons of saltwater. Visitors can even join a "Dive with the Sharks" program there!
The Florida Aquarium has been doing well for many years. They plan to expand in the future. These plans include new classrooms and a special center for events. The aquarium is also a leader in research and conservation. They work on projects like growing coral and rescuing sea turtles.
In 2018, a new 100,000-gallon exhibit called "Heart of the Sea" opened. It features animals like southern stingrays, Atlantic goliath groupers, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles. This exhibit even has cameras in the water so visitors can see the animals up close.
Aquarium Exhibits
The Florida Aquarium's exhibits are set up to show a journey. It's like following a drop of water from Florida's fresh-water springs all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Some of the main exhibits include:
- A large simulated wetlands area under a tall glass roof.
- A simulated beach environment.
- A beautiful coral reef community in a 500,000-gallon tank.
- The newest sections are the Waves of Wonder and Heart of the Seas galleries.
Coral Reef Research
Coral reefs are very important for ocean life. Sadly, the world has lost a lot of its coral. In Florida, about half of the coral has disappeared over the last 250 years. This is due to pollution, human contact, and diseases.
To help save the coral, the Florida Aquarium is working with other groups. Their goal is to restore 125 acres of coral reef. They plan to plant 150,000 coral colonies by 2022. This includes five different types of coral.
Education Programs
The main goal of the Florida Aquarium is to "entertain, educate and inspire stewardship of the natural environment." They do this through many educational programs.
Programs for Teachers and Schools
The Aquarium offers many things for teachers and schools:
- Field Trips: Schools can visit the aquarium for fun and learning.
- Traveling Programs: Aquarium staff can bring programs to schools.
- Teacher Workshops: Teachers can learn new ways to teach about nature.
- Teachers can visit the aquarium for free to plan their field trips.
- The aquarium also provides teaching materials. These materials help meet school learning standards for grades Pre-K through 8.
Programs for Youth and Families
Kids and families can enjoy special events at the aquarium:
- Birthday Parties: Celebrate your special day with amazing animals.
- Sleepovers: Spend the night at the aquarium!
- Scout Programs: Special programs for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
- Homeschool Programs: Learning activities for kids who are homeschooled.
- Aquatots: A program for children aged 3–5 and their parents. It includes story time, crafts, and exploring the aquarium.
Aqua Camps
The Aquarium offers exciting camps for kids:
- School Year Camps: These camps happen during school holidays in Hillsborough County. Kids in grades K-5 can enjoy science experiments, aquarium tours, crafts, and meeting animals.
- Summer Camps (Aqua Camps): These camps are for ages 3–18. They focus on animals and their natural homes. Campers get to have many animal encounters and learn hands-on.
Images for kids
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Florida Aquarium Educational Program for Kids
See also
In Spanish: Acuario de la Florida para niños
