Coral World Marine Park and Underwater Observatory is offering a series of workshops for children ages 9 to 12. The goal of the workshops is to introduce young people to the marine environment and to inspire respect and enthusiasm for the undersea world that surrounds these islands
All of the workshops will be conducted by Coral World Curator Dr. Donna Nemeth and Aquarist Gloria Lawrenz. The workshops will be held on four Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The next one will be held on Sunday, March 14. There will be three more on April 11, May 2 and May 23.
The March 14 workshop will be "Camouflage and Color on the Reef." It will provide a tour through the Marine Gardens gallery of aquariums. Each aquarium represents a different marine habitat. Participants will learn about the difference in appearance between males and females, how warning coloration works, and how sharks and turtles "hide"in the open ocean . The deadline for reservations is March 10.
On April 11 participants will learn about coral reefs and the creatures who create them. A walking tour of various exhibits will illustrate the different kinds of corals and how they live. The group will see the live "coral condominiums" where invertebrates, turtles, algae and hundreds of fish make their home. Deadline for reservations is April 7.
May 2 will offer a study of fish mobility, eating habits and anatomy. It will include a tour of the Caribbean Reef Encounter to see how fast fish can swim by understanding their anatomy. Participants may get wet as they test the effect of different shapes moving through the water.
Reservation deadline is April 28.
May 23 will introduce participants to sharks, including a close up encounter with a baby nurse shark. The group will study the basic biology of sharks. Common myths about these mysterious creatures will be dispelled. And the sharks will be compared to their closest relatives — the rays. The group will also learn why rays have such an unusual shape.
Deadline for reservations is May 19.
To sign up for any of these workshops, call 775-1555, ext. 246.
