Aquarium - GEAR UP—Ignite Belief

News Releases

Bokoshe GEAR UP students visited the Symphony by the Sea at the Oklahoma Aquarium

April 30, 2020

Eighteen Bokoshe eighth and ninth grade GEAR UP students recently attended Symphony by the Sea at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Aquarium partnered with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra to create an experience combining both arts and science. The students were guided by Oklahoma Aquarium Education Specialist, Alyssa Rodriguez, through three galleries in the aquarium to learn about a particular animal or habitat from the aquarium combined with a selected musical ensemble. Bokoshe GEAR

Rattan eighth grade GEAR UP students visit the Oklahoma Aquarium

May 20, 2019

GEAR UP eight grade students from Rattan recently visited the Oklahoma Aquarium. Students visited the maze of exhibits. Students enjoyed the touch tanks where they touched crawfish and sponges. They also liked the feeding tanks where they fed turtles. There are many exhibits for students to explore. They visited Aquatic Oklahoma, where students saw prehistoric paddlefish, alligators, and feed turtles. They continued their tour with Extreme Amazon, where students viewed fish up close, crawled under

Rattan seventh grade GEAR UP students visit the Oklahoma Aquarium

May 20, 2019

Rattan seventh-grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma Aquarium. Students walked through the maze of exhibits on a self-guided tour. The Oklahoma Aquarium is divided into several areas that feature water life from around the world as well as here at home in Oklahoma. The most popular displays were the touch tanks that are the home to fish and sponges and the feeding tanks where students fed turtles and stingrays. Exhibits visited included Aquatic

Poteau seventh grade girls tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

April 3, 2019

Sixty-nine Poteau GEAR UP seventh grade students recently traveled to Jenks to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. The aquarium allowed students to self-explore the nine exhibits it houses, including the most recent exhibit, the Polynesian Reef. There are several touch tanks that allow students a hands-on experience with aquatic creatures. The Polynesian Reef exhibit is home to many species of fish and coral. Yellowtail coris can be found in this exhibit. In order to maximize their

Poteau seventh grade boys visit the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks

April 3, 2019

Forty-four seventh grade Poteau GEAR UP students recently travel to the Oklahoma Aquarium. The aquarium is home to many species of fish, sharks, and other sea life as well as wildlife native to Oklahoma. Students explored exhibits as well as touched aquatic animals up close and personal. The aquarium houses many touch tanks. Students were able to feel shrimp, starfish, muscles, sharks, and stingrays within these tanks. One exhibit, which held larger stingrays than the

Tannehill seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students visit the Oklahoma Aquarium

April 2, 2019

Twenty Tannehill seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. Students began the day on the “Behind the Scenes” tour led by Jamie Gaylor, Oklahoma Aquarium Volunteer Coordinator. “Our moral responsibility is to give the animals the very best quality of life,” Gaylor said. “Animal welfare comes before anything else at the aquarium.” The first stop on the tour was Sea Turtle Island, an exhibit that is home to

Spiro seventh grade GEAR UP students visit Oklahoma Aquarium

January 10, 2019

Sixty-seven Spiro seventh grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Jenks to tour the Oklahoma Aquarium. Students began the morning with an introduction to by Education Specialist Michelle Zarantonello. The tour began with a visit to Reasor’s Shrimp Boat Exhibit where students enjoyed putting their hands in tanks to feed and feel the shrimp. Students toured Amazing Invertebrates to explore the spineless wonders of the world, including sponges, barnacles, starfish, and sea urchins. Students were

Spiro Middle School GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

January 7, 2019

Sixty-four GEAR UP students from Spiro Middle School recently traveled to Jenks to tour the Oklahoma Aquarium. Upon arrival, the eighth graders explored the aquarium and eight exhibits which includes the Amazing Invertebrates exhibit, which explores the spineless wonders of the world featuring sponges, barnacles, starfish, and sea urchins. Other exhibits included Extreme fishes, Marvels and Mysteries, and Aquatic Oklahoma. The Aquatic Oklahoma exhibit features a 120-year-old alligator snapping turtle, a seven-foot-long alligator gar, and

Panola GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

July 10, 2018

Panola GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. Students toured the aquarium and was given a behind–the–scenes tour of the kitchen where they prepare meals for all the exhibits and a behind–the–scenes tour of the shark tank. Panola students identifying multiple aquatic species along the way. The students started the walkthrough by visiting the Amazing Intervertebrates exhibit. Students touched and learned about starfish and stingrays. Next on the walkthrough they visited the

Cameron GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

July 6, 2018

Twenty-four Cameron 6th and 7th grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Jenks to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. Students were given a personal tour of the Aquarium by Education Specialists Michelle Zarantonello including some “behind the scenes” looks. The tour began in the Shark Adventure exhibit which is home to ten bull sharks and three nurse sharks. The tank itself is made of acrylic which is four inches thick. While acrylic can scratch more easily

Porum GEAR UP sixth graders tour Tulsa Community College & Oklahoma Aquarium

March 28, 2018

Forty Porum GEAR UP sixth grade students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour Tulsa Community College (TCC) and Jenks to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at TCC led by Student Recruiters William Baldwin and Ali Castillo. Porum students saw numerous buildings and learned about various programs on the updated Southeast TCC campus. Students began the tour in Building 8, the Math and Science Building. Baldwin welcomed

Frink-Chambers GEAR UP 6th grade visits the Oklahoma Aquarium

March 27, 2018

Thirty-six Frink-Chambers sixth grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. Students were divided into two groups for the day. The first group started the day on the “Behind the Scenes” tour in the small animal holding facility led by Julia Gibson, Oklahoma Aquarium Education Specialist, while the other group toured the aquarium exhibits. After the first tour, the second group experienced the “Behind the Scenes” tour, while the first group toured

Eufaula GEAR UP seventh graders tour the OK Aquarium & Tulsa Community College Southeast Campus

March 27, 2018

Forty-two Eufaula GEAR UP students recently traveled to Jenks to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium and Tulsa to tour Tulsa Community College (TCC). Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at OK Aquarium. Education Specialist Michelle Zarantonello led students behind the scenes of the OK Aquarium exhibits. The tour started at the newest addition to the aquarium, Sea Turtle Island. The exhibit features a 300-pound loggerhead turtle and many other species of fish.

Savanna GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

March 16, 2018

Thirty-two GEAR UP students from Savanna Public Schools recently traveled to Jenks to tour the Oklahoma Aquarium. The 6th and 7th graders explored the aquarium and visited the eight exhibits including the sites that focus on invertebrates, Oklahoma species, Ozark habitats, a coral reef, and sharks. Students enjoyed visiting the Sea Turtle Island exhibit which is home to two 300-pound loggerhead sea turtles, reef sharks and other tropical fish. The 56,000-gallon tank is surrounded by

Canadian GEAR UP sixth and seventh graders tour Tulsa Community College & OK Aquarium

March 16, 2018

Fifty-one Canadian GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour Tulsa Community College (TCC) and Jenks to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at the Southeast Campus of TCC. Student Recruiters William Baldwin and Ali Castillo led students through the beautiful campus. TCC is the third largest school in our state with enrollment numbers around 25,000 students. There are four main campuses in the Tulsa area.

Eufaula GEAR UP seventh graders tour the Oklahoma Aquarium & Tulsa Community College

March 15, 2018

Thirty Eufaula GEAR UP students recently traveled to Jenks to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium and Tulsa to tour Tulsa Community College (TCC). Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at OK Aquarium. Education Specialist Julia Gibson led students behind the scenes of the OK Aquarium exhibits. The “Inside Story” tour took students through the kitchen where biologist Bailey Hawkins was preparing meals for the animals. Next students got to see the shark

Eufaula GEAR UP sixth graders tour OK Aquarium & Tulsa Community College

March 12, 2018

Fifty-one Eufaula GEAR UP students recently traveled to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, then to Tulsa to tour Tulsa Community College (TCC). Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at OK Aquarium. Education Specialist Michelle Zarantonello led students through the back rooms that house the quarantine tanks. The “Swim into Science” tour was a behind the scenes tour of how the biologist tend to and prepare aquatic animals for the museum

Eufaula GEAR UP sixth graders tour OK Aquarium and Oral Roberts University

February 28, 2018

Fifty-one Eufaula GEAR UP students recently traveled to Jenks to visit the OK Aquarium. Then they traveled to Tulsa to tour Oral Roberts University (ORU). Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at the OK Aquarium let by Education Specialist Julia Gibson. Eufaula students participated in a “Swim Into Science” tour where special aquatic tanks are held outside of the main public sections of the aquarium. They visited the quarantine area where

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