(October 12, 2010) – New College of Florida is celebrating Sarasota County’s “WOW! Water Opportunities Week,” by opening its marine lab on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, from 10 am – 2 pm, for children to explore sea life through a touch tank, arts and crafts, educational displays and a guided safari to “hunt” for organisms. “WOW! Water Opportunities Week” is an initiative to engage families in protecting the county’s watersheds.
At New College’s Pritzker Marine Biology Research Center, families can interact with sea urchins and hermit crabs in the touch tank and “hunt” for coral reef fish, cuttlefish as well as fishes and invertebrates of the bay. New College faculty and students will also guide children though a variety of crafts, including sand art, beading, knotting and a large mural to be displayed at the College.
The Pritzker Marine Biology Research Center at New College of Florida is located at 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Turn west from U.S. 41 at College Drive. After the stop sign, continue west on College Drive. Free parking is available in the second parking area on the right. The Pritzker Marine Center is the building to the west with two white silos. For more information, call 941-487-4596.
“WOW! Water Opportunities Week” is sponsored by the Manasota Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Science and Environment Council of Sarasota County (SEC), of which New College is a member. The program consists of watershed-related, family events throughout the community from Oct. 17-24, 2010. For a complete listing of events, visit www.secsc.org.
Photo Caption: Anne and Dylan Fetterly explore the touch tank at New College’s Pritzker Marine Biology Research Center. Dylan, 8, is a third-grader at Tuttle Elementary in Sarasota.