A learning treasure ARGHHHHH ... AHOY MATES!," bellowed Lei Ana the pirate as she greeted the crowd. Eight miniature pirates and their parents embarked on a treasure hunt at Sea Life Park, learning that there is much more to being a pirate than a bottle of rum and racketeering.
'Pirates' help kids get the feel
of animals at Sea Life ParkBy Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com"Get out your telescopes ... we're going to search for green turtles," said Tara Iden, the group's leader. Scopes and treasure bags were distributed to each child.
The turtles were spotted down below and so was pirate Lei Ana, who was carrying some pieces of treasure. The keiki fed lettuce to the turtles and learned a few facts of ocean life at the same time. "The boy turtles have long tails and the girls have short tails," said September Jones, education director at Sea Life Park. The keiki tried to recognize the differences.
Throughout the program, the leaders offered fascinating tidbits that little tikes could grasp. "We are always on the go," said Iden. "We need to be to accommodate the short attention spans.
When: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday; Oct. 17; Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. Private tours are available for baby huis or other groups. PRESCHOOL PIRATES
Where: Sea Life Park
Admission: $15 per team (one adult and one 2- to 5-year-old)
Call: 259-2512
"The program was designed to allow both parents and their children to explore the park and learn more about animals. We try to make it dramatic, by feeding them, interacting with them and touching artifacts that represent the animals (such as turtle shell, penguin feathers), so they can identify with the animals.
"Basically, its to get them interested in learning about marine life and to introduce conservation and preservation. If they start to get excited about animals in the wild, there is a greater chance that they will conserve, preserve and respect animals," said Iden.
After touching a turtle shell, the treasure hunters grabbed the pieces of treasure that corresponded with their matching bags and were on their way to discover the next clue, which led them to the dolphin tank.
"Dolphins breathe air just like you," said Iden. "They breathe out of a hole on the top of their head, called a blowhole," she added.The next clue on the scroll guided us to the home of the penguins. "The clues make it dramatic and heightens the excitement. It's kind of a mystery when the next clue is unveiled," said Iden.
At the penguin's home, Lei Ana the pirate distributed more treasure pieces and hurried off to the "Pirate's Den."
"I have to clean my house and get ready for your visit," she told the tiny pirates. The children got to put their hands in a jar of penguin feathers to find out how these feathered friends felt.
Next, we headed to the sea lion pool. Iden told the keiki, "Seals and sea lions look a lot alike. The difference is that sea lions have little ear flaps and seals don't."
She handed out some fish snacks that the pirates could feed to the hungry sea lions. "Be sure to throw the fish to them. If you dangle the fish, the sea lions will come up to get them and may get them confused with your fingers," Iden cautioned the group, as the hungry mammals yelped like a pack of wild dogs. The volume scared a few of the tiny pirates away.In the Pirates Den, the keiki had a chance to reflect on their adventure. "We provide closure by bringing them back to the den and drawing it all together in a simple way," said Iden.
The treasure pieces, which were collected on their journey, were actually giant puzzle pieces. Once put together, they were transformed into the sea creatures that they learned about that day.
"The program is organized, so it makes it easier for my kids," said Kelly Charles, who was with her two sons Cody, 5, and Zachary, 2. "They aren't just running around."
"It's fun for the kids, but they also explain stuff. They provide just enough educational material for them to absorb at this age," said Dawn Sur. This was the second time she and her mini pirates Dayna, 4, and DJ, 2, attended this program."They got to feed the animals and do things you normally couldn't do if you were just visiting the park. And, the admission is included, so we can enjoy the park afterward," Sur said.
Angie and Brian Abe were visiting from Maui with their 4-year-old daughter Brianna. "I wish we had more programs like this on Maui," said Angie. "We got to learn more about the animals and they made it exciting for the kids by including the treasure hunt."
"I had to show my eye to Zachary ... he wanted to make sure I really had two eyes," said Lei Ana Green, the park's pirate, before the 2-year-old would agree to sit on her lap for pictures.
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