Connect to the Ocean

This permanent Sciencenter exhibition features a touch tank with live tide pool animals and exhibits about ecology, environmental science and conservation of water habitats.

Tide Pool Hours

Visitors can explore the tide pool during museum hours and will also have the chance to handle animals at set times during the week. Initially, the Sciencenter will welcome visitors to touch the animals on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.), and Saturday and Sunday afternoons (noon to 4 p.m.)

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Live Animal Exhibits

Tide Pool Touch Tank Exhibit

The salt water tide pool touch tank introduces visitors - in a very hands-on way - to some of the animals that call the ocean home. It features marine invertebrates such as Chocolate Chip Sea Stars, Pencil Sea Urchins, Scarlet Hermit Crabs and various sea snails.

Reef Display Cube Exhibit

This salt water aquarium features coral reef species typically found in "back reef" areas where the waves and currents are strong. All species in this tank are bred and raised in captivity. This exhibit helps raise awareness among visitors about aquaculture as a viable alternative to the often devastating and illegal harvest practices taking place in some of the most endangered coral reef areas.

Lagoon Tank Exhibit

The lagoon tank (pictured in the background) represents the protected lagoon and mangrove swamp areas typically found along tropical coastlines.

Mangroves help protect coastlines from erosion and provide critical habitat for certain marine organisms. Species found in this tank are also aquacultured.

The tank has new residents, added in 2008: lined seahorses and scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp. Come check out how our captive-bred seahorses use their prehensile tails to hold onto the seaweed and coral, and watch as the shrimp cleans the seahorses!

Hands-On Science Exhibit

All Drains Lead to the Ocean

Visitors explore how local watersheds are physically connected to the ocean as they dump environmental contaminants into an Ithaca storm basin and see how these "chemicals" (plastic beads) circulate through our local waterways.

Supporting satellite images help to show visitors the geographic boundaries of our local watershed.