The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the home of 'Winter'!

We had the privilege of going on a homeschool field trip to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium earlier this month!
It was so super neat!
Before going, we read the book of Winter, the dolphin (the true story of her entanglement with a crab trap in Mosquito Lagoon and her rescue and recovery) and also watched the movie "Dolphin Tale". (Which several of our local homeschoolers were extras in!!)

It was really exciting to go meet Winter!

making our lunch!

and dinner's in the crock pot!

ready to go!

I can't tell you how many countless time I drove past this sign while living over here...it felt strange to get a picture of it, lol.

the boat house!

crab trap

both of these birds actually played "Rufus" in the movie!

 

This is Winter's prosthetic!

this is Winter Rubber...it goes on before and after her prosthesis

 We got to meet Nicholas!...he is quite spunky and LOVES to get the crowd wet!

Nicholas waving!

looking in from the bottom of Nicholas's tank was really cool! a lady came by and waved a box in front of the window and Nicholas came over to check things out.

 

 Touch and feel.....

Winter's Xray!

 

 River Otters!

 Here's WINTER!!

Winter and Panama!

 They allow Winter to swim in her adapted way most of the time. Her prosthesis is only used for short therapy sessions to slow down the curve in her spine.

Panama!

Winter

Winter, holding still for her trainer to put on her prosthetic fin.

and off she goes!!

racing her trainer!

 After seeing Winter and Panama...we took a boat ride over to the second facility.

 

this is the back side of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium as we were heading over to the second facility.

 Facility # 2 is ALL about the movie. Movie props, etc. As well as interesting facts!

this is a second "eagle's nest" the other one was at CMA...they actually used both of them in the move!

SO COOL!

From the carnival they had in the movie! :)

 We had a GREAT time! It is definitely not an "all day" experience. You need about a half day to experience both facilities.

Kyle working on his Winter the Dolphin book that we downloaded from the educational page on the Clearwater Marine Aquarium's website.