Curriculum
Science
Aquarium of the Americas
NATURE IN NOLA
The Audubon Nature Institute is a family of public attractions located
in the greater New Orleans area. Through tours, chats and daily animal
presentations and feeds, visiting groups will learn about a diverse
collection of animals that inhabit the air, land and sea.
“It is so interesting to see what students are drawn to at Audubon
Zoo,” says Jeannine Becker, director of group and tourism sales
for the institute. “They gravitate to our whooping cranes, elephants,
orangutans, giraffes, komodo dragon, Aldabra tortoises, jaguars
and emus.”
The zoo’s Louisiana Swamp Exhibit features alligators (including a
white alligator), nutrias, bobcats, raccoons, cougars, bears and foxes.
“It’s like going on a swamp tour without ever leaving the city—just
perfect for student groups with busy itineraries,” Becker says.
Seven miles from the zoo, at the foot of the French Quarter in
downtown New Orleans, is Audubon’s Aquarium of the Americas.
The attraction is full of beautiful fish found from the Caribbean Sea to
the Gulf of Mexico. Students can explore an underwater oil rig in the
aquarium’s Gulf of Mexico exhibit and learn about Louisiana’s fishing
industry in the interactive Geaux Fish! exhibit.
The Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, located two blocks
from the aquarium, is North America’s largest museum devoted to
insects and their relatives. Students can enjoy an amazing array of
butterflies that swoop and soar from one flower to another in a free-
flight exhibit space.
The Audubon Nature Institute offers discounted rates for
student groups at each facility or on combination tickets. For more
information, contact Becker at [email protected] or visit
auduboninstitute.org.
WEST COAST WONDER-FEST
The tall white arches were part of the United States Science Pavilion,
designed by Minoru Yamasaki for the Seattle World’s Fair, which opened in
April 1962. The pavilion became the Pacific Science Center later that year.
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NTA Trip Planner for Student Travel
Since its opening in 1962 for the Seattle World’s Fair, the Pacific
Science Center has been entertaining and educating visitors of
all ages.
Students can wander among fluttering butterflies in the
Tropical Butterfly House, touch live marine animals in the
Saltwater Tide Pool and explore distant galaxies during a show in
the planetarium (one of five buildings in the museum complex).
Interactive exhibits at the attraction include Tinker Tank, a
hands-on space designed to cultivate creative problem-solving
skills. The museum offers both daytime and evening activities,
and groups can view educational documentaries or studio
movies in one of the two IMAX theaters.
The Pacific Science Center collaborates with local researchers
and scientists on two interactive exhibit spaces, “The Studio”
and “The Portal to Current Research.” Both areas are dedicated
to showcasing advances in research through a combination of
digital media, graphics, tangible objects, and interactive displays
and programs.
New for fall 2017 is “What is Reality?”, described by Lindsae
Long, the museum’s sales manager, as an experiential mash-up
of technology and art. “Our team developing the exhibit is being
very secretive,” she says, “but I expect the final product will
include virtual reality and augmented reality experiences.”
To learn more about the Seattle museum, visit pacsci.org or
email Long at [email protected].
Compiled by Bob Rouse