A SUPER ODDTOBER - Tennessee Aquarium

T E N N E S S E E
L E A D I N G
T H E
W A Y
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A Q U A R I U M
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C O N S E R V A T I O N
RIVERWATCH
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE TENNESSEE AQUARIUM • FALL 2015
A SUPER
ODDTOBER
WHAT’S UP IN THE WETLAB
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SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD
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FALL EVENTS
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MEASURING OUR IMPACT
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WATER QUALITY CRUISES
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S P EC I A L P R O G R A M S
TODD STAILEY
A SUPER (POWERS)
ODDTOBER
BY SHANNON COLBERT, SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST • COVER PHOTO BY TODD STAILEY
Who doesn’t love a good superhero story? Whether in a hit movie,
TV show or video game, characters who save the day with odd abilities
and powers appeal to both kids and adults. But many creatures have
amazing natural abilities that make them wonderfully weird.
strength. One super-strong animal you
can see at the Aquarium is the Alligator
Snapping Turtle—whose “jaws of steel”
are powerful enough to bite through a
broom handle or bend a metal pipe.
There’s no need to send up a special
SUPER STRENGTH: The Common Snapping
Turtle (above, right) may be bigger now, but
someday the smaller Alligator Snapping Turtle (at
left) will weigh more than 100 pounds and have
one of the most powerful bites in the world.
See his 126-pound father in Alligator Bayou.
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signal in the natural world—some
Aquarium animals rely on their own
super senses to know what’s up around
them. While their hooked beaks and
curved talons make them as fierce as
any bird of prey, a keen sense of both
THOM BENSON
Throughout ODDtober, Aquarium
members might be surprised to learn
about animals with comic book-worthy
adaptations and behaviors.
Some of the world’s most famous
superheroes are known for their super
sight and hearing give Barred Owls
their real super animal status.
Some sharks are known for their
ability to smell a drop of blood from a
quarter of a mile away. But you may
be shocked to learn that they can also
detect tiny amounts of electricity
emitted by muscle contractions of sea
creatures in the water.
While not quite as fast as a
speeding bullet, Gentoo penguins are
the speediest swimmers of any penguin
species. Gentoos are able to achieve
underwater bursts of speed that exceed
20 miles per hour when hunting or
avoiding predators.
The elusive Giant Day Geckos
living in the Butterfly Garden aren’t
super-speedy, but their super-moves
are mighty impressive. They have the
amazing ability to walk up glassy
smooth and vertical surfaces using
incredibly tiny, clinging hairs that grow
on the bottoms of their feet.
But having super powers is not
always about muscles or speed;
sometimes our favorite heroes have
more brains than brawn.
Crows are super-smart and have
the uncanny ability to solve complex
puzzles. Some species have even been
observed using twigs as tools to catch
tasty insects. Similarly, octopuses, the
underwater brainiacs of the saltwater
world, are capable of unscrewing the lid
from a jar to grab a treat inside. In the
ocean, some octopuses have even been
observed carrying coconuts or shells to
hide in. They, and their cuttlefish
cousins, are also masters of disguise
since they can change the color and
texture of their skin to disappear
virtually anywhere.
(continued on next page)
TTOD
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SUPER SPEED: Gentoo Penguins
can achieve super bursts of speed,
up to 22 miles per hour, making
them the world’s fastest diving bird.
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This year’s month-long ODDtober
celebration will highlight the special abilities
of these and more incredible Aquarium
animals. Our daily Extraordinary Experiences
programs will focus on the weirdly wonderful
facts about the creatures in some of our most
popular exhibits. A few exclusive ODDtober
programs will pop up each week in both
buildings, highlighting more Aquarium
animals with super strength, senses and
more! Each weekend, our SCUBA divers
will suit up as their super alter egos for
underwater pumpkin carving in the River
Journey building.
And just like the Man of Steel or the
Caped Crusader, some Aquarium animals
will get their own trading cards! Each card
will be linked to a special ODDtober
video about the animal in the Tennessee
Aquarium app. Kids can collect two
each week all month long. 
SUPER SKILLS: Epaulette
Sharks have adapted to
survive long periods in water
with low dissolved oxygen.
This is due to their tendency
to become trapped in tide
pools at low tide after hunting
in them at high tide.
SAVE THE DATE!
AquaScarium VIII: Fantasy Friday
October 30 • 4-8:30 p.m.
Come in costume and bring your treat
bag for a night of tricks and treats at
our annual Halloween celebration!
tnaqua.org/events-programs
SCHEDULE
BEGINS OCT. 1
Schedule is subject to change
SUPER VISION: The Barred Owl’s large,
forward-facing eyes act like a pair of
powerful binoculars.
WEEK 1 — SUPER STRENGTH (OCT. 1-10)
11:15 am Mighty Mantis Shrimp Boneless Beauties
1:15 pm Super Snappers
Delta Swamp
WEEK 2 — SUPER MOBILITY (OCT. 11-17)
11:15 am Slithery Snakes
RJ Lobby
1:15 pm Climbing Creatures
Tropical Cove
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WEEK 4 — SUPER INTELLIGENCE (OCT. 25-31)
10:30 am Clever Crows
Delta Swamp
2:15 pm Curious Cephalopods Boneless Beauties
“ODDTOBER” is proudly sponsored by:
TODD
TOD
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STOCK PHOTO © FRANK LEUNG
WEEK 3 — SUPER SENSES (OCT. 18-24)
10:30 am Incredible Owls
Delta Swamp
1:15 pm Sharky Senses
Tropical Cove
VO LU N T E E R O P P O R T U N I T I E S AT T H E T E N N E S S E E AQ U A R I U M
WHAT’S UP IN THE WETLAB?
BY SUSIE GRANT, GUEST ENGAGEMENT MANAGER • PHOTO BY TODD STAILEY
While visiting the Aquarium, you may be surprised to happen across
someone wanting to introduce you to a furry little friend like an opossum
or maybe a lizard with a blue-tongue or really sticky feet.
These unscheduled encounters, in addition to the many scheduled
programs offered each day, can happen anywhere along your journey.
The featured creatures live in a special area in the River Journey
Building that’s affectionately known to staff as the Wetlab. It’s home to
more than 50 amazing critters ranging from lizards, turtles and snakes
to sea stars, frogs, and small mammals. Each of these animals has a very
important job at the Aquarium—serving as ambassadors to our guests,
school children and other community members.
An encounter with any one of these remarkable animals can
strengthen personal connections or change negative perceptions of a
species all while promoting awareness, understanding, appreciation and
conservation of our natural world.
There are a lot of people who care for these animals behind the
scenes. We have a wonderful, dedicated team of Wetlab volunteers who
help us weekly during two-to-three hour shifts. They prepare diets,
change water bowls, clean enclosures and perform other duties vital to
the health and well-being of our animals.
While this work may not be very glamorous, Wetlab volunteers
find the responsibility very rewarding. Dana Smith looks forward to
her shift, saying it’s a break from her daily work routine and makes her
feel calm. She enjoys learning about the species as well as the individual
personalities of the animals under her care.
It’s also exciting for Wetlab volunteers to be among the first to see
new animals as they join the ranks of our animal ambassadors. They
get to help socialize the new additions, whether it be a snake or a baby
opossum, preparing them for their new role at the Aquarium.
“Working in the Wetlab gives me unique opportunities to meet
and learn about the individual animals in a way that others don’t
experience.” says Karen Spence, a Wetlab volunteer for the last three
years. “In addition it has given me an opportunity to learn about, and
work with, animals that I was a little uncomfortable being around. I
have a new appreciation for snakes. Now, I try to save all the snakes
around my house.” 
If you are interested in becoming a Wetlab volunteer, please contact
Chris Bowman at [email protected] or 423-785-3057. We also have
docent volunteer spots available. Fall training classes begin Sept. 15th;
Apply online before Aug. 31st at tnaqua.org/volunteer-opportunities.
A Blue-tongued Skink receives one of his
favorite treats—blueberries—from Wetlab
volunteer Kim Brinkmeier.
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S U S TA I N A B L E S E A F O O D I N I T I AT I V E
THOM BENSON
SERVE & PROTECT:
BYTES AND BITES
Our ocean makes life possible by producing most of the oxygen we
breathe and supplying the greatest percentage of the world’s dietary
protein. Events at the Aquarium are helping to keep it healthy.
Prior to World’s Ocean Day on
June 8, the Aquarium was one of only
12 locations in the world that hosted
“Fishackathon,” an initiative led by the
U.S. Department of State’s Office of
Global Partnerships. A group of computer coders, developers and designers
gathered at the Aquarium for 24 hours
to devise solutions.
One team created an easy to use
interface, based on the popular “20
questions” game, that helps fishermen
quickly and accurately identify species
that are caught anywhere in the world.
Another group focused its efforts on
the consumer’s role in promoting sustainable seafood. Its prototype website,
“Sustainable Suppers,” was inspired by
the Aquarium’s Serve & Protect program seeking to guide people to more
diverse and wiser seafood selections.
The third Chattanooga team won
our event with “Flood Plain Projector.”
Fish farms will play a larger role in
food production; however, aquaculture
operations are increasingly susceptible
JOHN BAMBER
More than 3.5 billion people depend
on the ocean for their primary source of
food, but unfortunately 80 percent of
the world’s fish stocks are already overexploited. These numbers can make
sustainable seafood challenges seem
mind-boggling.
But even in land-locked Chattanooga, everyone can do something to
help protect the ocean. Some lend
professional expertise and others simply
make a difference by making wiser
seafood choices.
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HEIDI GELDHAUSER
JOHN BAMBER
STEVE GLASS PHOTOGRAPHY
C H E F S UZ A N N E
VIZETHANN
CHEF STEVEN
S AT T E R F I E L D
STOCK PHOTO © LUCHEZAR
to inland flooding, climate change and
sea level rise. The Flood Plain Projector
promises to be a great tool to help
developers choose the best sites for
aquaculture around the world—
whether raising Channel Catfish inland
or Bay Scallops along the coast.
At the Aquarium everyone has an
opportunity to learn more through
special exhibits that highlight sustainable seafood options, or by visiting the
Serve & Protect section of the
Aquarium’s website. For a deeper dive
into the subject of sustainable seafood,
make plans to attend the Serve &
Protect event on Thursday, October 1.
Chefs Suzanne Vizethann and
Steven Satterfield will share the stage at
IMAX® for a live, Food Network-styled
cooking show featuring the comeback
kids of the ocean—Atlantic sea scallops.
Vizethann is the owner and
Executive Chef of Buttermilk Kitchen
in Atlanta’s Buckhead area.
She was crowned champion chef on
Food Network’s popular “Chopped”
TV show in 2011. She says winning the
competition before an international
viewing audience gave her the confidence to be a successful chef and launch
her own restaurant. She’s had a lot of
fun during her culinary career. Last year
she appeared on NBC’s TODAY Show,
teaching weatherman Al Roker how to
deep fry a turkey in a sweet tea brine.
Satterfield is the Executive Chef and
co-owner of Miller Union in Atlanta.
His impressive accolades include: James
Beard Foundation finalist for Best Chef,
Southeast 2013; also nominated for
Food & Wine magazine’s People’s Best
New Chef. Under his direction, Miller
Union has been placed on the “Best
New Restaurants in America” lists from
Bon Appétit and Esquire, as well as
Atlanta magazine’s “Restaurant of the
Year.” Steven is also the author of two
cookbooks; Celebrity Chef: More than
60 Delicious Recipes and Root to Leaf.
As a member of Slow Food Atlanta,
Georgia Organics and the Southern
Foodways Alliance, Satterfield remains
actively engaged with Atlanta’s progressive culinary community.
These two chefs are friends who
can’t wait to cook together again for
everyone in Chattanooga. 
SERVE & PROTECT2015
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1ST
Purchase tickets: Community.tnaqua.org/serve2015
presented by
RIVERWATCH
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FALL EVENTS
Register online & discover newly-added events at:
TNAQUA.ORG/EVENTS-PROGRAMS
OR CALL 423-267-FISH (3474)
ATTENTION MEMBERS:
VISIT TNAQUA.ORG/MEMBERS
FOR NEW MEMBERSHIP PRICES
AND UPDATED BENEFITS!
MEMBERSHIP
INFORMATION
DO WE HAVE YOUR
CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS?
If you would like to stay on top of
the latest Aquarium news, get
notifications of new events and electronic renewal reminders, visit us at
community.tnaqua.org to create
your online profile. After signing up,
you’ll be able to update your address,
access your giving history, review
your membership’s expiration date
or sign up for e-newsletters.
PHOTO MEMBERSHIP CARDS
If you don’t already have your photo
membership card, stop by the River
Journey Members’ Entrance to have
your new card made on your next
visit. Bring in your old membership
card without the photo and we will
recycle it for you.
FOLLOW US ON
FACEBOOK & TWITTER
SEPTEMBER
Grow Your Own Gourmet
Mushrooms
Sunday • 2-4PM
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TVA History Cruise: “Lock
Through Chickamauga Dam”
Sunday • 4:30-7:30PM
Join lead horticulturist Christine Bock
and learn how to cultivate edible mushrooms! Learn the techniques to grow oyster
mushrooms using coffee grounds and
cardboard. Prepare 3-foot hardwood logs
infused with shiitake mushroom spawn, and
learn how to care for it until fruiting.
All supplies are included.
Ages 12+ with adult supervision
$25/Member
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Embark on a unique trip through the historic lock at Chickamauga Dam. Learn
more about the history of TVA and modern
commercial operations on the Tennessee
River. Get a firsthand look at the new lock
currently under construction with some
first-rate bird watching along the way.
Coupons and other discounts are not valid
for this cruise. Presented by First Tennessee.
All ages • Limited to 68
Members: $30/Adult; $20/Child (age 0-12)
Nature Nuts: Fossils
24 Thursday • 5-7
PM
JOHN BAMBER
JOHN BAMBER
ALL EVENTS ARE HELD ON EASTERN TIME. There’s plenty of fun
every day at the Tennessee Aquarium. Before your next visit, download
the FREE Tennessee Aquarium app from the iTunes Store or Google
Play. It has the list of FREE PROGRAMS to help you make the most of
your day of aquatic adventure.
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Whole Foods Feast
Saturday • 6:30-8:30PM
Enjoy a sustainable seafood dinner at
Whole Foods in support of our Serve &
Protect initiative. Craft brewed ales from
Doghead Fish will be perfectly paired with
a delicious 5-course tasting menu to highlight the season’s freshest catch. Let the
chefs please your palette with a plate that
benefits your health and that of the ocean.
Adults • Limited to 40 • $30/Member
Become a time traveler! We’ll
explore the area around an old
coal mine and collect fossils.
We’ll be accompanied by local
fossil experts.
Ages 5-12 • $12/Member
Rain Barrel Workshop
AM-Noon
26 Saturday • 10
Rainfall runoff from our lawns, driveways,
roads and parking lots into the nearest
storm drain or stream is the number one
cause of pollution in our streams. Rain barrels help reduce storm water runoff. This
workshop will allow you to convert an
empty Coca-Cola syrup drum into a working rain barrel with experts from Ace
Hardware. Presented by Elder’s Ace
Hardware and Coca-Cola.
Adults • Limited to 20 • $25/Member
Keep up with our daily postings — you
can even join in the conversations!
Official sponsor of the
Tennessee Aquarium
Membership Program.
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Enjoy a meal at Big River Grille or BlueWater Grille before or
after your Aquarium event. Present your Tennessee Aquarium
membership card when you order to receive a discount.
OCTOBER
VIII: Fantasy Friday
30 AquaScarium
Friday • 4-8:30
PM
Civil War History Cruise:
“Sharpshooters at the Siege”
Saturday • 12:30-2:30PM
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Don’t miss out on this Halloween celebration! Come in costume and bring your
candy bag for a night of tricks and treats. Our haunted galleries will have overflowing candy stations, and the exhibits will be “wild” with the antics of costumed divers. Aquarium Mascots will be shake-shake-shaking it off at the Monster Mash.
Mermaids will be lounging around our Mermaid Lagoon. Take a break from the
festivities and enjoy some Kettle Korn and swamp water outside on the plaza. But
there’s more! See characters from a galaxy far, far away. Marvel at superheroes and
meet beautiful fairy tale princesses. This night is sure to be both safe and spirited
fun for the entire family! Pre-register by 10/28. Tickets will be available at the door
on 10/30. Last ticket sold at 7 PM. Party ends at 8:30 PM.
All ages • $8/Members
Join Tennessee Aquarium Naturalist John
Dever aboard the River Gorge Explorer for
a special cruise. You’ll learn the intriguing
history related to the actions of Confederate
sharpshooters in the Tennessee River Gorge
during the siege of Chattanooga in October
of 1863. Coupons and other discounts are
not valid for this cruise. Presented by
Tennessee American Water.
All Ages • Limited to 68
Members: $24/Adult; $18/Child (age 0-12)
Life is full of adventures, and many of them
can be found right here in the Aquarium!
This program will take preschool tykes on a
quest throughout River Journey before
hours. Discover the many different textures
of nature, learn about aquatic life, and even
meet a critter on your quest!
Pre-schoolers • Register child only
Limited to 12 • FREE/Members
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Nature Nuts: Otters
Thursday • 5-7PM
This session will spotlight graceful, aquatic otters—the stars of
our Cove Forest! Learn how
otters live in the wild and how
we keep them happy and healthy at the
Aquarium.
Ages 5-12 • $12/Member
PM
River GORGEous Fall Color
Cruise (3) & (4)
Sunday • 10AM & 1PM
1
River GORGEous
Fall Color Cruise (1) & (2)
Sunday • 10AM & 1PM
AM
night campout to sleep under the peaks
alongside sharks, stingrays and more!
Aquarium experts will take you behind-thescenes to learn how we care for more than
10,000 animals. Includes after-hours experiences in both buildings, IMAX® 3D film,
pizza dinner and light breakfast.
Families with children AGES 6 & OLDER
accompanied by an adult • $65/Member
Enjoy a scenic foliage cruise through the
entire 34-mile Tennessee River Gorge during the peak color of fall. The first cruise
departs from Chattanooga Pier and travels
to Hale’s Bar Marina. Guests will then board
a bus for a return trip to Chattanooga.
Passengers for the second cruise will load a
bus and travel to Hale’s Bar Marina to board
the River Gorge Explorer. Lunch and bus
transportation provided. Coupons and other
discounts are not valid for this cruise.
Presented by Tennessee American Water.
All ages • Limited to 55
Members: $50/Adult; $40/Child (age 0-12)
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Enjoy a scenic foliage cruise through the
entire 34-mile Tennessee River Gorge during the peak color of fall. The first cruise
departs from Chattanooga Pier and travels
to Hale’s Bar Marina. Guests will then board
a bus for a return trip to Chattanooga.
Passengers for the second cruise will load a
bus and travel to Hale’s Bar Marina to board
the River Gorge Explorer. Lunch and bus
transportation provided. Coupons and other
discounts are not valid for this cruise.
Presented by First Tennessee.
All ages • Limited to 55
Members: $50/Adult; $40/Child (age 0-12)
20 Family Sleepover
Friday, 5:30 -Saturday, 8:30
21 Grab your sleeping bag for an over-
DIY: Holiday Decorating
Workshop!
Saturday • 1-2:30PM
21
WARREN-MCLELLAND
Aquarium Adventures: The
Search for Textures
Thursday • 9:30-10:30AM
22
SLEEP IN THE DEEP:
NOVEMBER
Don’t miss your chance to learn trade
secrets! Learn how to incorporate natural
materials from your landscape into beautiful
holiday decor. Talented designers will provide examples and free coaching to inspire
you to create your own lovely decorations.
All ages • Limited to 50 • FREE/Members
Civil War History Cruise: “The
29 Battle of Missionary Ridge”
Sunday • 11AM-1PM
Nature Nuts: Keeping
Your Own Aquarium
Thursday • 5-7PM
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Learn to build your own aquarium. Have you ever thought about
having fishy friends or muddy
roommates? We’ll show you the basics of
keeping some aquatic animals. You’ll be
surprised at how many choices you have!
Ages 5-12 • $12/Member
Travel back to 1863 with historian Jim
Ogden for the 152nd anniversary of the
Battle of Missionary Ridge and Sherman’s
crossing of the Tennessee River. This battle
defeated Confederate strategies to regain
Chattanooga and served as a preamble for
the Atlanta Campaign of 1864. Coupons
and other discounts are not valid for this
cruise. Presented by First Tennessee.
All ages • Limited to 68
Members: $24/Adult; $18/Child (age 0-12)
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IN THE COM MUNIT Y
YOUR AQUARIUM’S IMPACT
Something good happens each time you walk through the doors of the
Tennessee Aquarium. As a member, you have the opportunity to experience
first-hand a number of benefits by belonging to our Aquarium family.
Exploring our underwater world
with those you love, seizing a
moment to teach your child about
exotic animals on the other side
of the world, leaving inspired to
protect the natural places that
matter most to you. Each visit to
the Aquarium can positively
impact you in a variety of ways.
While connecting you to nature
in a meaningful way is core to
our nonprofit mission, the
Aquarium’s impact extends far
beyond our walls.
To quantify our impact, we
recently commissioned a study by
the University of Tennessee Center
for Sustainable Business and
Development. In short, the recently
published Community Impact
Report reveals how our nonprofit
organization is leading toward a
future that is economically, educationally and environmentally sound.
We continue to be a driver for
Chattanooga’s growth, contributing
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annually $101.3 million in economic impact. We attract more than
700,000 visitors to our facility,
many of whom bring to our city
out-of-town dollars that local
businesses may not otherwise earn.
We contribute to a robust tax base
that sustains essential services in our
community, like funding for roads
and schools.
Beyond economics, the broader
benefits of the Aquarium trickle
into schools and community organizations who utilize our expertise.
We are the nation’s only aquarium
to be accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools.
Many of our most vulnerable students access the Aquarium through
programs that provide free field
trips, bus transportation and
classroom programs—all thanks to
generous community support.
And last, but certainly not least,
are the strides in conservation we
are taking today, to ensure that the
rich natural resources of our rivers
and streams remain healthy well
into the future. Scientific research,
conservation field work and collaborations with local, state, and national partners are preserving our
region’s freshwater ecosystems and
helping people appreciate the need
for environmental health right in
our backyard. We use our trusted
conservation voice to raise awareness of the life teeming in our local
waterways and to help people
understand our place as a global
hotspot for biodiversity. The role of
the Tennessee Aquarium
Conservation Institute becomes
more important to our community
each day and our work in this area
is poised to have even greater
impacts in the near future.
The Aquarium does not achieve
any of these impressive results alone.
Your contributions as a member
make our education, conservation
and research programs possible. And
each additional dollar you invest in
your Aquarium is a powerful investment in our community. Thank you
for your continued support. 
JOHN BAMBER
Annual Economic Impact At a Glance
$101.3 million
$67.7 million
Annual economic impact of the Tennessee Aquarium on Chattanooga and
Hamilton County. 1,086 jobs are supported by the Aquarium’s operating
and capital expenditures, along with the spending of out-of-town visitors.
Revenue realized by area businesses as a result of goods and services
purchased by Aquarium visitors.
$6.3 million
Tax revenue generated for the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County
to support essential services.
$2.2 million
Contributions the Aquarium makes directly to our community through
free student admissions and program support for education groups and
other area nonprofits. More than 30,000 underserved children are
admitted free of charge each year.
Read our full report online and learn more about how you can make your impact in supporting
our work: tnaqua.org/Community-Impact-Report.
RIVERWATCH
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F O L LOW U S O N L I N E F O R DA I LY U P DAT E S A N D B R E A K I N G N E W S !
RIVERCURRENTS
KAREN ESTES
LASER PROJECTORS
COMING TO IMAX®
JOIN THE REGION’S BIGGEST
CLEANUP PARTY
Nearly 800 volunteers turn out on the first Saturday
in October each year for Tennessee River Rescue.
The participants roll up their sleeves to help protect
our source of drinking water by removing trash from
the river and adjacent shoreline areas. Tons of tires,
plastic bottles and other improperly discarded items
are pulled out of the water and disposed of properly.
There have been significant improvements since
the first River Rescue in 1988, but unfortunately
there’s always plenty of rubbish waiting to be picked
up each year.
Organizers are looking for volunteers to help out
across 22 zones covering Bradley, Hamilton and
Marion counties on Saturday, October 3. This is a
great opportunity for a school service project, scout
troop or youth group. Register your team online at:
TennesseeRiverRescue.org. 
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Hang onto your 3D glasses, the immersive IMAX® film
experience you love is about to get eye-poppingly
better. In June the Aquarium signed an agreement
with IMAX Corporation to install IMAX’s next-generation digital laser projection system. In early January,
our theater will close for four weeks to add a new sixstory screen, 12-channel audio system and twin laser
projectors.
The Aquarium’s team has been studying digital
projection systems for years but didn’t see any that
matched the visual quality of the 15/70 film format
until now. Think brighter, bolder visuals and pinpoint
surround sound. Best of all, being in Gig-City, the
Aquarium will be able to take advantage of blazing
fast Internet connection to offer more than awe-inspiring documentaries and Hollywood blockbusters when
the theater reopens in early February.
“The range of possibilities includes live screenings
of concerts, sporting events and theatrical presentations,” said Charlie Arant, Aquarium president and
CEO. “And, school groups may also gather here for
real-time interactions with researchers in other parts
of the world or witness discoveries being made by
deep sea or space explorers.”
Look for more exciting details about IMAX with
laser coming in the November issue of Riverwatch. 
JENNY JELLYFISH, LINDIE
LOBSTER & OOPSIE OTTER
Reading is important to every child’s future and you
can make story time fun and educational with the
fanciful collection of books by Suzanne Tate. Her
beautifully illustrated books appeal to young animal
lovers, helping build vocabulary while showing kids
ways to save animals in the wild. Tate’s series of
animal books is available through our online Gift
Shop: store.shopaquarium.org. Members receive a
10% discount by typing in “PROTECT” at checkout. 
OH BABY!
RIVERWATCH
THOM BENSON
The Aquarium’s animal experts frequently have their
hands full caring for adorable baby animals. While
baby penguins are most often raised by their parents
where members can see the nurturing behavior, many
newborn animals require special care behind the
scenes.
To help everyone celebrate and enjoy our
newcomers, we have a new page on our website
with sharable images and video from behind-thescenes of tiny turtles, pudgy penguins, baby
seahorses and more. Cuteness is only a few clicks
away: tnaqua.org/Baby-Animals. 
13
C O N S E R VAT I O N I N AC T I O N
CRUISING TO UNDERSTAND
WATER QUALITY
TODD STAILEY
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the average American uses about
80 to 100 gallons of water each day. That’s a lot of liquid going down the
drain. But what happens to that water once we’re done using it?
This fall, the Aquarium will continue a new series of water quality cruises to help
middle and high school students better understand their connections to the Tennessee
River—our watershed. “We picked this age group because these students are starting
to make their own decisions and they often influence the adults around them,”
said Carrie Shaw, the Aquarium’s group programs manager. “We can all make wise
choices, not just about how much water we use, but also about how we care for the
water we use.”
Students who participate in the program will begin in the classroom dealing with
a simulated water emergency. They’ll test water for nitrates and turbidity to determine
the best corrective actions to stop the contaminants from reaching our source of
drinking water and harming aquatic animals. Following this table-top drill, they’ll
board the River Gorge Explorer to see the wastewater treatment plant and learn more
about water quality from Matthew Snyder, the City’s Sewer Project Coordinator.
The City of Chattanooga maintains just over 1,200 miles of sewer of which 5.8
percent, or about 70 miles, are combined in the downtown area. The Moccasin Bend
Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility processes an average of 65 million gallons of
wastewater per day. During the cruises, Snyder reminds students that it’s important
to watch what you put down the drain.
Among the many takeaways for these young explorers will be how they can
help improve water quality. A good start is by reading product labels. “Using biodegradable shampoos and cleaners is really important,” said Shaw. “Look for
shampoos without sulfates and avoid products like facial scrubs and toothpastes that
contain micro-beads. Those tiny plastics and sulfates are harmful to aquatic animals.”
Shaw also recommends reading fertilizer directions carefully. If you really need to
treat your lawn, do so with the minimum amount recommended to reduce excess
chemical runoff.
The kids on these Aquarium cruises will also have a lot of fun viewing the scenery
and talking with an Aquarium naturalist. “Part of this learning experience is simply
about getting the students out in nature and connecting them with the source of
water they use and impact each day.” 
The Aquarium’s water quality cruises are funded in part by a grant from the RBC Blue Water Project—a 10-year
charitable commitment to help provide access to drinkable, swimmable, fishable water, now and for future generations.
Teachers from Title-1 schools may apply for a free water quality cruise by contacting [email protected].
14
RIVERWATCH
SILLY ANIMAL
JOKES
AND YOU!
CATION DEPARTMENT —
TENNESSEE AQUARIUM EDU
THE
BY
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QUA.ORG.
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PRO
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JOK
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What do sea
monsters eat
for lunch?
Fish & ships!
WORD FIND
Can you find these animal names in the word puzzle below? Look left to right, up and down,
diagonally—even backwards!—and circle each word you find.
BARRED OWL
U N O O K
J
E
C
B
V K
Y
A
Z
C
CORN SNAKE
M A
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CROW
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OCTOPUS
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CUTTLEFISH
GIANT DAY GECKO
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PENGUIN
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SHARK
F W J
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G O B M P
SNAPPING TURTLE
L
J
Y
S
H K N H H H
You can meet these
amazing creatures
in October during
special animal
encounters and
presentations!
See page 4 for
the ODDTOBER
schedule.
T
A
E W M
I
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T
X M H
J
D W P
G G
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K A N
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MANTIS SHRIMP
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F
RIVERWATCH
15
TENNESSEE AQUARIUM
RIVERWATCH
One Broad Street • P.O. Box 11048 • Chattanooga, TN 37401-2048 • tnaqua.org
Your dollars support our many education, conservation
and research programs. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
and partner with us to continue our mission.
OPEN DAILY 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Day.
RIVERWATCH EDITOR
Thom Benson
[email protected]
EVENTS EDITOR
Matthew Hubbard
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Karen Estes
PHOTOGRAPHER
Todd Stailey
Riverwatch is published quarterly by the Tennessee
Aquarium. Written material may not be reproduced
without proper credit. The logo, the name Tennessee
Aquarium and Riverwatch are registered trademarks
of the Tennessee Aquarium. IMAX® & IMAX®3D
are registered trademarks of Imax Corporation,
Mississauga, Canada.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MEMBERSHIP?
Visit us online at tnaqua.org/Members
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Tennessee Aquarium
Membership Program
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PAID
Chattanooga, TN
PERMIT #989
The Tennessee Aquarium is a non-profit organization
with a mission to inspire wonder, appreciation and
protection of water and all life that it sustains.
community.tnaqua.org/donate-now
Non-Profit
Organization
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