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SEA CIRCUS -The Marine Extension Service and the Sea Grant College Program provide an educational experience for young and old through a traveling aquarium and touch tank. There are four 100 gal. tanks enclosed inside a 16 ft. trailer with viewing windows. The touch tank is a smaller tank set up outside the trailer where some species can be handled. This “sea circus” provides coastal residents and visitors a close up look at local marine organisms. The show was developed for demonstrations at coastal festivals and K-12 students participating in school-wide activities. The cost of the program is $50.00 per day trip. The following restrictions apply:
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(Sea Circus visits Liberty County Pre- K) |
1. The circus travels only to seafood or marine festivals or to local K-12 student programs involving an entire school. The circus is not available for individual classroom presentations.
2. The availability of live "critters” restricts operations to April-June and September- November.
3. School or festival officials must request the circus at least two weeks in advance. Visits are on a first come, first served basis.
4. The show's range is restricted to Georgia's six coastal counties - Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty, Bryan, and Chatham and limited to one school per week. Range restrictions may be waived for scheduled seafood and marine festivals.

5. The touch tank will be included only when an on-site assistant is available to help with the presentation.
6. Presentation times are limited to normal school hours (no night shows).
7. The circus trailer must be within 100 feet of an 110v electrical outlet.
8. Both night and day security are required.
Contact Lisa Gentit by phone at 912-264-7365 or e-mail: gentit@uga.edu

One of MAREX's key goals is to extend hands- on aquatic education to members of the public along the coast. We offer various experiential lessons to K-12 students and provide special programs for at-risk kids who are struggling in science.
Project Shark Awareness
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MAREX partners with the University of Florida's
Project Shark Awareness. |
Sharks in the water always stir the imagination, whether to fascinate or terrify. Georgia has eleven species of shark swimming in our estuaries and ocean and even though there's a better chance of being hit by lightening than being attacked by a shark, most people are still scared silly by their presence. Shark populations are not in good shape due to habitat loss, low reproductive capability, intense fishing pressure and some species' tendency to cross international borders where fishing may be poorly regulated. MAREX has joined University of Florida's Project Shark Awareness to help teachers and students squelch misinformation about these ancient creatures.
Festivals
While the Sea Circus brings outreach activities through our traveling aquariums and touch tanks, our research vessel also extends hands-on learning activities to adults and children in coastal counties.
The R/V Georgia Bulldog is a 73' shrimp boat which has been modified for research and education purposes. During festivals, thousands of visitors have the opportunity to tour the vessel, examine fresh shrimp, and learn about the most current issues along Georgia's coast.
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| Local kids take the wheel at the Darien Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet. |
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