Maritime Aquarium To Host Summer Academy Family Night Event In Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — The Maritime Aquarium will welcome nearly 500 students and their families for its annual Maritime Summer Academy Family Night event Thursday night.

According to a news release provided by the aquarium, the after-hours celebration of learning is set to transform the Maritime Aquarium into a student showcase highlighting marine science projects and academic achievement.

Family Night marks the culmination of the four-week Maritime Summer Academy, an innovative partnership between the Maritime Aquarium and Norwalk Public Schools that enriches summer learning through hands-on educational experiences centered on marine life and Long Island Sound, according to the release.

"Since the founding of the Maritime Summer Academy, we have worked in close collaboration with Norwalk Public Schools to transform the experience for the approximately 800 to 1,000 Norwalk students eligible for summer school every year," Tom Naiman, vice president of education at the Maritime Aquarium, said in a news release. "It is among the most exciting events of the year at the aquarium, with an electric atmosphere, as students excitedly and proudly show their families what they have learned and accomplished."

According to the release, students participating in the program qualified for summer school based on academic assessments indicating they would benefit from additional support and enrichment opportunities.

They are also among the district's highest-need learners, facing challenges both academically and financially, according to the release.

Since its launch in 2021, the Maritime Summer Academy has reimagined summer school by using the aquarium's exhibits, educators, and unique resources to create engaging, project-based learning experiences that motivate and inspire students.

The program earned the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' highest education award in 2023, according to the release.

Throughout the summer, students visited the Maritime Aquarium, participated in classroom programs led by aquarium educators and explored Norwalk Harbor aboard the aquarium's research vessel.

Their experiences were integrated into literacy, math and science lessons designed to connect classroom learning to real-world exploration, according to the release.

On Family Night, students will display the projects they have created during the program throughout the aquarium. The projects center on marine animals and ecosystems and often include models, artwork, informational displays, books and conservation messages that reflect what the students have learned, according to the release.

This year's grade-level themes include:

• Kindergarten: Turtles
• First Grade: Horseshoe Crabs
• Second Grade: Seals
• Third Grade: Sharks
• Fourth Grade: Jellies and Plankton

Mixed-grade and middle school classes select topics based on student interests and classroom goals, according to the release.

According to the release, the Maritime Summer Academy traces its roots to a vision developed by former Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent Alexandra Estrella, who sought a more engaging approach to summer learning.

Working together, Norwalk Public Schools and the Maritime Aquarium designed a model that integrates academic instruction with immersive experiences that encourage curiosity and connection to the local environment, according to the release.

Students from all 13 Norwalk elementary schools and five middle schools now participate in the program, the release notes.

Family Night has become one of the most anticipated events of the summer and gives students an opportunity to share their accomplishments with their families while exploring the aquarium together, according to the release.

"An incredible amount of work goes into this program, on the part of Norwalk Public Schools administrators and teachers, aquarium staff, students and their parents," Lauren Magliola, associate director of education at the Maritime Aquarium who runs the program, said in a news release. "Family Night is a time to celebrate all that the students have experienced and accomplished, and how we have all contributed to providing Norwalk students and families with an enriching and truly memorable experience."

The Maritime Summer Academy reflects a shared commitment by the Maritime Aquarium and Norwalk Public Schools to provide meaningful educational opportunities that spark curiosity, strengthen academic engagement and address the most significant challenges facing students and schools today, according to the release.

More information is available at maritimeaquarium.org.