Family Fun Day - A Success

Over 550 people visited Dolphin Research Center on Saturday, September 10th for Family Fun Day.  Florida Keys residents were admitted free.  Everyone else received 2-for-1 admission.  In addition to watching dolphins and sea lions in action and splashing in the Sprayground, guests took part in special activities like an information scavenger hunt, presentations on Who Polluted the Bay and Eat the Reef.  Kids enjoyed craft projects to make colorful reef fish or sea turtles from old DVD or CD disks.  Home Depot donated clay pots and other supplies that kids could paint and then use to plant their own mangroves.
Everyone had a fantastic time!
Thank you all for coming and enjoying DRC.  We and the dolphins sure enjoyed seeing you.



Using fun food items like marshmallows and graham crackers, kids learn how coral reefs form.  (They then ate their reefs.)



Young guests are fascinated by manatee and dolphin skulls, bones and other artifacts.  In this photo, volunteers Viv Gilbertson  (left) and Carol Miller (center) talk to the children about the display.

All of the dolphins enjoyed the attention they received that day.  In this picture Rainbow, along with trainer Wade Davey, talk to guests about dolphins different abilities.

Join us September 10th for Family Fun Day!

A day around dolphins is always special. Right, Santini?

Dolphin Fun is Ageless and Timeless!

Recently, a 95 year old woman visited Dolphin Research Center to try something she'd longed dreamed of experiencing.

Louise Spencer and members of her family enjoyed a Dolphin Encounter with Santini.  Although DRC staff was on hand to provide assistance to Louise, clearly she didn't need it.  She and Santini shared a spectacular dorsal tow through the lagoon!

Her visit inspired us all to remember that you're never too old to have fun and you should experience your dreams whenever possible.

Go Louise!

Happy Birthday to Sandy!

Thirty two years ago today, Sandy was born.  He must have been an adorable calf and he grew into a handsome guy almost nine and a half feet long!  Some consider him shy and then they get to know his energetic "dolphinality" and his ability to create some of the most entertaining ad-libbed behaviors of any dolphin in the pod.

Born at Sea World in Florida, he later moved to New England Aquarium where he met Rainbow.  These two then joined the DRC family in October, 1991.

Happy Birthday, San-Man!  We love you.

Spaces remain in DRC's summer Adult DolphinLab courses. Interact with, and learn from, dolphins! www.dolphins.org/dolphin_lab.php.

DRC on Florida Keys Adventures!

If you live in Florida and your local provider carries the public television station WLRN, please tune in to watch this week's episode of Florida Keys Adventures.  Dolphin Research Center is featured in the episode!

The program airs on Tuesday night (July 19th) at 9:00 p.m. and then repeats on Saturday (July 23rd) at 7:30 p.m.  Please check with your local provider for the actual channel number.

The footage was filmed over two years ago and some changes have occurred since that time, but the essence and spirit of DRC remain the same.

We'll be watching!