National Aquarium Sleepover, November 2015

November 21, 2015.
The latest adventure Sarah arranged for Robert (and the rest of the family) through the Johns Hopkins program was a sleepover at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It came with the same marine emphasis as the Mason Cove and Skipjack trip last year.
We started with about an hour on our own after dropping off sleeping bags in one of the classrooms. Actually, not quite on our own, one other family was ready to wander when we were so we hung out together; checking out the bubble tubes, black tipped shark pool and a quick trip through the Atlantic Reef exhibit.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
The formal program started just after the aquarium closed to the public with an introduction and dolphin show.

(Note the dark windows in the background -- it's getting dark early now.)

After the dolphin show, we were divided into groups for the evening's activities. Our group went first to do an urchin dissection. Robert pronounced it about as stinky as the crab dissection from the Mason Cove trip.

November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
Our next stop was an animal encounter where we learned that snakes, rather than dogs, are man's best friend. And I remembered way back to the night Loren's boa constrictor got out of it's tank when we lived in Augusta.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.

Then we had a behind the scenes tour of the shark tank; getting to walk out on the catwalk above the tank — actually, we learned later, the catwalk is between the Atlantic Reef and Shark tanks; 335,000 gallons of water was over our heads while we were on the catwalk.

We toured around a bit more while the lights were turned out in the exhibits. Then we set up our sleeping bags next to the dolphin tank (half the group were sleeping in the shark exhibit, which we all thought would have been cooler).

(That's Calypso the three finned turtle below, swimming over a ray.)

November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 21, 2015.
November 22, 2015.

The next morning, we packed up, had some breakfast and then were able to watch the dolphins as their curtain was pulled aside so they could see us and we could see them. It was pretty cool how they came over to see the humans on display.

The jellies were right next door, so to speak.

November 22, 2015.
November 22, 2015.

Next up was shark feeding. No frenzy: they feed the sharks well so the rest of the fish in the tank don't need to worry. Actually, a lot of the smaller fish tried to sneak a nibble of the shark food. Our guide pointed out that sometimes, that does not end well.

Calypso gets fed at the same time, but on the other side of tank. She likes lettuce but will eat most anything.

November 22, 2015.
November 22, 2015.
November 22, 2015.
November 22, 2015.
November 22, 2015.
November 22, 2015.
November 22, 2015.
November 22, 2015.

We ended with a recap presentation about the mission of the National Aquarium, it's emphasis on conservation and education about climate change. It was another successful program (but it would have been cooler to have been in the group sleeping in the shark exhibit).

Robert put together a montage that includes more photos.

Vacation notes:

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