Waitsburg Students Get a Visit from the “Aquari-van”

WAITSBURG - Representatives from the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Ore. visited elementary schools in Waitsburg and Walla Walla, Monday morning. Because many children do not have an opportunity to visit the coast, the Aquarium's outreach time hits the road during the school year to bring interactive marine science education to students across the Pacific Northwest.

The "Aquari-van" visited Waitsburg students, presenting programs to grades K-2 and 3-5. The topic for Southeastern Washington area students this year is tidepool invertebrates.

Aquarium representative and Walla Walla native, Wendy (Huntington) Spaulding, had students volunteer to don sea star, sea urchin and other spineless marine creature costumes.

The presentation teaches how animals each have specialized adaptations for living in different tidal zones like anemones covering themselves with pebbles to reflect sunlight. Students also learned how explore tide pools in a manner that is safe for people and animals alike.