April 1, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

A Whale of a Weekend

By Sam Skopp

Every year, when Pacific Gray Whales migrate through the Pacific Coast, Santa Monica Pier Aquarium hosts its “Whale of a Weekend” event, designed to educate visitors to the aquarium about whales and their migration route, and hopefully, helps visitors see some whales themselves. Feb. 11 and 12, the event returned to the aquarium, featuring both whale education in the aquarium proper, as well as a wildlife observation station set up at the end of the pier, guiding anyone interested in spotting ocean wildlife.

In the aquarium itself, materials were set up providing detailed information about the Pacific gray whales, currently making their way through the Pacific coast, as well as other species of whales found elsewhere in the world. Also included alongside these displays were whale bones, vertebrae, baleen plates, and more.

“At the aquarium we have a lot of different artifact displays,” said the aquarium’s Public Programs Manager Jenna Segal.

At the wildlife observation station, experts guided visitors in using binoculars to spot aquatic creatures, which included sea birds, dolphins, and hopefully Pacific gray whales. The station also allowed kids to color in their own whale stickers, and offered education on the effects of global climate change on whale migration patterns.

“We love to see families involved,” said Segal. “It’s not only the adults but the kids who have a great time learning about these gentle giants.”

In addition to the whale-centric activities, the aquarium launched a new virtual reality experience, designed to mimic a 360 degree deep dive into a kelp forest. The VR experience will now remain at the aquarium, and a more in-depth version, with a headset and increased interactivity will be added to coincide with the aquarium’s “S.T.E.A.M. machines” Rube Goldberg machine event.

For more information about upcoming events and everything else at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, visit healthebay.org/aquarium.

Whale artifacts and displays in the aquarium for the event.

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: Heal the Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Posts

Mid-City Freeway Death Under Investigation After Caltrans Workers Find Blanket-Covered Body

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Woman Discovered on 10 Freeway Shoulder Identified; CHP Launches Probe Caltrans workers discovered a woman’s dead body around 9:00 a.m....

Community Support Saves Beloved West Hollywood Café from Closure

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Packed Tables and Emotional Messages Helped Keep the Doors Open Le Petit Four, the popular Sunset Boulevard café known for...

Egg Beaters Recalled Over Possible Chemical Contamination

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Massive Liquid Egg Recall Includes California Shipments Cargill Kitchen Solutions is recalling approximately 212,268 pounds of liquid egg products after...

Los Angeles County’s Measure A Raises Sales Tax On April 1, And It’s No Joke

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Culver City, and Malibu Will See Higher Increases Starting April 1, Los Angeles County residents will...

Robbery Boast on Instagram Helps Send Beverly Hills Heist Suspect to Prison

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Flashy Post, Federal Time: Smash-and-Grab Mastermind Sentenced Ladell Tharpe, 39, received an 84-month sentence from U.S. District Judge George H....

Culver City Rolls Out Hi-Lo Siren to Warn Residents During Emergencies

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Hi-Lo Warning System Activated: Culver City Adds New Evacuation Tool In an effort to strengthen emergency preparedness and public safety,...

Union Workers at UCLA to Strike April 1 Over Staffing Shortages, Labor Disputes

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Healthcare and Research Staff at UC to Strike, Alleging Unfair Labor Practices More than 20,000 healthcare, research, and technical professionals...

School of Rock Students Shine in Winter Performance Despite Widespread Fires

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Summer Camp Registration Opens Now By Susan Payne Wildfire devastation wreaked havoc in areas of Los Angeles this January with...

Full House Creator’s Cielo Drive Estate Returns With Massive Price Drop

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Franklin’s Mansion, Once the Site of the Manson Tragedy, Back on Market Full House creator Jeff Franklin is returning to...

Santa Monica, Beverly Hills See Real Estate Shifts After L.A. Wildfires

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Beverly Hills and Brentwood Listings Triple in Wake of January Fires Home sales and listings have shifted dramatically across Westside...

Deputies Open Fire on Suspect in West Hollywood, Triggering Street Closures

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Suspect Shot by LASD in West Hollywood Domestic Violence Response Authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday evening in...

West Hollywood Resident Returns, Vandalizes Property, 30 Minutes After Eviction

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

“Neighbor From Hell” Tried to Re-Enter His Apartment and Damaged Property Valentino Lopez, a 41 year old, male Hispanic, was...

New Deadline, More Access: LA County Debris Program Expands Scope, Extends Signup

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Officials Broaden Scope to Help More Residents, Encourage Early Submission Los Angeles County officials have announced that FEMA has agreed...

Judge to L.A. Leaders: ‘I Am Your Worst Nightmare’ in Scathing Homeless Spending Rebuke

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Carter Warns of Court Intervention if City and County Fail to Fix Broken Systems U.S. District Judge David O. Carter,...

Mayor Karen Bass Texts Sent During the Palisades Fire Have Been Released

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Newly Recovered Texts Were Recovered After Sharp Criticism Over Deletions As wildfires swept through Los Angeles in early January, Mayor...