Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    IT ALL BEGAN IN 1969 WITH THE DREAM OF WHAT CORPUS CHRISTI COULD BE. VISIONARY COMMUNITY LEADERS HAD A BOLD, YET SIMPLE PURPOSE WITH THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM - CREATE EDUCATIONALLY ENRICHING AND ENTERTAINING EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE, AND INSPIRE THEM TO CARE FOR, AND ULTIMATELY HELP CONSERVE, THE GULF OF MEXICO. TODAY, AFTER BEING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVING EDUCATED AND ENTERTAINED MORE THAN 14 MILLION VISITORS, THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM IS THE LEADING ATTRACTION IN SOUTH TEXAS, AN ECONOMIC DRIVER OF THE COASTED BEND TOURISM ECONOMY, A WORLDWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER, AND AN AWARD-WINNING CENTER FOR WILDLIFE CARE AND REHABILITATION. AT THE HEART OF THE AQUARIUM'S MISSION IS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. PRIOR TO 2020, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCED THE AQUARIUM EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR OUTREACH AND DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS, CAMPS, AND ON-SITE PROGRAMS. WHEN COVID-19 ARRIVED IN EARLY 2020, OUR ON-SITE PROGRAMS AND CAMPS WERE CANCELLED, BUT OUR ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING TEAM ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE OF KEEPING HOME-BOUND STUDENTS ENGAGED AND ENTERTAINED. WE STREAMED 50 FREE PROGRAMS THAT ANYONE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA COULD ACCESS AND PROVIDED UPBEAT CONTENT ACROSS OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO HELP PEOPLE FIND BRIGHT SPOTS DURING DARK TIMES. ALONG WITH "VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP" PROGRAMS, AND OTHER PRIVATE VIDEOCONFERENCE PROGRAMS, WE REACHED MORE THAN 300,000 CHILDREN IN 10 COUNTRIES OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, STRENGTHENING THEIR STEM SKILLS AND INSPIRING THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $11.5M

  • Program 2 [2020]

    THE AQUARIUM HAS ALWAYS AIMED TO EDUCATE GUESTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING OUR HABITATS AND WILDLIFE - AND WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE. THE AQUARIUM HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ORGANIZE AND CARRY OUT BEACH CLEAN-UP EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE. IN ADDITION TO COORDINATING THESE EFFORTS, AQUARIUM STAFF CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE EFFECTS GARBAGE HAS ON REGIONAL WILDLIFE. WHILE THE 2019 TEMPORARY EXHIBIT ENTITLED "TO THE RESCUE" THAT SHOWCASED COLLECTED MARINE DEBRIS WAS TAKEN DOWN IN 2020, SEVERAL OF THE DEBRIS DISPLAYS WERE INCORPORATED INTO OUR PERMANENT EXHIBIT GALLERIES AND CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON HOW IMPROPERLY DISPOSED-OF OBJECTS CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT LOCAL WILDLIFE. AS A MEMBER OF THE AQUARIUM CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP, THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS FROM OUR OPERATIONS, INCLUDING OFFERING CANNED WATER, PAPER STRAWS, AND RECYCLED MATERIAL SERVING CONTAINERS TO OUR RESTAURANT PATRONS. OUR PEPSI SHORELINE GRILL WAS THE FIRST RESTAURANT IN TEXAS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION AS AN OCEAN FRIENDLY RESTAURANT. THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM ALSO SUPPORTS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR CONSERVATION EFFORTS. SINCE 2013, OUR WILDLIFE CARE, CONSERVATION, AND RESEARCH FUND PROGRAM HAS DEDICATED MORE THAN 500,000 TO FUND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, THE SEA OF CORTEZ, SOUTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA. THESE PROJECTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES, DOLPHINS, OYSTER REEFS, CORALS, SHARKS, FLAMINGOS, WHOOPING CRANES, MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, AND KOALAS, AMONG OTHERS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2.5M

  • Program 3 [2020]

    OUR WILDLIFE RESCUE TEAM MINISTERS TO THE NEEDS OF HUNDREDS OF INJURED SHORE AND WATER BIRDS, SEA TURTLES, AND MARINE MAMMALS EACH YEAR. IN 2020, THE AQUARIUM TREATED 210 BIRD PATIENTS AND 39 SEA TURTLE PATIENTS. OF THESE, 91 WERE EVENTUALLY RELEASED BANK INTO THEIR NATURAL HABITATS. THE AQUARIUM ALSO TOOK IN TWO VERY SPECIAL PATIENTS THIS YEAR - ARTHUR AND FISHER - VERY YOUNG NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTERS THAT WERE RESCUED AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE. BOTH OTTERS MADE COMPLETE RECOVERIES AND, BECAUSE THEY WERE DEEMED NON-RELEASABLE DUE TO THEIR YOUNG AGE, REMAIN AS PERMANENT ANIMAL AMBASSADORS AT THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM. IT IS THROUGH THESE AND MANY MORE PROGRAMS THAT THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM HELPS PRESERVE OUR REGION'S RICH ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE AND EMPOWERS MILLIONS OF VISITORS TO TAKE ACTION TO HELP PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. AND FINALLY, AS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION, THE AQUARIUM HAS A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT (OVER 40 MILLION IN 2020 DESPITE BEING CLOSED FOR 9 WEEKS FOR COVID-19) WITHOUT THE NEED FOR COUNTY OR STATE FUNDING SUBSIDIES FOR OPERATIONS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    –