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Where are you? 🌊

Tap a habitat to start exploring. We'll show you what to look for.

Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin NEW
15 species · 5 ecoregions
Sea Otters
Sea Otters
Most popular habitat
Open Sea
Open Sea
Walk with sharks
👇
Touch Pool
67 touchable species
Seabird Aviary
Seabird Aviary
Puffins, murres & more
Sandy Coast
Sandy Coast
Masters of disguise
Seals & Sea Lions
Seals & Sea Lions
Find the oldest harbor seal on record — 51!
Don't miss these — most guests walk right past!
Jellies
Jelly Gallery
10 mesmerizing species
Passages of the Deep
Passages of the Deep
Walk-through tunnel

Up Next

LIVE
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Get a reminder 10 minutes before each feeding and presentation.

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VR
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All Habitats

Junior Aquarist

Discover the Coast

Welcome to the Junior Aquarist Booklet

Complete activities to earn points toward your Junior Aquarist badge! Level 1 Aquarium Activities = 1 point. Level 2 Jr. Aquarist Tasks = 2 points.

Points: 0 / 4
About the Aquarium

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!

Jr. Aquarist Task: Staff Interview (2 pts)

Find an aquarium staff member and ask these questions:

Jr. Aquarist Task: Learn From An Expert (2 pts each)

Check off the presentations or feedings you watch:

Aquarium Activity: Water Cycle (1 pt)

An estuary is where a river meets the ocean. Fresh water and salt water mix here. Let's explore the water cycle!

🍔

Burger Calculator

1 point

How many quarter-pound burgers would you need to eat daily if you ate like an otter?

🌊

Tidepool Zone Test

1 point

Match 6 animals to their tide zone:

Barnacle
Crab
Mussel
Eelgrass
Sea Anemone
Sea Star
🦭

Pinniped ID

2 points

🦭

Sea Lion or Harbor Seal?

Aquarium Activity: Turkey Vultures (1 pt)

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:

🦅 = E
🕷️ = F
🌵 = G
🐋 = H
🦈 = I
🦐 = L
🪼 = M
🌴 = N
🐙 = O
🦀 = R
⭐ = S
🐢 = T
🦆 = U

How do turkey vultures find their food?

🦆 ⭐ 🐙 🌵
⭐ 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐐
🪼 🦐 🦐 🦐
Jr. Aquarist Task: Sea Otter Adaptations (2 pts)
Tools Pockets Thick Fur Feet

Did You Know? Otters love enrichment toys! They play with objects they find and create tools to help them survive.

Food Consumption Comparison

🦦 Sea Otter
25% daily
🐦 Pelican
15% daily
🦈 Shark
6% monthly

Otter Burger Calculator

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:

Jr. Aquarist Task: Food Web (2 pts)

A food web shows how energy flows through an ecosystem. Organisms eat other organisms, creating connections called food chains.

Pacific Coast Species

🐙
Giant Pacific Octopus
🦦
Sea Otters
🦭
Harbor Seal
⭐
Sunflower Sea Stars
🐦
Common Murre
🦪
Abalone & Molluscs
🌊
Sea Urchin
🐟
Forage Fish
🌿
Kelp & Algae
💧
Plankton

Which food web connections did you identify?

Jr. Aquarist Task: Pinnipeds (2 pts)

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.

🦭 California Sea Lion

🦭 Harbor Seal

Hint: Look for flipper books near the viewing windows!

Aquarium Activity: Sandy Coast (1 pt)

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.

Flatfish Adaptations Quiz

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.

Aquarium Activity: Rocky Coast - Tidepool Test (1 pt)

Match each animal to its tidepool zone:

D. Splash/Spray Zone

C. High Tide Zone

B. Mid Tide Zone

A. Low Tide Zone

Tidepool Safety Tips
PREP
  • ✓ Check tide tables before you go
  • ✓ Bring a tidep ool identification guidebook
  • ✓ Wear sturdy shoes with good grip
  • ✓ Bring a bag for trash
PROTECT YOURSELF
  • ✓ Watch out for sneaker waves
  • ✓ Keep an eye on the tide
  • ✓ Be careful what you touch—some animals sting
  • ✓ Watch your step on slippery rocks
PROTECT THE POOLS
  • ✓ Stand on the edges, not in the pools
  • ✓ Walk on bare rock when possible
  • ✓ Put rocks and seaweed back where you found them
  • ✓ Don't pull, poke, or pick up animals
  • ✓ Carry all trash out with you
Aquarium Activity: Word Search (1 pt)
LIMPETCKIYROCKSGA
GONGULLSKSEASTARA
ULWTKURCHINCHITOL
ICANEMONEGFEEDSSG
LHVSLRLYOUAAEELFA
LHIESPATMUSSELSMP
ETSEECRILLNUGCOEE
MOSEAWEEDNAIRPOTS
ONANMOOSSAIMAFNNA
TCRABARNACLESLUSN
NUDIBRANCHLCSTASD

Find these words:

Nature Trail

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!

Jr. Aquarist Task: Connected Coasts (2 pts)

Did You Know? All oceans are connected by ocean currents. Trash that enters one ocean can travel thousands of miles!

Choose a trash item and trace its journey to the ocean:

Final Reflection:

Where in this path could we interrupt this item's journey to the ocean?

Beyond the Badge: Take Action!
1 Become an Oregon Coast Aquarium Member
2 Discuss reducing plastic pollution with your family
3 Learn to be a good observer of nature
4 Join a citizen science project (scistarter.org, iNaturalist Seek, Marine Debris Tracker, Oregon Shores CoastWatch)
5 Adopt One Block, Adopt a Drain, or participate in a beach cleanup
6 Be a responsible shopper—choose sustainable products
7 Consider becoming a Youth Volunteer (age 14+)
8 Visit a State Park and explore Jr. Ranger programs
9 Make up your own project to help the ocean!

Resources:

scistarter.org | iNaturalist Seek | Marine Debris Tracker | Oregon Shores CoastWatch | National Wildlife Federation | Ocean Conservancy

Your Achievement
Earn your Junior Aquarist Badge!

Explore
by Habitat 🌊

Tap a habitat to see the animals that live there.

Your
Checklist ✓

Check off animals as you spot them. Earn ranks as you go.

Found 0 / 264
0% complete 264 to go
🎉
Rank Unlocked
Explorer
About 40% of visitors
You've checked off 25 animals. Keep going!
Oregon Coast Aquarium
My Visit •
🌊
Rank Earned
Explorer
0
Animals
0%
Complete
About 40% of visitors
aquarium.org · #OregonCoastAquarium

Plan
Your Visit 🗺️

Pick a route that matches your time, interests, and crew. Tap any route to see the full path.

🧭

Pick Your Route

💡 Tips Before You Go

  • • Check the lobby monitor for today's live feedings & talks.
  • • Tidepool touch pool hours vary — ask a staff member.
  • • Stroller-friendly paths throughout; ask at admissions for a map.
  • • Bring a refillable water bottle — stations are throughout.
Dining
Daily Schedule

Today's Schedule

Feedings & presentations happen every day

Events

2026 Events Calendar

Day events, special celebrations, and seasonal happenings at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

🎟️ Unless noted, all day event activities are included with general admission.
Full calendar at aquarium.org →
Trading Cards

OCA Trading Card
Collection

Collect them all! Tap a card to mark it as collected and track your progress.

0 of 0 collected
🎁 Full sets & random packs coming soon to the Gift Shop!
Artwork Guide

🎨 Artwork Field Guide

Explore 109 illustrated species across 6 zones. Tap each artwork as you spot it throughout the exhibit!

0 of 109 artwork spotted
📏
Size
🍽️
Diet
Route
Title