The High School Marine Biology program participants share their discoveries from their last day in the Bahamas, and reflect on their entire experience. Here’s a blog post from two of the participants:

We can’t believe that today is our last day in the Bahamas! It has been an amazing trip that none of us will forget. Today we went to Cat Cay to do a beach seine, and had the opportunity to look at the homes being built on the island. Each of us wondered how the building development will affect Cat Cay’s surrounding environment.

The High School Marine Biology program participants are in their first week of study in the Bahamas. Here's a blog post and video from two of the participants:

This afternoon we headed to Turtle Rocks and saw starfish, conch shells, laughing gulls, and tons of crabs. After a short ride to the other side of the rocks, we got in the water for a late afternoon snorkel to start our fish ID research project.

Today on the R/V Coral Reef II, we learned more on the importance of focusing our research on how man-made changes in the environment can affect biodiversity. We decided to research habitats of Bimini that could be affected by future developments and compare it to ecosystems that have already been altered by development.

The Young Naturalists have started interacting with guests at Shedd. Here are their thoughts in preparing for their first day on the floor:

I look forward to being viewed as a highly intelligent worker, who holds the key to knowledge, by the guest. I have always admired the wit displayed by workers such as interpreters and have longed for the same respect I have for them. Therefore I cannot wait to be on the floor, knowing that I am the “go-to guy.” I have what guests want, and I am proud of myself. I can’t wait to show the world what I’ve learned.
James P.

Shedd’s High School Marine Biology Program is designed for the student who wants to explore marine science as a possible career. Students are introduced to marine biology and the scientific method in a classroom setting at Shedd and then apply this knowledge by conducting research in the Bahamas on Shedd's live-aboard vessel, the R/V Coral Reef II. This is the first of a series of blogs written by the students about their experience.

During the three days that we have been in the pre-trip classes, we have been doing many team-building activities. We’ve learned that communication is the key to a well-functioning group. One task was completing a human knot.

The July 2 premiere of Fantasea, Shedd’s new multimedia, multi species aquatic show — is being delayed until later this summer.

Animal care is our first priority, and we want to ensure the show is the best guest experience it can be. After being away from the Oceanarium for nine months during its renovation, the animals are still getting acclimated to their new surroundings. We are giving them more time to make themselves at home. Later this summer we will debut the show our guests have been looking forward to.

Guests can explore a world of wonders in the reimagined Oceanarium, from welcoming home new and familiar faces to the Oceanarium family, and experiencing the new, permanent exhibit Polar Play Zone made just for kids, a first for Shedd.

Shedd’s Young Naturalists program invites 15 outgoing and motivated Chicago high school students to join Shedd for six weeks in creatively connecting aquarium guests to nature.

On June 26, the “Young Nats” participated in a ropes course team building exercise. We asked them to blog about their experience.

Shedd’s newly hatched Magellanic penguin chicks are small enough to fit into your cupped hands—for now, anyway. These chicks range from 15 to 24 days old. Fast-growing, they tripled in size during their first week. Once they’re fully grown—by late summer—they’ll settle into the renovated penguin habitat in the Oceanarium’s new Polar Play Zone exhibit. Adult Magellanic penguins are around 27 inches high and weigh 7 to 9 pounds. Learn more about penguins.

Today is World Ocean's Day! It's a time to reflect on how important the oceans and Great Lakes are in your life. Appropriately, the theme of World Ocean’s Day this year is “our oceans, our responsibility,” calling on residents living in the Midwest, Southwest, Great Lakes region or anywhere around the world to take action to protect the world's water. 

The sea lion habitat’s new stairway window and mesh front allow you an incredibly close view of our two new sea lions — and something else: numbers branded on their backs. Otis (C507) and Biff (C700) were among a group of sea lions who had found an easy meal of chinook salmon along the fish ladders of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River in Oregon. It was a case of federally protected marine mammals eating federally endangered fish. To monitor the incidence of predation on the salmon population, wildlife biologists and veterinarians branded the sea lions with numbers large enough to see from a distance. The procedure was done under anesthesia, and the animals were given a full medical exam as part of the process.