WAVE on Wheels
We Bring the Aquatic World to You!
WAVE on Wheels takes the incredible aquatic and scaley animals of Newport Aquarium to you! Programs are structured around your event size and welfare of the animals, so please read carefully when selecting a program to find the best option for your event. There is also an opportunity for your program to be completely or partially covered by Community Outreach Scholarship Funds. The application for these funds is included when scheduling an animal ambassador visit. Please email registrar@wavefoundation.org or call (859) 815-1441 for guidance on scheduling a program.
Preschool & Kindergarten
These 30 minute programs are perfect for little minds and include a read-aloud. We can accommodate up to 30 people in these programs (you may need to request more than one section for multiple groups).
Depending on animal needs, participants may have an opportunity to touch an animal ambassador.
Programs Available
Tidepool School
Crabs and conchs and sea stars – oh my! Connect with creatures that thrive in the rocky and ever-changing environments of tide pools, and learn what adaptations help them survive.Reptile Roundup
What makes a reptile a reptile? Compare and contrast the different types of reptiles while meeting 2-3 animal ambassadors, ranging from snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises.Silly Stingrays
Students discover how silly stingrays move through their environment differently than humans or other animals.Shark Sleuths
Put on your detective cap and grab your magnifying glass! Students compare shark species, looking closely at colors and adaptations of Coral Catsharks.Penguin Pals
Thrill your participants with an African Penguin! Attendees will dive deep into learning about penguin predators, diet, habitats, and natural history.
*No touch opportunity available
Grades 1 - 5
Classroom Programs
Connect your older students to animal ambassadors in the classroom! These educational, up-close encounters use project-based learning that align with NGSS and OH state standards for science and can accommodate 50 participants for up to 1 hour. Depending on animal needs, participants may have an opportunity to touch an animal ambassador.Assembly Programs
Perfect for larger groups looking for a presentation. We are happy to accommodate up to 125 participants (includes school/venue staff). Assembly Programs are 45 minutes – 1 hour in length.
For animal ambassador welfare, participants may not touch animals as part of assembly programs
Programs Available
Tidepool School
Crabs and conchs and sea stars – oh my! Connect with creatures that thrive in the rocky and ever-changing environments of tide pools, and learn what adaptations help them survive.Reptile Roundup
What makes a reptile a reptile? Compare and contrast the different types of reptiles while meeting 2-3 animal ambassadors, ranging from snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises.Stingray Studies
Glide into discovery! Learn about stingrays amazing adaptations, how they compare to sharks, and how students can take conservation action.Shark Conservation
It’s always Shark Week with WAVE! Participants meet Coral Catsharks, learn about conservation efforts, and how they can take action.Penguin Pals
Thrill your participants with an African Penguin! Attendees will dive deep into learning about penguin predators, diet, habitats, and natural history.
*No touch opportunity available
Middle & High School
Classroom Programs
Connect your group to animal ambassadors in the classroom. These educational, up-close encounters align with NGSS and OH state standards for science and can accommodate 50 participants for up to 1 hour. Depending on animal needs, participants may have an opportunity to touch an animal ambassador.Assembly Programs
Perfect for larger groups looking for a presentation. We are happy to accommodate up to 125 participants (includes school/venue staff). Assembly Programs are 45 minutes – 1 hour in length.
For animal ambassador welfare, participants may not touch animals as part of assembly programs.
Classroom Programs Available
Oil in the Ocean
The MV Treasure has experienced an oil spill and need your students’ help to save African penguins. Students will partake in a hands-on lesson focusing on penguin conservation either as a member of the rescue and cleanup team, education team, or communication team. They will present their findings and meet a penguin.
*Participants may not touch penguinAquarium Careers 101
Do your students have what it takes to work at an Aquarium? Learn about the diversity of professions at Newport Aquarium, from animal care and scuba divers to marketing and volunteer opportunities.
You may request whichever animal ambassador you’d like for this program.Conservation Education
Love animals at the Aquarium, and want to help their wild counterparts? WAVE will teach you how! Students learn about species survival plans, how WAVE and Newport Aquarium work together for conservation, and what actions students can take in their everyday lives to save species. You may request whichever animal ambassador you’d like for this program.
Inquiry Investigators
Students implement the scientific process working with an animal ambassador and natural stimuli to build observation skills, create their own experiment, form hypotheses, and draw conclusions.
You may request whichever animal ambassador you’d like for this program.
Assembly Programs Available
Shark Conservation
It’s always Shark Week with WAVE! Participants meet Coral Catsharks, learn about conservation efforts, and how they can take action.Stingray Studies
Glide into discovery! Learn about stingrays amazing adaptations, how they compare to sharks, and how students can take conservation action.Penguin Pals
Thrill your participants with an African Penguin! Attendees will dive deep into learning about penguin predators, diet, habitats, and natural history.Virtual Programs
Interactive distance learning programs are now available!
All programs are 45 minutes in length and will be conducted through Zoom. These programs will feature a live-stream of our animal ambassadors, an array of artifacts, and a chance for participants to ask questions.
WAVE Foundation will email you a link for the connection once your registration is confirmed.
Programs Available
Tidepool School
Crabs and conchs and sea stars – oh my! Connect with creatures that thrive in the rocky and ever-changing environments of tide pools, and learn what adaptations help them survive.Reptile Roundup
What makes a reptile a reptile? Compare and contrast the different types of reptiles while meeting 2-3 animal ambassadors, ranging from snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises.Stingray Studies
Glide into discovery! Learn about stingrays amazing adaptations, how they compare to sharks, and how students can take conservation action.Shark Conservation
It’s always Shark Week with WAVE! Participants meet Coral Catsharks, learn about conservation efforts, and how they can take action.Penguin Pals
Thrill your participants with an African Penguin! Attendees will dive deep into learning about penguin predators, diet, habitats, and natural history.Finstitute After-School Program
Perfect for after-school wiggles and day camps! These programs are half animal encounter and half conservation games that center around a conservation theme.
We are happy to accommodate up to 40 students at a time.
Check out our Finstitute Page for more details.
Festivals & Large Events
Meet & Greet BoothDo you have an event and would like to connect your audience with animals? We are happy to be one of your stations!
Guests can come up to our table and ask questions about our animal ambassadors. Programs are 1 hour in length. Touch opportunities may be limited to the first 125 people. Please note, this is a different format from the assembly programs.
Programs Available
Meet a Shark
WAVE Shark Carts connect visitors with Coral Catsharks. Guests can learn about shark adaptations, WAVE and Newport Aquarium conservation efforts, conservation in the wild, and how they can take action.Meet a Stingray
Yellow Stingrays visit your event in a WAVE Ray Cart! Learn about how stingrays’ adaptations compare to sharks and how to take conservation action.Meet a Penguin
Bring an African Penguin to your event! Guests can dive deep into learning about penguin adaptations that help them survive in the wild.
*Please note: Guests may not touch penguins. Penguins will require 15 minutes to acclimate, then can be viewed for a maximum of 45 minutes, before a 30 minute rest period in a quiet location.
Meet a Tide Pool
Connect with creatures that thrive in the rocky and ever-changing environments of tide pools. Animal Ambassadors might include sea stars, urchins, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, or conchs.Meet Reptiles
Meet 3 animal ambassadors, and compare and contrast different types of reptiles. Possible animal ambassadors include snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises.Small Community Groups & Senior Centers
For learners of all ages! Guests can ask questions about our animal ambassadors while having an up-close encounter.
Programs last 45 minutes – 1 hour and can accommodate up to 40 participants.
NOTE: Penguin can be viewed for a maximum of 45 minutes. If booking more than one session, a 30 minute break is required between each session.
Programs Available
Tidepool School
Crabs and conchs and sea stars – oh my! Connect with creatures that thrive in the rocky and ever-changing environments of tide pools, and learn what adaptations help them survive.Reptile Roundup
What makes a reptile a reptile? Compare and contrast the different types of reptiles while meeting 2-3 animal ambassadors, ranging from snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises.Stingray Studies
Glide into discovery! Learn about stingrays amazing adaptations, how they compare to sharks, and how students can take conservation action.Shark Conservation
It’s always Shark Week with WAVE! Participants meet Coral Catsharks, learn about conservation efforts, and how they can take action.Penguin Pals
Thrill your participants with an African Penguin! Attendees will dive deep into learning about penguin predators, diet, habitats, and natural history.
*No touch opportunity available