Aquarium’s See Creatures

As security guards lock the doors to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific one Friday evening, a group of Girl Scouts and a pack of families--armed with sleeping bags and overnight gear--clamor to get in.

Make no mistake, these folks aren’t trying to beat the morning crowd, nor are they misplaced campers. They are taking part in a sleepover designed to give families a closer view of the underwater tribes of the Pacific Ocean.

And you thought the fish went to sleep when the aquarium closed.

“There are lots of different families in the ocean, and there are a variety of ways in which they take care of themselves,” said Susie Exner, public programs manager. “We try to expose the families to the different lifestyles and feeding patterns.”

The newly opened aquarium has 47 exhibits and 10,000 ocean animals that visitors can peruse during the day. And on Friday nights, the facility is opened to families (with children 5 and up) to go behind the scenes and see even more.

Two sleepover programs provide overnighters with a slew of sea-life activities before they curl up in sleeping bags in front of the tropical reef and predator tanks. One program is aimed at youth organizations and schools, which must provide chaperons; the other is geared specifically to families.

On a recent evening, Girl Scout Troop 260 from Long Beach took part in “Sandy Shores to Sunken Ships,” a program in which they investigate the ocean food chain by following a treasure map with clues in many of the aquarium’s tanks.

A pirate appears before them with the map and explains how his treasure has been shanghaied by Wet Willie, the evil pirate. He needs the fourth-graders to help him find it, and provides them with maps and some clues.

The first clue leads them to the kelp forest, a tank full of fish that live deep in the amber forest. The girls learn all about the animals that feed off the slimy vines before the troop finds another clue that leads them to the plankton.

The treasure hunt takes the girls to a tank of tropical fish and the coral reef, and to exhibits where they learn about cuttlefish, sharks and the symbiotic relationship between little fish and big fish. In the end, they find the treasure--a chest full of shiny jewels and gold chocolate coins that they’ll eat on their snack break.

“Finding the clues was my favorite,” said Judy Craig, 9. “ I like it because there was always another clue.”

Meanwhile, a group of families whose daughters attend Laurel Crest School for Girls in Rossmoor learn about the lifestyles of fish families under the sea through “Fishy Families.”

On the outdoor deck, they visit seals and sea lions, and learn about their habitats and food choices. They learn about bat rays and stingrays at a touching pool where they stroke the slippery animals, and then they move on to the turtles.

The educators inform the girls about the life stages of the turtle before taking them inside to play Turtle Hurdle, a game of tag in which they pretend they are turtles and try to maneuver themselves around participants who pretend to be developers, people and predators--factors that threaten the turtle’s survival rate. Each time, they are caught, they must give up 10 turtle eggs.

After the game, the families learn about puffins and sea otters. They take a tour of the massive kitchen where the food for the aquarium’s inhabitants is prepared, and glimpse the sharks from above the tank where they are fed by trainers.

When all is said and done, the families sleep near the families they have studied.

“This is fun ‘cause you get to sleep with the fish,” said Molly Atkins, 6, who was accompanied by her parents, Greg and Becci. “We might see them fall asleep.”

And the kids aren’t the only ones having a blast.

“It appeals to everyone,” said Gary DeLong, who attended Fishy Families with his 6-year-old daughter, Betsy. “The adults are having as much fun as the kids.”

BE THERE

Sleepovers at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Fishy Families, 6:30 p.m. Friday to 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Cost: $50 per person, includes breakfast Saturday morning. From Sand Shores to Sunken Ships, 6:30 p.m. Friday to 8:30 a.m. Saturday. $45 per student; $25 per chaperon. (562) 590-3100.