Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

During your school trip to Virginia Beach you may want to stop by the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center where you will find fascinating animals. The aquarium contains a number of engaging hands-on exhibits, a 3D Theater, as well as educational programs for the students to enjoy. Students of all ages are welcome. During your visit, the students will encounter animals such as river otters, seahorses, native birds, sharks, and harbor seals. The exhibits display the animals and are interactive. For example, there is an exhibit known as the Aviary, which contains a fascinating collection of 70 unique birds. Another hands-on exhibit is the Chesapeake Bay Touch pool. The students will have the opportunity to touch a variety of interesting animals in the pool. For example, they will touch creatures such as the horseshoe crab, and the largest collection of fish in the area. The Indonesian Volcanic Island is an exhibit which represents a time when Virginia was experiencing a great deal of volcanic activity during the Precambrian period. The student group can take a behind-the-scenes tour of various areas in the aquarium as part of your experience. For example, the group can get a closer look at the seals by taking the Seals Behind-the-scenes Tour. During the experience, students will have the opportunity to learn about the mammals and also observe a behavioral training session. Another option is the Sea Turtle Behind-the-scenes Tour, which is where the students can observe a feeding and a behavioral training session. The Virginia Aquarium also contains an Adventure Park. Visitors will see trees with wooden platforms and experience nature from different heights. Climbers can zip across using zip lines or, climb to the top by navigating fun bridges.