Ridgefield elementary students get visit, presentation from Oregon Coast Aquarium staff

RIDGEFIELD — Students at South Ridge Elementary School had the opportunity to learn about the Oregon Coast Aquarium without the travel. Staff from the Newport, Ore.-based aquarium visited the school for a program called “Flippers, Fur and Fun,” to educate and entertain students about marine mammals. Staff showed videos of aquarium animals on the big screen, including Pacific harbor seals named Boots and Pinky, and a California sea lion named Max. To help children identify the differences between harbor seals and California sea lions, the staff called on two volunteers, students Jonah and Reese, who helped demonstrate. Other students spent some time doing the Seal Shimmy (a dance similar to the Hokey Pokey, but with flippers, whiskers and blubber). They practiced using their arms as flippers. Students laughed when they saw Jonah and Reese in costume. Each student took a turn coming forward to show the characteristics that distinguish each animal. Then they learned about how those animals are cared for at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and also examined seal and sea-lion pelts, skulls and bones.