tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9516190413815397022024-03-05T06:02:46.561-05:00Blue Ocean Society Touch Tank HappeningsFollow the lives of the critters at our touch tank in downtown Portsmouth, NH at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company, 315 Market Street.Jen Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society Exec. Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04776607537381206071noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-65485894523277561892013-08-10T21:24:00.000-04:002013-08-10T21:24:31.223-04:00HoustonI have been following the real time activities of a NOAA research vessel off the Massachusetts coast. See link<br />
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http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/media/exstream/exstream.html<br />
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You get to experience the data, views, and conditions experienced by this research expedition in real time...in your PJS, with a beverage...and with expert color commentary. No duct taping the bunk sheets to the mattress on a R/V reality needed. No guessing what the strange albino thing is. An expert tells you!!! Watch the different views and data feeds and experience what it must be like to be in the control room in Houston ( a tiny bit perhaps?)<br />
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So completely interesting and inspiring and yikes how can there still be so much to learn? Yes. Please use my taxes for this. Excuse me while I go grab a beverage and play desktop scientist.Susan Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01302417165531558291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-89215316532904060232013-08-04T07:31:00.001-04:002013-08-04T07:31:29.963-04:00Be the Difference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This group came to Hampton at 3:30 on a Saturday to participate in our daily beach clean up. They braved parking and traffic and 10 of them helped clean the beach. And the beach....well the beach was so CLEAN today except for the ever present cigarette butts. The kids were calling what little trash they saw and racing to collect it. 8# of trash was collected in total. Afterwards critters were visited and crafts were made by even the biggest of the kids. Thank you so much!<br /><br />Susan Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01302417165531558291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-34695719484933221102013-08-01T21:43:00.006-04:002013-08-01T21:43:57.081-04:00Wish Upon a Sea StarHave you ever seen a shooting star and made a wish? Well, we wished on our sea stars that our touch tank in Hampton would be totally awesome and people would love it. And.....guess what!? Our wish came true. People love our touch tank and we have had the pleasure of educating and meeting over 2,500 people in our first month. We couldn't have had this much success without our amazing animals.<br />
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Pictured below are the fabulous Jonah crab and a large Northern sea star. Jonah crabs are a native of New England. They like to hide themselves in the rocks of the tidal zone. When handled they often draw into themselves; almost like the way a tortoise draws into its shell. They have a bumpy and pinkish colored carapace (shell) with black tips on the end of their pincher claws. They are often confused with rock crabs, another native crab of New England. However, rock crabs have a smoother and pointer carapace which is often more red in color. Yet, they are still hard to tell apart but the crab pictured below is an excellent example of a Jonah crab.<br />
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As for our sea star, it is the most common sea star found in the area. They have five arms. They may have six arms but this is very rare and then they are called a Polar star. If they lose an arm it will grow back. This is called autonomy. The regrowth may take months or years and at this time the animals is susceptible to disease and predation. The Northern sea stars have small spikes on top to protect their soft bodies. They move very slowly and can travel only one mile in a week. I thought snails were slow! Sea stars enjoy feeding on mussels, clams and other shelled animals. They shoot their stomachs outside of their body, excrete digestive juices and then suck their stomach back in once their food is digested.<br />
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We love our animals and you will too. Hope to see you soon.<br />
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~ Your marine loving friends at the Blue Ocean Society<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-56403452860892638812013-07-31T12:12:00.002-04:002013-07-31T12:12:40.222-04:00Marshmallow Sea Urchins!This week join Blue Ocean Society at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company dock to visit with our critters and make a take home craft. This week's craft is the ever popular marshmallow sea urchin! Some of you may remember this craft from last year too.<br />
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Here is one of our faithful visitors, Ned, with his sea creature creation!<br />
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We also have some new additions to the tank that are worth checking out. Our sea anemones have been scooting around the tank lately, and we never know where they will pop up next!<br />
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Hope to see you there!<br />
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Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-87320933719923337452013-07-30T08:49:00.000-04:002013-07-30T08:49:03.034-04:00Cleaning Our BeachesToday we had the awesome help of Exavier, a young boy that was very unhappy about all the trash on the beach so he decided he wanted to help us with one of our daily clean ups. He collected one huge bag of trash weighing 7 pounds. And you want to know the sad part, this was only in about 20 minutes of walking around Hampton Beach. However, in order to make this a less sad situation, the Discovery Center has been doing a beach clean up everyday. In one month, we have collected over one hundred pounds of trash so that we can help keep our oceans clean. Trash is not only disgusting to look at while you are trying to enjoy a lovely day at the beach, but it is also harmful to marine animals and humans. Trash is dirty and is the perfect place for bacteria to grow, therefore it can contaminate water where humans swim. It can also entangle marine animals such as whales, dolphins and sharks. Oops sharks aren't a marine mammal, they are a fish right everyone? Yes, they are a fish because they use gills to breathe and they do not have calcium bones but cartilage instead. Trash can also be ingested by marine birds causing them to fill on plastics and eventually causing them to starve. Therefore, in order to help reduce the horrible effects of trash we at the Blue Ocean Society do a beach clean up everyday at 3:30 PM at our Hampton Beach Discovery Center. Please join us and do your part to make the ocean a little bit cleaner for everyone.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-87646076214503721402013-07-26T15:24:00.001-04:002013-07-26T15:24:12.915-04:00Lunch Time at the Portsmouth Touch TankIt was feeding day down at our touch tank for the crabs. Join us at the tank every Tuesday through Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM. We have public feedings at 11:30 AM on Tuesday and Friday.<br />
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Check out this green crab prying open a blue lip mussel for his lunch.<br />
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Green crabs are an invasive species from Europe. The cold waters here used to keep our native species safe from this invasive, however with warming ocean temperatures the green crab is starting to settle right in. This could cause problems for native species such as scallops, mussels, and clams which are now eaten by the ever increasing population of green crabs.<br />
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Come join Blue Ocean Society at one of our touch tank locations to learn more about the green crab and other species found in the Gulf of Maine.Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-80972855887127205302013-07-26T08:50:00.000-04:002013-07-26T09:30:58.732-04:00Rainy Day Tide Pool Meditation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's cold and rainy outside but these 4 kids are having an authentic tide pool experience with some of our periwinkles. Listen and you will hear a hum. No they are not meditating...maybe they are. When you hum to a periwinkle they will usually open up and venture out of their shell. This innocuous little animal suddenly becomes animated and responsive as it slowly opens up and then peeks out of its shell. The meditation pays off and these kids will never overlook a periwinkle again. Susan Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01302417165531558291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-26085894403932368292013-07-25T20:41:00.000-04:002013-07-25T20:41:42.244-04:00Our Clam is Such a HamCome see the amazing clams that we have in our touch tank at the Discovery Center. The clam you see pictured below is a soft-shelled clam. These are the yummy clams that a lot of people refer to as steamers. However, we prefer to leave our clams for the crabs to eat, which they love to do! In the picture you can see a tube like structure. This structure is called the siphon. Clams usually like to be closed in order to protect themselves, but they need to eat somehow. Therefore, they put the siphon out into the water and suck water into their shell. This water is filled with yummy organisms for them to eat like zooplankton. Their inner organs filter out the food and then they shoot out the waste using the other tube like structure. This is called filter feeding and this is how the majority of invertebrates in the ocean feed. Fascinating huh? Well, I am about to blow your mind even more. Did you know that clams can move? Yes, clams have the ability to dig in the sand to prevent themselves from being washed away with the tides. They can also move along the bottom of the ocean floor. They have a large structure that comes out of their shell and flings them this way and that. I think it looks like a tongue, but it is actually called a foot. We have a surf clam in the tank that flings itself about all day. It is so cool to watch. Today, Ceci, one of the interns, finally got to see it and she was so excited. So if you are interested in flinging, filter feeding clams come on down and visit us at the Blue Ocean Discovery Center.<br />
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As always, your marine friends at the Blue Ocean Society.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-24583240539304389222013-07-08T14:51:00.001-04:002013-07-08T14:51:07.083-04:00The Rainbow Fish<div style="text-align: -webkit-left;">
This week at the Portsmouth touch tank we will be reading The Rainbow Fish written by Marcus Pfister. The story is about the most beautiful fish in the sea who doesn't want to share his shining scales. In the end the fish learns that it is better to share and have friends than to have the most beautiful scales. </div>
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We will be holding story time at 10 AM at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company Dock, 315 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH. Following story time you can make your very own rainbow fish to take home. We will also have a public viewing when we feed our critters at 11:30 AM. </div>
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For more information email Abby at abby@blueoceansociety.org or call the office at (603) 431-0260. </div>
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*Note, the Portsmouth touch tank is open Tuesday through Friday 9 AM to 12 PM and is located at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company Dock. </div>
Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-79487026292164210282013-07-02T14:14:00.000-04:002013-07-02T14:14:01.082-04:00Amazing Echinoderms!We have some new additions to our touch tank in Portsmouth at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company dock, 315 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH. Two new sea stars have made the tank their temporary home.<br />
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Sea stars, formerly known as starfish, are echinoderms which means "spiny skin." Their skin is rough and often feels like sandpaper. Beyond being beautiful animals that come in many colors and shapes, sea stars have amazing abilities. For example, have you ever touched a sea star that felt stiff or rigid? Or have you have felt a sea star that was limp? It's not the case that some sea stars are rigid and some are stiff, but instead sea stars are able to make their bodies rigid or limp! Don't believe me? Follow the link below to watch a short video from Creaturecast.org which explains this amazing ability is a few more details with the help of Harry Houdini.<br />
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<a href="http://creaturecast.org/archives/2457-creaturecast-echinoderm-skin" target="_blank">Creature Cast: Echinoderm Skin</a><br />
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This is how echinoderms are able to drop one of their limbs if they are being threatened or trapped by a predator. As it shows in the video link above, sea stars are then able to regenerate or regrow new limbs! Even more amazing, those limbs that they lost will regenerate or grow new bodies!<br />
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Come down to the Portsmouth touch tank at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company dock or visit us at the Blue Ocean Discovery Center in Hampton, NH to learn more about these amazing creatures!Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-71990344832339047462013-06-28T13:49:00.001-04:002013-06-28T13:49:09.596-04:00Blue Ocean Discovery Center Opening in Hampton Beach!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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We're excited to announce that after more than 3 years of planning, we're opening a touch tank in Hampton Beach! Our Blue Ocean Discovery Center is located in the North Pavilion in the Sea Shell Complex, 170 Ocean Boulevard, Hampton Beach (the former location of the Made in New Hampshire Gift Shop).<br />
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Starting tomorrow (Saturday, June 29) we'll be open from 10 AM-7 PM daily for the rest of the summer! Check out our touch tank, mark your hometown on our world map, and bring your kids for fun crafts and other activities!<br />
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Join us every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 AM for story time with a take home craft and participate in our Tideline Nature Walk and Cleanup, which will be held every day at 5 PM (meet at the Center)!<br />
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Thank you to all who helped us prepare the space, including Cathy, Ann, Becca, Abby and Nathan (from Visions Kitchens)! We hope to see you soon!<br />
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<br />Jen Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society Exec. Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04776607537381206071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-14117660967995554732013-05-29T14:49:00.001-04:002013-05-29T14:52:19.934-04:00Summer 2013It's that time again. The long harsh winter is finally over, and the warm days of summer are just around the corner (if they haven't arrived already). Here at Blue Ocean Society we are getting ready for the summer season of whale watches, beach cleanups, and tide pool animals at our touch tank in Portsmouth, NH. Come learn about and gently touch live marine animals from the Gulf of Maine!<br />
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The tank is up and running for the season, and we are having a special opening on June 1, 2013 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. before the official season starts. The special opening is part of the Portsmouth Opening Weekend, Live Free & Play events June 1 and June 2. </div>
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At the special opening the tank will be open and free to the public. At 1:00 p.m. there will be story time followed by a take home craft. Come down to visit and check out which critters we have in the tank for the 2013 season. We currently have rock crabs, jonah crabs, periwinkles, hermit crabs and more! The tank is located at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company dock at 315 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH. If you have any questions feel free to email info@blueoceansociety.org or call the office at (603) 431-0260.<br />
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If you can't make it this weekend, come back sometime this summer. Things are always changing at the touch tank, and you never know what you'll get to see next!Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-493274168414402302012-07-31T19:38:00.004-04:002012-07-31T19:42:47.548-04:00Sea Star Stomach!Come check out what's happening down at the touch tank at the Thomas Laighton dock (315 Market Street in Portsmouth). Today we read a story about Theodore the Tugboat and made crabs to take home. We also got a special treat by seeing a sea stars stomach! It looks like grey jelly in the photo below. Hope to see you all soon!<div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedxj2hGnfolWdsrS4vcO9jr0romJ7XVtYjyyMfb2PPPyBnmtR5LUhbgrflM5NIb7bblMAoh1zLENIggCS-6mwd4X5fnlRtjVL-7QTy3dsNnBOL_k6p1AHiLN-Uodx1WocsuD2lUqAU6k/s320/P1010560.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771482913410627442" /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3co2nKgMiKlK6DrcGPuSC9aALK7Af8iO6_YYVdcJRwY95_DDbLrfuBH2s_wZ8KKgL4rVjfBV3fVde-FGmrthba8XogKqHsQaNtgrtCy9SVAkeKvTAVpMIeE9RZN_faTR35kT8VWzXvI/s320/P1010559.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771482925611691202" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jrN-8v4mDFdRtoBmOLTPBgATDiAtacLsilb1A1Z7igNFchv_ZT4R2ejaoKw8kqR1SplmoqsLaoHNmeVV_d-9W8Yq2jtzoEYfMIBquAxX7Y27wcyq5oans41jCZgH-AG1yK8xJueRSSU/s320/P1010562.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771482917097349426" /></div></div>Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-21899840976910779082012-07-26T20:05:00.004-04:002012-07-26T20:10:30.322-04:00Marshmellow Urchins!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Come down to the touch tank at 315 Market Street in Portsmouth, NH to make your very own marshmallow sea urchin! We are back open and in full swing ready for the rest of the summer. Tomorrow is the public feeding day where you can see our crabs get fed. Some of them are quite feisty and fun to watch. <div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxLadkM41W973CXRJilcttCICHdAjx5WSuueY1ZySWT7hMTAuBa2uHEhfllJWXaLbZ8J5M3i0t5U7HmAdAajPhKrt46IWjCM5lRwudss_mYQe7RgMpTUzss6CkF-4vzGl6UGaCIyxrxA/s320/IMG_5759.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769634298915914226" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTOoOXbZLX2ObdfXPqi8oepgNOTl4oWaaAK-z1zt4GQNTGHoKxjmhn1WlSGCzgDLjSDk-nTlFhlIV2D9hmbHiz6qPVw_cgX4mM_G8PHYdM1JyFmS2okZCz02ET5IR68G0kogcNecde28/s320/IMG_5760.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769634449927195058" /><div style="text-align: left;">You can also be a sea star for the day and get your picture taken down at the touch tank! Hope to see you there!</div></div>Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-71930541171363580432012-07-20T11:52:00.000-04:002012-07-20T11:52:41.569-04:00Open for Business!After a day closed for general maintenance, the touch tank down at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company dock is <b>back open</b>! Our critters needed a much needed break, and are now bright eyed and bushy tailed just waiting to play with some marine loving children. We will be having story time again on Tuesday at 10:00 am. Come down and check out what's in the tank and leave with a take home craft. Our critters definitely could use some visitors. Hope to see you soon!<br />
<br />Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-29723784077212089322012-07-18T12:21:00.001-04:002012-07-18T12:21:40.571-04:00Closed for MaitenanceUnfortunately in light of the storm last night, the touch tank lost power. We will be closing the touch tank for Thursday July 19 for general maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience. The tank should be back up and running on Friday July 20 in time for the public feeding at 10:00 am. If you have any questions or concerns please call Abby at 603-203-0403. Thank you for your understanding! Our critters' health and well being is very important to us.
AbbyAbigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-20857941363836956672012-07-18T10:21:00.003-04:002012-07-18T10:21:42.946-04:00Make your very own seastar!We have geared up for another great week at the touch tank! We had lots of little explorers join us yesterday for story time and an arts and craft project to make their very own sea star!<br />
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Story time featured a cute tale by a school in Portsmouth about Mr. Wok's class and the adventures that his 5 students (Pinchers the hermit crab, Luna the sea star, Clapper the sea scallop, Fred the blue mussel, and Winky the periwinkle) go on. Pinchers was found missing one morning before class, and the other students and Mr. Wok (a rock crab) make their way out to the Isles of Shoals in search of their friend. Unfortunately they find Pinchers inside of a plastic Cocoa-Cola bottle! Please remember to take your trash with you when you leave the beach. Pinchers made it out okay, but we find lots of trash in our oceans that are hurting our marine friends.<br />
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We also took a count of all of the periwinkles in our tank. At the moment we have 28 periwinkles, but we think they may be multiplying! Keep an eye on this page to see if the number increases in the coming weeks. Hope to see you again at the touch tank soon!<br />
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Don't forget! It's public feeding time down at the touch tank on Friday at 10:00 am!</div>
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<br />Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-49232320485734368772012-07-10T14:41:00.000-04:002012-07-10T14:41:44.805-04:00July 10th Sea Urchin Crafts and Hermit Crab HousesAnother great morning down at the touch tank. We were certainly very busy today! We started the morning off with some arts and crafts down at the tank today. We got out some glue and googly eyes to make your very own sea urchin to bring home with you! Sea urchins have small spines along the surface of their bodies, and at the end of each spine is a small "eye". Although sea urchins can not see like you and I, these "eyes" can sense light and dark.<br />
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At 10:00 am we all took a short break from the touch tank animals to sit and hear the story of Hermit Crab and his search for a new home. After story time it was back to the tank to look at and hold some of our hermit crabs. One of our hermit crabs recently changed homes, and the children were able to see the smaller shells where he once lived. Have you ever grown out of your clothes before? Just like when your shirts and pants get too small as you get older, a hermit crabs shell becomes too small for him.<br />
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I hope everyone enjoyed themselves down at the touch tank! I certainly did. Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces down at the tank this summer!Abigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522211780987698044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-27181372172827868502012-07-09T22:37:00.001-04:002012-07-09T22:37:17.391-04:00We're Open!!We're open for the season! Join us during our 2012 hours, or call (603-431-0260) or e-mail (info@blueoceansociety.org) to set up a private tour for your group!<br />
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Join us tomorrow (Tuesday, July 10) for story time!! Our Programs Assistant, Abby, will be reading a story and doing a craft highlighting one of our featured creatures. No sign-up necessary, just join us at 10 AM!<br />
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<b>2012 Touch Tank Hours:</b><br />
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Open Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM-12 PM<br />
Storytimes: Tuesdays at 10 AM<br />
Feeding Time: Fridays at 10 AM<br />Jen Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society Exec. Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04776607537381206071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-39262703234552111972012-06-17T23:34:00.000-04:002012-06-17T23:34:10.824-04:00Fun with ScallopsThe touch tank is coming along nicely so far this summer. We are getting everything ready so it is perfect for when we get our programs going! Upon visiting the tank today for a little cleaning and dinnertime I was caught by passengers returning from a cruise on the Thomas Laighton. I even had a few curious people come sneak a peak while I had the tank open. One inquisitive little girl was enjoying the tank very much. I was telling her about the scallops we have in the tank and showing her at all the little black dots inside the shell are eyes! As I picked up our largest scallop (about 3 inches in diameter) out of the water, it squirted water right into her face! After a little shock we were all able to laugh about it, but the girl wasn't feeling very open to holding a scallop anymore. The reason the scallop squirted the water was an escape method. Scallops actually can swim, to an extent, by opening and closing their shells quickly. The water that is forced out propels them through the water, very similar to a jellyfish. Scallops are very interesting creatures and though they may seem a little mean by squirting people, it was only trying to escape and the little girl just happened to be standing in the right spot.<br />
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We'd love for you to come learn about the scallops for yourselves and maybe you'll be lucky enough to be greeted by them as the little girl was! Or if you prefer to stay dry they are very interesting to look at through the tank walls. </div>
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Contact us now to see the touch tank!</div>
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www.BlueOceanSociety.org</div>
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603-431-0260</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-31040864748758902592012-05-31T21:30:00.001-04:002012-05-31T21:30:45.309-04:00We're back!It's just about June, and that means it's just about summer! Though it seems the weather is already in summer mode! This time of year means we're itching to get the touch tank up and running as I'm sure you all are as well. We've been busy collecting critters and already got a fun group. Lots of different crabs, and of all sizes! So far we have rock crabs, a green crab, asian shore crabs, and hermit crabs! We also have lots of sea stars and a few blood stars. A sea urchin and some sea anemones! Have you ever looked into the eyes of a scallop? We just added a couple to the tank so you should come check it out! And of course there are the mussels and barnacles which can be seen filter feeding!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea stars and a green sea urchin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crab pile! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermit Crab</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scallop!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding barnacles!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"flat periwinkle": small snail that lives on rockweed</td></tr>
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We are always adding more creatures so come and see for yourself. Have a birthday coming up? Don't know what to do? Bring the kids to the touch tank and have a private session with the animals and one of our knowledgeable educators! For details and when to visit our touch tank see the info on our website or click this link. <a href="http://blueoceansociety.org/Education/touch_tank.html">Touch Tank Info</a></div>
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We (the creatures included) hope to see you soon!</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-58299975568444262922011-08-30T17:05:00.002-04:002011-08-30T17:07:48.872-04:00Closed for the SeasonDue to the hurricane this past weekend, we had to empty the Portsmouth touch tank and unfortunately will not be reopening for the last week of the 2011 season. Hopefully you got a chance to visit us earlier in the summer and enjoy some of the creatures from the Gulf of Maine. See you next year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-78673769259025760642011-08-27T14:05:00.000-04:002011-08-27T14:05:01.549-04:00Update Re: Hurricane IreneWe're taking precautions due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene and will be putting the tank in storage at least while the weather passes - so the tank will be closed from this afternoon (Saturday) until further notice. Will keep you posted!Jen Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society Exec. Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04776607537381206071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-71414673655744313552011-08-24T16:11:00.004-04:002011-08-24T16:26:14.334-04:00Periwinkles!
<br />Our featured creature at the Portsmouth touch tank this week is the periwinkle! Our junior intern, Willy Jones, wrote a great article about these animals in this month's Blue Ocean Society e-newsletter, which can be found here: <a href="http://www.enewsarchive.com/blueoceansociety">http://www.enewsarchive.com/blueoceansociety</a> .<div>
<br /></div><div>We had some great periwinkle-themed crafts at the touch tank today, thanks to our intern, Callie! Today was her last day as she heads back to school next week - a big thanks to Callie and all of our touch tank interns and volunteers for their help this summer!</div><div>
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PMfHKkzLTCjgMEGA5Wi54GPBSwe6fKA0OG8r9GmVo5kCHGwDLVoogLCJmd8wleXhOZgMU4lpXykcidOFx3leRFXQSgCF3syAmxZnqcjWbGpbAZyK-c_0dCX8bEr-EmiRsTrMsy_xtnA/s1600/peri2.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PMfHKkzLTCjgMEGA5Wi54GPBSwe6fKA0OG8r9GmVo5kCHGwDLVoogLCJmd8wleXhOZgMU4lpXykcidOFx3leRFXQSgCF3syAmxZnqcjWbGpbAZyK-c_0dCX8bEr-EmiRsTrMsy_xtnA/s320/peri2.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644521180787790722" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCIAf2vkjxS_vBp2i5PR56XnVj7TGEHCYO-oSCNOW59TobbpWFQZRx1RfMOOnkvzKTTXvv07FCJRB_KU3jdQINTwyrUh4Qpx1-Qoq2jiAayH9ht5W-WMstsHDoWPvcDzE_wHubAbGoWk/s1600/peri1.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCIAf2vkjxS_vBp2i5PR56XnVj7TGEHCYO-oSCNOW59TobbpWFQZRx1RfMOOnkvzKTTXvv07FCJRB_KU3jdQINTwyrUh4Qpx1-Qoq2jiAayH9ht5W-WMstsHDoWPvcDzE_wHubAbGoWk/s320/peri1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644521180618735890" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdq7hZbrXFRF7rlec8T8ewKbZo2dgwMdZULnUfwuGAIYAbsQOBaMtJM2SeIs6uJs4URVwAe_p8AZUbFkIv8IhKOYzTb-fh9e6-oFFEs6izfmsX2xfsobz4IyNHfXpyqXaGUomHvK-25A/s1600/facep.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdq7hZbrXFRF7rlec8T8ewKbZo2dgwMdZULnUfwuGAIYAbsQOBaMtJM2SeIs6uJs4URVwAe_p8AZUbFkIv8IhKOYzTb-fh9e6-oFFEs6izfmsX2xfsobz4IyNHfXpyqXaGUomHvK-25A/s320/facep.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644521175014884498" /></a>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951619041381539702.post-13751483704123433172011-08-17T15:54:00.004-04:002011-08-17T15:58:17.323-04:00MummichogsWe had some great visitors at the touch tank today, along with wonderful weather! We have quite a few mummichogs in the tank right now, in addition to lobsters, crabs, hermit crabs, sea urchins, moon snails, and sea anemones. <div>
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOXw8TicgmDjY3Gz1lmMq4hJ4HH-zzPp_YqYEc2gSGnCD4CK_ftupEbVl0KpArsBsm-QxVz_w6yG8Kk0zp7-V9OeObvuRcwwimiKN1QW_N1dcVq5jXQVFF1GpD5CUh7bREGX2NvWpwKw/s1600/m3.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOXw8TicgmDjY3Gz1lmMq4hJ4HH-zzPp_YqYEc2gSGnCD4CK_ftupEbVl0KpArsBsm-QxVz_w6yG8Kk0zp7-V9OeObvuRcwwimiKN1QW_N1dcVq5jXQVFF1GpD5CUh7bREGX2NvWpwKw/s320/m3.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641916029472243506" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u>
<br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwzl_Mh4tH628xkEsmsAFun1upnkhIQcZXb5plSstgyexdJf-HTCBUd_q94WTXt2bx_yGlofKB15f3V8vDKBiBJ6Epk4z-xxGGGp6gtZUncUAt7W2lqYd2U0GIqtNKGgYGXj6kpIDvhc/s1600/m2.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwzl_Mh4tH628xkEsmsAFun1upnkhIQcZXb5plSstgyexdJf-HTCBUd_q94WTXt2bx_yGlofKB15f3V8vDKBiBJ6Epk4z-xxGGGp6gtZUncUAt7W2lqYd2U0GIqtNKGgYGXj6kpIDvhc/s320/m2.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641916030464497666" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2q6gJW456I_Ml4I6ndKLVf9Kn-soHY6f-9c9mp_46KT2JN8hhP8sq2AGF5nmhVqSV020XZAkLyQg3APfh-UGcNssfmBNSNTGrU4qlKVzB6Wc-QCR0vfqD6Fo2zFz6oF2GuDMt_oo6G4/s1600/m1.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2q6gJW456I_Ml4I6ndKLVf9Kn-soHY6f-9c9mp_46KT2JN8hhP8sq2AGF5nmhVqSV020XZAkLyQg3APfh-UGcNssfmBNSNTGrU4qlKVzB6Wc-QCR0vfqD6Fo2zFz6oF2GuDMt_oo6G4/s320/m1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641916024001202482" /></a>
<br /><div>Stop by this week to visit these fish or any of our other great creatures! We are open Wed-Sun from 8:30 am to 2 pm. </div><div>
<br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0