Dive into ocean science at the Alaska SeaLife Center

SEWARD — "Everyone in Alaska is connected to the ocean, they just may not know how." So said Darin Trobaugh, one of four educators at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. As we sat in the classroom of a marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility on a snowless November afternoon, Trobaugh's comment was both stark and enlightening.

My family and I had taken advantage of a day off work and school to visit the center, a popular attraction for visitors, especially during the tourist-heavy summer months. But far more goes on than what people see from behind the glassed-in enclosures housing birds, marine mammals, and fish. Especially this time of year.

The only marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in Alaska and a place to find ocean science curriculum for schoolchildren, the SeaLife Center operates a thriving education department. Committed to imparting a sense of wonder about science learning, SeaLife Center staffers spend much of their time on the ground, in front of a video camera or ankle-deep in the briny waters of Resurrection Bay, hoping kids will become excited about oceans.

Oceans are fragile, despite their enormity, and are critical to Earth. Ecosystems connect with each other, and us, no matter where we live. Trobaugh and his cohorts, from animal-care specialists to volunteers, want kids and their parents to learn.

[Massive die-offs of sea stars, other species in Kachemak Bay]

There are several methods, Trobaugh said. Each is unique, personal and age-appropriate, whether visitors are on vacation with their families or sitting in classrooms a thousand miles from Seward.

Ocean Sciences Club

During middle and high school years, science often morphs from simple to more-complex concepts. It's also the perfect age for action based upon real-life observations. In 2012, the SeaLife Center created the Ocean Sciences Club to bridge the gap between physical and biological science as well as the "Why should I care?" attitude many tweens and teens express about ideas they think have nothing to do with their lives.

Alex Havens is moderator of the club. Easygoing and relatable to the 15 or so club members who range in age from 12 to 18, Havens tries to connect the dots between oceans and daily life.

"I'm hoping to bring more hands-on, exploration-based experiences this year," he said, including sediment traps for the bottom of Resurrection Bay and a field trip to nearby AVTEC vocational school for a spin in the maritime simulator. The kids are a diverse group — boys and girls with a range of experience and interest in science-themed activities, so Havens tries to provide a diverse lineup of projects. The kids have dissected squid, they've spent time in the animal-care section of the center and have worked on developing underwater mapping techniques. Meeting once a week during the school year, the club aims to be a gathering place for gaining broader knowledge about their little section of the Pacific Ocean. There is no charge to belong, either.

[Check out Ocean Sciences Club]

Animal encounters

Southcentral kids are familiar with the Alaska SeaLife Center, and most make at least one field trip to Seward during their school years. Families also rely upon the center as a can't-miss destination for visitors, coupled with day cruises and hikes on local trails. But the next time you go, consider adding an up-close encounter with the resident creatures, some of which live behind the scenes in the center's inner sanctum.

From marine-mammal-care tours or a chance to feed an 8-armed cephalopod, the SeaLife Center tries to appeal to a broad range of interests. Our tour last week, the Octopus Encounter, was an hour of immersion into these fascinating animals' habits, intelligence and personalities. Did you know an octopus has three hearts and their copper-based blood turns clear when exposed to air? Or that their beak is the only hard part on their entire body, meaning an octopus can squeeze through anything their two-inch beak will fit through? Further, baby octopuses (and you do say "octopuses," because the root of the word is Greek, not Latin) are so fragile that fewer than 1 percent of the 20,000 eggs laid by a female survive.

Jaws dropped around the room when tour guide and center fellow Kate Mayberry shared this tidbit of information and added that ocean health is critical to the creatures' survival. 

We swirled pieces of crab in the icy water of Leo the giant Pacific octopus' enclosure, waiting for his lanky, sucker-filled arms to appear and wrap around our fingers; when he did, the strength was impressive.

Animal encounters range in price, depending on the tour, and are suitable for school-aged kids.

Tip: Visit the SeaLife Center for free on Wednesdays through February, and pay only for the encounter experience, a real saver for parents.

Distance learning

For kids who can't get to Seward, the Alaska SeaLife Center education department has a distance-learning program providing comprehensive information and interaction with center staff. Trobaugh told me they serve classrooms and groups from as far away as the Dominican Republic and Australia. Educators receive a packet of materials prior to linking up with the center via video conferencing, with a virtual tour starting off every session.

[Distance-learning program]

I asked Trobaugh how kids can use what they learn in their lives. His reply about oceans mattering to us all made me push further about ways kids can become stewards — even if they live in Interior Alaska or the Yukon Territory.

"If you think about it," Trobaugh said reflectively, "Our oceans connect to all water in Alaska. The rivers, the salmon, all begin or end in the ocean."

Get to know water where you live, he continued. Walk the shorelines of local lakes, rivers and streams and become acquainted with plants and animals. Pick up trash, especially plastics (the SeaLife Center has a great way to gauge your family's use of plastics through a calendar system, and it's worth asking about). Become conscious of your own water use at home and school.

Above all, Trobaugh said as we walked through the classroom doors toward a touch tank of sea urchins, sea anemones and tiny crabs, be aware.

And take care of our oceans. They're ours.

If you go: Alaska SeaLife Center

Seward information: Allow two to three hours to reach Seward in winter. Drivers should be prepared for snow or ice. Info: www.seward.com.

Hours: The SeaLife Center is open noon-5 p.m. daily through Feb. 26, 2017. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Admission: Adults (13 and up), $21.95; seniors (65 and up) $19.95; child (4-12) $11.95; babies (3 and under) free. The center is free on Wednesdays through Feb. 22, 2017.

Erin Kirkland is author of "Alaska On the Go: Exploring the 49th State with Children" and publisher of AKontheGO.com, a family travel and outdoor recreation resource. She lives in Anchorage.