Newport Aquarium's Wave Foundation Brings Mobile Aquatics Exhibits to Ripley Co.

Genesis: Pathways to Success enjoyed its second strong week of A Summer of STREAM with over 600 attendees.

(Ripley County, Ind.) - Genesis: Pathways to Success enjoyed its second strong week of A Summer of STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) programming as they welcomed The Newport Aquarium’s WAVE Foundation and their Mobile Aquatics Exhibits to communities across Ripley County. In total, the exhibitions reached over 660 attendees.

The WAVE Foundation visited the Bridge of Hope Worship Center in Milan and the Napoleon Community Building on Tuesday, June 6th, the Sunman Town Park on Wednesday, June 7th, and Liberty Park in Batesville and the Holdsworth Entertainment Pavilion in Versailles on Friday, June 9th. Each day featured different exhibitions, including the ‘Croc Talk’, ‘Tide Pool Creatures’, and ‘Science of Sharks’ exhibits respectively. These exhibits were open to all and provided attendees with an up-close experience of some of the most intriguing creatures of the sea.

Attendees were given the opportunity to view and interact with live creatures, ranging from Alligators, to Horseshoe Crabs, to Coral Cat sharks! This allowed community members to encounter and engage with wildlife that could not otherwise be seen locally. Attendees were also taught about these creatures’ habitats, biological processes, and defining features, which, while not overtly relevant to the immediate environment of Southeastern Indiana, served to connect those learners with the natural world. Particularly important in this regard was the focus of these exhibits on utilizing aquatic fauna to encourage learning in children and young adults.

This sentiment was reflected by Chris Loftus, one of the presenters of the ‘Science of Sharks’ exhibit, when asked about his favorite aspect of putting on these Mobile Aquatics Exhibits, “Seeing kids get excited. When they learn they can be a part of science, can engage with it in their communities, and get motivated about science education, that’s what’s exciting. A lot of kids think of science as a far away thing, so it’s great to see them realize that it is approachable and fun.” Approachable and fun is exactly what these exhibits were, and as Chris alludes to, they allowed children to encounter science outside of the classroom in a closer, more tangible way.

Beyond the aspects of scientific engagement, these exhibits served as community events, and occasions for gathering in public spaces. The value of camaraderie and community building cannot be overstated, and each exhibit had a sizable turn-out.

Genesis: Pathways to Success would like to thank The Newport Aquarium’s WAVE Foundation for being an outstanding partner, and for bringing their Mobile Aquatics Exhibits to Ripley County. We would also like to thank the Towns of Batesville, Milan, Napoleon, Sunman, and Versailles for welcoming us into their

community spaces, and for encouraging education locally. Genesis looks forward to partnering with the WAVE Foundation again in the near future.

If you would like to learn additional information about this summer activity, please visit www.genesisp2s.org. If you have questions regarding A Summer of STREAM, please contact the Director of Genesis: Pathways to Success, Clarice Patterson, by emailing cpatterson@genesisp2s.org, calling 812-933-1098, or visiting 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville, IN 47006.