Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Cape Cod Children’s Museum partner for World Ocean Day celebration

Cape Cod, Massachusetts — To celebrate World Ocean Day and kick off the summer season, the Cape Cod Children’s Museum (CCCM) is proud to announce that its Exploring Cape Cod Waters exhibit is now fully complete. The new exhibit, which opened phase one last year, is supported by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the WHOI Sea Grant program.

The 1,000 square foot exhibit includes interactive technology, hands-on activities, and audio visual presentations, aimed at highlighting our region’s unique connection to the ocean. New this year: a water table that demonstrates the water cycle with its own rain cloud. A STEM-centered design, the water table provides children an opportunity to learn and play with the physics of water including currents, full and empty, water pressure, a vortex and more.

“We are thrilled with the completion of the Exploring Cape Cod Waters exhibit,” stated Executive Director of the CCCM, Lisa Bates. “This collaboration with WHOI is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to learn and understand how intrinsically tied we are to the ocean and waterways surrounding us. This incredible exhibit will help our visitors better understand  how they can contribute to keeping our waters safe and healthy for generations to come.”

The Exploring Cape Cod Waters exhibit also grants kids the opportunity to earn the badge of “Ocean Ambassador.” The collaborative effort between CCCM and WHOI Sea Grant, is designed for school age children, and uses scavenger hunts, puzzles, QR codes and interactive activities to encourage children to not only learn about the ocean and waterways of Cape Cod but to become active participants in their preservation.

In addition to the newly completed exhibit, a submarine, painted to resemble the famed WHOI human occupied submersible Alvin, complete with a boat similar to its support ship, the research vessel Atlantis, greets visitors to the museum. This year, Alvin is celebrating 60 years of exploration and discovery.

“Seeing our work on these exhibits come to fruition is exciting,” said Grace Simpkins, WHOI Sea Grant education specialist. “Today’s youth are the current and future stewards of our ocean and coastlines. It is more important than ever that we inspire them and their guardians to protect the fragile ecosystems in our home waters. This collaboration with CCCM has really provided the opportunity to do just that.”

On Saturday, June 8, special World Ocean Day activities include:

• Salt, a life-sized inflatable humpback whale, will be on hand outside for tours. The 43-foot long whale is modeled after a real whale, complete with internal organs. On this tour, children can learn about humpbacks from the inside of the whale.
• LEGO® enthusiasts are encouraged to bring a creation with the theme “Bricks Under the Sea”. They can also submit a picture of their creation to earn a prize.  Brickmaster, Cody Wells of C3brix, will be on hand with thousands of LEGO® Bricks for kids to enjoy and build and there will be an unveiling of a special ocean-themed mosaic in the museum, created by Cody.  He will offer strategies and ideas as well as prizes for the best creations.

World Ocean Day festivities will be underway at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 8th. The museum is located at 577 Great Neck Rd S, Mashpee, MA 02649. General admission is $15 per person.

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About the Cape Cod Children’s Museum

The Cape Cod Children’s Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We have proudly served the families of Cape Cod and hundreds of thousands of visitors over the past 30+ years. We are a “Museums for All” participant ensuring no child is turned away for an inability to pay. Additionally, the museum provides scholarships and subsidized admissions for all children and families receiving benefits and in the foster care system. The museum is a recognized site for family visitations and opens its doors privately to families with children suffering medical crises. We also recognize the service of our military and teachers with reduced admission prices. CCCM is currently open Monday through Friday 9 am – 3pm, Saturdays 10 am – 3 pm, and is located at 577 Great Neck Road South, Mashpee, MA. Phone: 508-539-8788. Please visit our website for more special events and our new “Night at the Museum”: www.capecodchildrensmuseum.org.

About WHOI Sea Grant

Based at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the WHOI Sea Grant program encourages environmental stewardship, long-term economic development, and responsible use of the nation’s coastal and ocean resources. The program supports research and education, and an extension program in collaboration with the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. It is part of the NOAA-funded National Sea Grant College Program, a network of 34 individual programs located in each of the coastal and Great Lakes states. More information can be found at seagrant.whoi.edu.

About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. WHOI’s pioneering discoveries stem from an ideal combination of science and engineering—one that has made it one of the most trusted and technically advanced leaders in basic and applied ocean research and exploration anywhere. WHOI is known for its multidisciplinary approach, superior ship operations, and unparalleled deep-sea robotics capabilities. We play a leading role in ocean observation and operate the most extensive suite of data-gathering platforms in the world. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge and possibility. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu