Aquarium expanded reach during pandemic
In your article of Sept. 11, thank you for conveying the very stark consequences facing The Maritime Aquarium as a result of the pandemic. As noted, we made a quick decision in March to close with the health and safety of our visitors in mind, to set an example for the community, and to lead as a sciencebased organization. Although we undertook drastic financial cuts, we also immediately offered new programming to continue to serve the needs of our community, especially students and children. I am writing to clarify the extent and breadth of these programs, and to underscore how these new programs are reshaping the very way we do our business and engage with our audiences.
On the day we closed, we reached out to the Norwalk Public Schools and, within two weeks, we unveiled a complete suite of live educational programs for children in grades K-12, for both families and educators. Since then, we had more than 20,000 individuals register for more than 300 virtual offerings, reaching people in 42 states, as well as countries across four continents. Additionally, we created a series of virtual summer camps, and recently, with the start of the school year, announced new programs with expanded school partners throughout the state.
Our digital/social media outreach was a separate effort that garnered exposure of nearly 3 million worldwide. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has transcended Fairfield County and the I-95 corridor to reach a global audience.
This is why — assuming we can raise the $3.5 million we need for this financial bottleneck — I am optimistic for the future. Even through the pandemic, people are eager to learn; eager to explore the world around them; eager to be good stewards of the ocean and the environment. The Maritime Aquarium, more than ever, is poised to lead in education and conservation in new and innovative ways.