Your companion for exploring Oregon Coast Aquarium. Find animals, plan your route, and check them off your list.
5 species found
Rocky touch pool
8 glowing species
Feeding times
Take the 8-question quiz
Find your way around
5 films now showing
Cafe & coffee shop
Discover the Coast
Complete activities to earn points toward your Junior Aquarist badge! Level 1 Aquarium Activities = 1 point. Level 2 Jr. Aquarist Tasks = 2 points.
Our Mission: We create special experiences connecting people with the living Pacific, inspiring ocean conservation and environmental stewardship.
Did you know? The Oregon Coast Aquarium is one of only three marine wildlife care facilities in the Pacific Northwest. We care for animals that cannot be released back to the ocean.
Remember: We depend on the oceans, and they depend on us!
Find an aquarium staff member and ask these questions:
Check off the presentations or feedings you watch:
An estuary is where a river meets the ocean. Fresh water and salt water mix here. Let's explore the water cycle!
1 point
How many quarter-pound burgers would you need to eat daily if you ate like an otter?
1 point
Match 6 animals to their tide zone:
2 points
You've earned your Junior Aquarist Badge!
Did You Know? Turkey vultures are scavengers that eat dead animals. They help protect ecosystems by cleaning up carrion. They find food using an amazing sense of smell!
Decode the message using the cipher key:
How do turkey vultures find their food?
Did You Know? Otters love enrichment toys! They play with objects they find and create tools to help them survive.
A sea otter can eat 25% of its body weight in one day! Enter your weight to see how many quarter-pound burgers that would be:
A food web shows how energy flows through an ecosystem. Organisms eat other organisms, creating connections called food chains.
Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, walruses) live in the ocean but must come ashore to rest and breed. Some animals at the aquarium cannot be released, so they live here permanently.
Hint: Look for flipper books near the viewing windows!
Flatfish are masters of camouflage! They hide on sandy and muddy ocean bottoms. Both of their eyes can move to the top of their head to look upward.
1. How do flatfish hide from predators?
2. Where are both of a flatfish's eyes located?
3. How do flatfish avoid being swept away by currents?
Eelgrass Community: Sandy areas with eelgrass support diverse communities. These plants filter water and provide food and shelter.
Match each animal to its tidepool zone:
| L | I | M | P | E | T | C | K | I | Y | R | O | C | K | S | G | A |
| G | O | N | G | U | L | L | S | K | S | E | A | S | T | A | R | A |
| U | L | W | T | K | U | R | C | H | I | N | C | H | I | T | O | L |
| I | C | A | N | E | M | O | N | E | G | F | E | E | D | S | S | G |
| L | H | V | S | L | R | L | Y | O | U | A | A | E | E | L | F | A |
| L | H | I | E | S | P | A | T | M | U | S | S | E | L | S | M | P |
| E | T | S | E | E | C | R | I | L | L | N | U | G | C | O | E | E |
| M | O | S | E | A | W | E | E | D | N | A | I | R | P | O | T | S |
| O | N | A | N | M | O | O | S | S | A | I | M | A | F | N | N | A |
| T | C | R | A | B | A | R | N | A | C | L | E | S | L | U | S | N |
| N | U | D | I | B | R | A | N | C | H | L | C | S | T | A | S | D |
Find these words:
Did You Know? The Oregon Coast Aquarium Nature Trail is certified as a National Wildlife Foundation Habitat!
The site was once a lumber mill over 30 years ago. Now it's 30 acres of restored native plants with over 100 species. Groundskeepers use environmentally friendly methods.
Habitat for: Bumblebees, hummingbirds, butterflies, beetles, ants, moths, and many more species!
Did You Know? All oceans are connected by ocean currents. Trash that enters one ocean can travel thousands of miles!
Final Reflection:
Where in this path could we interrupt this item's journey to the ocean?
Resources:
scistarter.org | iNaturalist Seek | Marine Debris Tracker | Oregon Shores CoastWatch | National Wildlife Federation | Ocean Conservancy
Tap a habitat to see the animals that live there.
Check off animals as you spot them. Earn ranks as you go.
Pick a route that matches your time, interests, and crew. Tap any route to see the full path.