AQUARIUM OF BOISE UPDATE

     Nathan Hall updated us on the progress of the "Aquarium of Boise" during our October 22nd meeting.  After a history of past legal and financial problems, things are settling down and the aquarium has a new board of directors and things are moving forward. 

     This last year over 120,000 visitors and 20,000 school children form Idaho, Oregon, and California  passed through its doors. The Aquarium relies on community partners for funding.  It is forward focused on education, which is the heart of its vision, along with conservation. 

     One of the favorite and most exciting pieces of equipment is their "live diver submarine" which is a submersible computer run video camera.  This can be run as a "virtual field" trip to schools where students can "live chat" while observing and learning while they watch the sharks and other fish in that exhibit. Distant schools can take advantage these interactive outreach programs.

     Another fun educational program is the "shark egg in the classroom", where the aquarium setsa classroom up with a shark egg tank, and the class takes care and observes it for 3 months, and when the shark hatches, then the aquarium takes it back into their exhibit.  Very Cool!

     The Aquarium is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. and is located at 64 North Cole Road, near the corner of Franklin and Cole.