CALENDAR LISTING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:      

CONTACT:   

Barbara Russo - 718-265-3428; 917-494-5493; brusso@wcs.org

Max Pulsinelli - 718-220-5182; 571-218-7601; mpulsinelli@wcs.org

WCS’s New York Aquarium Celebrates World Oceans Day

Activities will raise awareness about the importance of oceans and marine life

Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12

Brooklyn, N.Y.  –  May 31, 2016 – WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) New York Aquarium will support the United Nations’ World Oceans Day with family friendly activities for guests on Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

World Oceans Day falls on June 8. It is a day to recognize the environmental importance of healthy oceans. Oceans generate oxygen, regulate climate, and support a plethora of marine species vital to life on earth.

Throughout the weekend, the activities at the New York Aquarium will teach people about oceans and the NY Seascape, the aquarium’s local marine conservation program designed to restore healthy populations of local marine species.

The New York Aquarium will hold a special evening with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a sea lion show, and a screening of the documentary, Saving Jamaica Bay, at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8. More information is at http://nyaquarium.com/wod. Seating is limited and the event will sell out.

Also on June 8 at 12:30 p.m., young ocean conservationists can join the Sea Youth Rise Up Live World Oceans Day Broadcast on YouTube via Google+ Hangouts On Air. Ocean leaders will speak about important global ocean issues and share their ideas for youth-driven solutions to these pressing challenges.

The Sea Youth Rise Up campaign was launched to serve as a platform to inspire young people to RISE UP for our ocean by taking action in their communities. Fueled by the enthusiasm and passion of the selected youth leaders, SYRUp is reimagining the way we bring attention to ocean conservation and is creating a digital platform for young people to make a difference for our blue planet.

Activities planned for World Oceans Weekend Include:

Ocean Adventure - These educational and interactive stations throughout the aquarium will offer visitors a chance to learn through hands-on challenges.

Pledge Wall – A community art project will show off creative ways visitors support local marine life.

Ocean Pledge –WCS will offer one -sheets that list every-day things individuals can do to help protect the ocean.

Hands-On crafts – Recycled materials will be available for creative craft-making.

Meet the Diver and Learn about Saving Coral Reefs: New York Aquarium divers will be available to interact with visitors, answer questions and offer information about the importance of underwater diving in marine habitats. (Specific Times: 10 to 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.)

Conservation partners for World Oceans Weekend include: NOAA Marine Debris Program; Surfrider Foundation (NY Chapter); and the American Littoral Society Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242.

Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium is open every day of the year. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Fall/winter/spring hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily. Tickets are $11.95 per person (ages 3 & up), and include Aquarium admission plus one admission to the new 4-D Theater; children age 2 and under are admitted free. Fridays after 4 p.m. in the summer and after 3 p.m. in the fall, Aquarium admission is by pay-what-you-wish donation. Last entry is one hour before closing. The aquarium is located on Surf Avenue at West 8th Street in Coney Island.  The New York Aquarium is located on property owned by the City of New York, and its operation is made possible in part by public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. For directions, information on public events and programs, and other aquarium information, call 718-265-FISH or visit our web site at http://www.nyaquarium.com. Now is the perfect time to visit and show support for the WCS New York Aquarium, a beloved part of Brooklyn and all of the City of New York. Due to Hurricane Sandy we are partially opened. Check our website for more information. www.nyaquarium.com.

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