National Marine Sanctuaries 50th Anniversary Events

Thunder Bay International Film Festival. Alpena, Michigan. To commemorate the National Marine Sanctuary System's 50th anniversary, the 2022 Thunde Bay Interntaional Film Festival will feature "Stories from the Blue," a film series celebrating the people and groups responsible for researching and preserving our national marine sanctuaries. Contact:  Stephanie.Gandulla@noaa.gov . More:  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/jan21/thunder-bay-international-film-festival.html 

Whale Fest Monterey, California. This annual event celebrates the migration of the gray whales and benefits the many local and national marine organizations that build awareness about Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – they educate, inspire, and empower the public to protect it. They will also be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. This event is free and will be in-person. See:  https://whalefest.org/ 

City Nature Challenge (CNC), South Florida/Florida Keys. CNC is an international competition encouraging citizens to find and document wildlife in their neighborhoods and natural areas. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is excited to join this project for the first time to honor this milestone anniversary. Can you find #50for50? Participants will need to download the free iNaturalist App and create a profile. This event is free and will be virtual. See:  https://www.cncsoflo.com/about-3-1 

Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest, Nationwide. Show the world what the ocean and Great Lakes mean to you. In celebration of national Get Into Your Sanctuary activities, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries holds a photo contest annually from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Contact:  grace.bottitta@noaa.gov . See  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html 

Cheers to 30 Years! Pearland, Texas. Come for an UnBeREEFable event showcasing 30 years for Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of games and giveaways and learn more about this national ocean treasure over the last 30 years off the Texas/Louisiana coast. Explore Spectacular! 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Contact:  kelly.drinnen@noaa.gov  See:  https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ 

Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), Washington, DC. Convened by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, this year's theme is “Sea: The Future,” and aims to celebrate 50 years of ocean and coastal protection and set a course for the new policies and actions necessary to sustain and transform our ocean, coasts and Great Lakes. This event will be virtual and in-person. See  https://marinesanctuary.org/chow-2022/ 

Celebrate World Ocean Day, the grand re-opening of Mokupāpapa Discovery Center for Papahānaumokuākea, and the 50th Anniversary of the National Mairne Sanctuary System in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. It is also the inaugural event for a new partnership of museums in Downtown Hilo called Museum Square. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Hawaii Time. Contact:  andy.collins@noaa.gov . See:  https://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/get-involved/events/ 

Webinar: National Marine Sanctuaries: Where We've Been and Where We're Headed (Virtual). A webinar to highlight the accomplishments of NOAAʻs National Marine Sanctuary System over the last 50 years presented by John Armor, Director, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. 12:00 p.m. Hawaiʻi / 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Register at:  https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/75342537322920398.  More:  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/webinar-series.html 

Juneteenth Commemoration at the Bay, Nanjemoy, Maryland. Join Blue Star Families DEPLOY Fellows as we gather to honor and celebrate Juneteenth with a morning outdoors focused on family, connection, and community at Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. Enjoy yard games, mindfulness activities, opportunities to connect, and learn about the 50th Anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time. Contact:  mark.losavio@noaa.gov . See:  https://bluestarfam.org/event/juneteenth-celebration/ and   https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/involved/events.html#Juneteenth 

“Space to Sea” exhibit about Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary opens at the New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts. "Space to Sea: A Photographic Journey into Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary," by acclaimed underwater photographer Keith Ellenbogen will be on display at the New England Aquarium on Boston's Central Wharf from June 22 to Dec. 31. The exhibit was developed to celebrate the NMSS 50th and SBNMS's 30th anniversaries. The exhibit of sea life photos, ranging from tiny plankton to great whales, will be on display from June 22 through November 1. Contact:  ben.haskell@noaa.gov . More:  https://space2sea.mit.edu/ 

Pride Day at the Bay, Nanjemoy, Maryland. Celebrate #PrideInTheOcean with Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary! The Pride Paddle returns along with a slew of other activities to help you get back in touch with nature and learn about the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Mallows Bay is located just forty minutes south of our nation's capitol. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Contact:  mark.losavio@noaa.gov . See  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/involved/events.html#prideday 

30th Anniversary Fish ID class. Pearland, Texas. In honor of our 30th anniversary, we will be teaching a fish identification class specific to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the hopes of reinvigorating a fish survey program in the sanctuary and enhancing diver experiences. Learn how to identify different fish families and species common to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary., and the rest of the Caribbean. Play a few games of FISH-O and take home a REEF Survey Kit so you can put that information to use. 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Central Time. Contact:  kelly.drinnen@noaa.gov  See:  https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/giys.html 

Shared Adventures - Day on the Beach, Santa Cruz, California: Day on the Beach hosts more than 300 people with special needs (both physical and mental disabilities), to share a full-day of recreational fishing, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, scuba diving, and beach wheelchair rides/floats. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Contact:  lisa.uttal@noaa.gov.  See  https://www.sharedadventures.org/our-adventures/day-on-the-beach/ 

Farmer's Market Booth, Dickinson, Texas. Help us celebrate 30 years! Learn about Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary through activities and games, and pick up a reusable sanctuary shopping tote for the rest of your local purchases.Think globally, act locally. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Central Time. Contact:  kelly.drinnen@noaa.gov.  See:  https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ 

Cheers to 30 Years! Dickinson, Texas. Come for an UnBeREEFable event showcasing 30 years for Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of games and giveaways and learn more about this national ocean treasure off the Texas/Louisiana coast. Explore Spectacular! 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Contact:  kelly.drinnen@noaa.gov.  See:  https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/ 

Crab Fishing Family Workshop, San Francisco, California. Learn about the diverse and quirky lives of crabs through hands on activities that involve learning about anatomy, participating in a dissection (of an invasive crab species), using traps to fish for crabs off the classroom pier, and learing about the 50th Annivesary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Contact:  justin.holl@noaa.gov , Register by June 14 at:  https://farallones.org/events/ 

Olympic Coast guided tidepool exploration at Kalaloch Beach 4 Trailhead, Olympic National Park, Washington. Tidepooling is exciting for all ages. When the tide goes out, a world of wonder awaits - from sea stars and anemones to hermit crabs and chitons. Learn more about the intertidal creatures and help us celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Meet at Olympic National Park Kalaloch Beach 4 trailhead on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Contact: jacqueline.laverdure@noaa.gov. See:  https://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/living/habitats/intertidal/ettiquette.html 

30th Anniversary Fish ID class. Dickinson, Texas. In honor of our 30th anniversary, we will be teaching a fish identification class specific to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the hopes of reinvigorating a fish survey program in the sanctuary and enhancing diver experiences. Learn how to identify different fish families and species common to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary., and the rest of the Caribbean. Play a few games of FISH-O and take home a REEF Survey Kit so you can put that information to use. 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Central Time. Contact:  kelly.drinnen@noaa.gov  See:  https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/giys.html 

National Marine Sanctuaries Stamp Series - Day of Issuance Celebration, Santa Cruz, California: Event to commemorate the first day of issuance of the U.S Postal Service's new  National Marine Sanctuaries Stamp Series . The event will be held at the Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz, California. It will include a "Get Into Your Sanctuary" event afterwards. This event is free and will be in-person. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Contact:  brady.phillips@noaa.gov.  Details,  https://stamps.org/news/c/news/cat/usps/post/explore-the-beauty-of-marine-sanctuaries-through-forever-stamps . NOAA story:  https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/us-postal-service-releases-stamps-featuring-noaas-national-marine-sanctuaries .

Superhero Music Fest, Ocean Shores, Washington. Enjoy fun, family-friendly activities such as a street fair, kid-zone attractions, a live music concert, and a superhero beach cleanup. Dress up like your favorite superhero or make your own NOAA Ocean Hero costume with us to help celebrate our 50th Anniversary! Contact:  jacqueline.laverdure@noaa.gov.   See:  https://www.facebook.com/SuperheroMusicFest 

Get Into Your Sanctuary Day Celebration, Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii. Celebrate "Get Into Your Sanctuary Day" with Ko Olina with a beach cleanup, marine debris art show, and ocean education activities. We'll also celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System and the Year of the Limu. This event is free and will be held at the Maili Beach Park in Waianae on Oahu from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Hawaii Time. Register at  https://giysd22.eventbrite.com.  Contact: athline.clark@noaa.gov.

Sustainable Seaweed Foraging Workshop, Jenner, California. Attention all seaweed enthusiasts! Join us for a culinary foray into the tidepools to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National  Marine Sanctuary System and learn about the ecology, nutrition, and harvesting of local seaweeds such as kombu, wakame, bladderwrack, and nori with expert Heidi Herrmann. Location: Shell Beach, Sonoma Coast State Beach. 6:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Contact:  Carol.Preston@noaa.gov , Register by June 30 at:  https://farallones.org/events/ 

HOW TO: Get Into Your Sanctuary! - National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Virtual broadcast from Pago Pago, American Samoa. Each day of the week on the NMSAS Facebook page, a short film will premiere with directions and tips to visit our unique and beautiful marine sanctuaries. Time: 12:00 -1:00 p.m. Samoa Time (UTC-11:00). Contact:  nerelle.que@noaa.gov . More information:  https://www.facebook.com/events/2098381420347940/ 

Celebrating 10 Years of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and 50 Years of the National Marine Sanctuary System! Pago Pago, American Samoa. Please join us for a week-long schedule of events and fun-filled activities at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center. Enjoy visitor center tours, a mini film fest, tautai workshops, and a family fun carnival! 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Samoa Time. Contact:  gene.brighouse@noaa.gov . See:  https://americansamoa.noaa.gov/ 

Sanctuary Fest: Enjoy, Learn, and Protect! Santa Cruz, California: Join Sanctuary Fest on the Santa Cruz Wharf to celebrate the National Marine Sanctuary System's 50th and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's 30th anniversaries! Experience ocean recreation, wildlife tours, exhibitors, a scavenger hunt, and more! 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Contact:  amity.wood@noaa.gov . See  https://montereybay.noaa.gov/new/2022/220918sanctuaryfest.html 

Reyn Spooner Open House to Celebrate 50th Anniversary Commemorative Aloha Shirt, Honolulu, Hawaii: To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System, Reyn Spooner created a commemorative aloha shirt featuring wildlife that thrives in the protected waters around Hawai'i. Enjoy refreshments and view the shirt at Reyn Spooner's Ala Moana Center store in Honolulu from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Contact: brady.phillips@noaa.gov. More:  https://marinesanctuary.org/reynspooner/ 

50th Anniversary Celebration and Marine Movie Night at Whaler's Village, Maui, Hawai'i. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System at a special screening of Disney's hit movie Moana. Visit a blow-up baby whale and our activity tables to learn about Hawai'i's ocean and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Time: 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Contact: lhenschel@marinesanctuary.org. Click  here for more info .

Sharktoberfest Movie Night, San Francisco, California: Celebrate the Annual Return of White Sharks! Learn about the latest shark research and visit outdoor booths of shark experts, artists, and conservationists. Enjoy beverages, popcorn, a food truck, and live music. Bring a low-back chair for the outdoor screening of shark films that will start promptly at 7:30 PM. 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Contact:  carol.a.preston@noaa.gov  See:    https://farallones.noaa.gov 

Welcome Week for Blue Star Families at Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, Nanjemoy, Maryland: Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide campaign to build a better sense of belonging and community for active-duty and transitioning military families that are frequently on the move. Join us at Mallows Bay to build the bonds that last a lifetime! 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Contact:  paul.orlando@noaa.gov . See  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/ 

Georgia Aquarium Celebrates 50 Years of National Marine Sanctuaries, Atlanta, Georgia: Come celebrate the  50th anniversary of National Marine Sanctuaries  at Georgia Aquarium! In conjunction with this celebration the aquarium is debuting a new exhibit highlighting National Marine Sanctuaries and hosting a special event featuring John Armor, Director of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Contact:  stan.rogers@noaa.gov.   See:  https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/events/event/celebrating-50-years-of-national-marine-sanctuaries/ 

Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center Ribbon Cutting and Dedication, and celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Savannah, Georgia. The Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center is opening in downtown Savannah. Join your neighbors and fellow ocean advocates in dedicating the Center. Catch the full opening house of giveaways and activities the following week happening at the Center. Time: 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET. Contact:  ben.prueitt@noaa.gov.  See:  https://graysreef.noaa.gov/visit/centers/ 

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Savannah, Georgia: Join us for the Grand opening of the new Ocean Discovery Center and celebration of the 50th Anniversary for the National Marine Sanctuary System in historic downtown Savannah. The grand opening will kick off a week-long celebration our 50th anniversary and how the ocean connects to coastal Georgia. The Ocean Discovery Center offers an experience to empower visitors to discover the sanctuary’s wildlife, habitat, research, and recreational opportunities. Location: 340 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Savannah, Georgia, 31401. This event is free. Visit on the following days: Wed., Oct. 19, 2022, 12:00 PM–7:00 PM ET; Thurs., Oct. 20, 12:00 PM–7:00 PM; Fri., Oct. 21, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM; Sat., Oct. 22, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Contact:  ben.prueitt@noaa.gov.  See:  https://graysreef.noaa.gov/visit/centers/ 

Celebrate 30 years of HIHWNMS & 50 Years of Ocean Conservation! Hilo and Lihue, Hawaii. Come and join us to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System. There will be educational children’s activities, stamping of free reusable cotton carry bags to take home, entertainment, and cookie giveaways. Location #1: Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, 76 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720. Location #2: Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery, Kukui Grove Center, 3-2600 Kaumualii Hwy, Suite 1618, Lihue, Hawaii 96766. Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Hawaii Time. Contact:  cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov  and  jean.souza@noaa.gov . See:  https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/news/events.html 

50th Anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Nationwide. 50 years ago on this day, a new era of ocean conservation was born by creating a system of national marine sanctuaries. Since then, the National Marine Sanctuary System has grown into a nationwide network of 15 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments that conserve more than 620,000 square miles of spectacular ocean and Great Lakes waters. Join us as we celebrate  50 Years of Ocean and Coastal Conservation . Contact:  brady.phillips@noaa.gov . See:  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/50/ 

Marine Conservation in Sight and Sound: Celebrating Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary's 30th Anniversary and the National Marine Sanctuary System's 50th Anniversary, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Multi-media celebration featuring live music by the New Bedford chamber ensemble, student art, spectacular photos of marine life, poetry, and the introduction of a new interactive online game focused on the interconnectedness of humans and sanctuary species. New Bedford Whaling Museum. The event is free, but  reservations are required . Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM ET. Contact:  ben.haskell@noaa.gov . More:  https://stellwagen.noaa.gov/30/ 

Eyes in Sanctuaries: Celebrating the National Marine Sanctuary System and LiMPETS anniversaries across California’s national marine sanctuaries. Carpinteria, California. The public is invited to support community science monitoring of rocky intertidal and sandy beach species, including sea stars, mussels, and sand crabs. This event will feature innovative, dynamic, in-field visual presentations and stewardship activities. Location: Carpinteria State Beach, 205 Palm Ave, Carpinteria, CA. Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Pacific Time. Contact:  samantha.cook@noaa.gov . See:  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/eyes-in-sanctuaries.html  

Eyes in Sanctuaries: Celebrating the National Marine Sanctuary System and LiMPETS anniversaries across California’s national marine sanctuaries. Santa Monica, California. The public is invited to support community science monitoring of rocky intertidal and sandy beach species, including sea stars, mussels, and sand crabs. This event will feature innovative, dynamic, in-field visual presentations and stewardship activities. Location: Heal the Bay Aquarium, Santa Monica Beach (by the pier), 1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA. Time: 9:30 to 11:00 AM Pacific Time. Contact: Linda Chilton,  lchilton@usc.edu . See:  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/eyes-in-sanctuaries.html