U.S./China Environmental Education Exchange

Day 2: Photos: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Day 2 Aquarium Journal | Introduction to Exchange

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located inside an old cannery building.	The group got a tour of the aquarium before it opened for the day.
	The giant kelp forest exhibit.
Overlooking the tide pool area.	The behind-the-scenes tour included the top of the giant kelp forest.
There were many hands-on exhibits.	Here visitors get to touch a sea cucumber.
The sea cucumber is very soft and mushy.	A bigger pool had a bat ray that you could pet -- if you can catch it!
The starfish does have teeth as Tom Snyder found out.	Frank the tour guide was very accommodating.
Checking out the abalone shell.
Student groups can spend an hour in the Discovery Center with many hands-on activities.	The sea otter exhibit gets a cleaning before the aquarium opens.
The sea otters make the most of their clean tank by cleaning themselves.	This guy was getting his exercise by graciously swimming laps in front of the viewing window.
What's to see out in the Monterey Bay, you ask?	Its seal rock!
The new penguin exhibit.	This activity shows you how the penguins communicate.
This starfish was trying its hardest to get out.	Any guesses on what this guy is thinking?
The jellyfish exhibit is one of the most popular in the aquarium -- and definitely the most colorful.	Here we have the male fish holding the fish eggs in his mouth waiting for them to hatch. This guy "spawned" much discussion.....
The sea dragon from Australia was brilliant.	Frank, our guide, was thanked with a gift from China.
Lunch was served overlooking the bay.	All tables come equipped with binoculars and bird identification card.

Day 2 Aquarium Journal | Introduction to Exchange