Aquarium Field Trip

On April 4 we took a field trip with our homeschool co-op to the Newport Aquarium just over the border in KY.  I had heard it was a great place to go but wasn't about to venture out by myself...plus, the cost kind of scared me.  So when we had the opportunity to sign up for a special class AND aquarium tour, I decided it would be worth it.  We took our friends Stefanie and her kids Jessica and Justin along with us in the Suburban--so nice to fit us all in one vehicle!

The class that we attended, "Tails and Scales," was wonderful.  The kids got to see, touch, and learn about a hog-nosed snake, a blue-tongued skink, and a boa constrictor.  The class was about a half hour, and all the kids really enjoyed it.  (Stefanie and I did, too!)  Then we went back to the aquarium proper.


Well.  It was the first day of spring break in the Louisville area!!  If you can imagine about half the population of a city crammed into the winding passageways of an aquarium, you can get an idea of how claustrophobic and paranoid we began to feel trying to keep track of all our kids amidst the swarming masses.  The kids were pretty clueless about our stress--they were too busy learning new things and exclaiming over the various creatures they got to see.  (Giant Japanese spider crab, anyone?!)

Stefanie and I were more than a little exhausted by the time we reached the shark "petting" tank, so we herded everyone into the cafeteria to fill our bellies before seeing the very fun (and entirely stress-free) Penguin Palooza show, which was a wonderful way to end the trip.  Lucan especially loved the penguins, laughing out loud at their antics. 

After we had our fill of penguins, we made our escape left for home.  All in all, it was a pretty good trip, but I could have done without the massive crowds.  And I was so thankful for Stefanie's company on the drive to and from as well as her and Jessica's extra watchful eyes!  (Although we're thinking maybe we should go back without kids some day, ha!)

Here are some favorite pictures...