Texas State Aquarium

Conservation Cove:

Educating for the Protection of Wildlife

The Case for Support

March 9, 2007

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A Word from the Chairman

The Texas State Aquarium is one of our State’s greatest assets. I was first introduced to the Aquarium through the Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc., where I serve as President. Over the years, our Foundation has awarded several grants to the organization. I was so impressed with the professionalism of the Aquarium and how well it is run that I joined the Board of Trustees. Today, it is my pleasure to serve as Chairman of that governing body. The Conservation Cove campaign will provide critically-needed funding for the renovation of exhibitions - and the development of new ones - on the lower level of the Aquarium facing Corpus Christi Bay. The exhibitions found there today are a decade old and urgently need to be refreshed and expanded. I urge you to join me and my colleagues at the Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc. in supporting the Conservation Cove campaign. With your help, the Texas State Aquarium can continue providing an educational experience of the highest caliber for visitors of all ages and walks of life.

Sincerely, Bruce S. Hawn

President Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc. Chairman, Board of Trustees Texas State Aquarium

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A Word from the President

First and foremost, a sincere thanks. You and others in our community have invested in our programs, and have therefore become advocates for wildlife conservation and environmental education. And because of your support, we have been able to accomplish so much. We have seen tremendous progress over the last five years; from the opening of Dolphin Bay and the Environmental Discovery Center, to exciting new exhibitions such as AMAZON and the Living Shores. And, despite flat national trends, attendance at the Aquarium is rising, our animal collection is growing, and our educational and exhibit programs are becoming more engaging. Together, we are making a difference. Conservation Cove, an integral component of our long range master plan, is our next major initiative. This ambitious program will completely reshape our outdoor exhibit areas, and will significantly boost the quality of the guest experience. More importantly though, this three-year program will allow us to engage and inspire a wildlife conservation ethic in a more effective and entertaining manner.

Thanks to many individuals, families, foundations and corporations, the Texas State Aquarium has become a positive force for environmental education and wildlife appreciation in our community and throughout Texas. From our award winning educational and wildlife rehabilitation programs, to our economic impact and driver of regional tourism, we have become a respected institution within the fabric of this community. School children and families across Texas - as well as injured wildlife - have benefited greatly because you believe in the Aquariums mission. I hope you will consider supporting the Conservation Cove campaign. It is an investment that you can be proud of, and one that will provide great returns for future generations.

Thank you,

Tom Schmid President and CEO Texas State Aquarium

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Table of Contents

Page Number

A Word from the Chairman 2 A Word from the President and CEO 3

Why Conservation Education is So Important: Quotations from

Dirk Kempthorne and Kevin Coyle 6

Mission of the Texas State Aquarium 7

Texas State Aquarium Facts in Brief 8

Conservation Cove Campaign Facts in Brief 9 How the Aquarium Touches Lives 10 Conservation Education at the Texas State Aquarium 11

Conservation Cove Overview 13

Texas State Aquarium: Proven Success 15

Conservation Cove Components 17

A. Hawn Wild Flight Theater 17 B. Raptor Roost 18 C. Otter Space 19 D. Turtle Cove 20 E. Outdoor Marsh 21 F. American Alligator Exhibit 22 G. Freshwater Fish and Reptile Exhibits 23

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Naming Opportunities 24 Funding to Date 25

Evaluation of Our Success 26

Fundraising and Exhibit Construction Timelines 28

How You Can Make a Gift to Conservation Cove 30 SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION

Conservation Cove Exhibition Renderings 31

Conceptual Exhibit Master Plan 32 Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “A” (Sea Turtle Exhibit) 33 Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “B” (American Alligator Exhibit) 34 Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “C” (Raptor Roost) 35 Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “D” (Hawn Wild Flight Theater) 36 Eagle and Bird Tether Station Area Concept Elevation 37 Interpretative Graphics for Turtle Cove 38 Turtle Interpretative Zone 39

Board of Trustees 40

Key Staff 41 Educational Programs 42 Assistance for Disadvantaged Youth 50

For More Information 51

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Why Conservation Education is So Important

Our children are at risk of losing touch with God’s creation. Fewer children are enjoying the great outdoors …. Too many teenagers are in windowless basements playing video games …. Children need to be inspired to leave their iPods and see a real pod of whales.

Dirk Kempthorne

Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, September 8, 2006

Moving environment learning outside the classroom walls – whether to an outdoor nature setting or a community location – seems to create more powerful, focused, and memorable learning experiences …. Most evaluators see American education as too passive and non-participatory.

Kevin Coyle, Environmental Literacy in America

The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation, September, 2005 Washington, D.C.

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Mission of the Texas State Aquarium The mission of the Texas State Aquarium is to inspire appreciation and wise stewardship of the Gulf of Mexico. To accomplish this goal, the Aquarium has developed more than 25 permanent and special exhibits to interpret the animals and sensitive ecosystems of the Gulf, engaging more than 7,700,000 visitors in the wonders of the marine world since the Aquarium opened to the public in 1990. The Aquarium promotes and actively engages in environmental education for youth and adults of all walks of life through a number of programs, including a wildlife rehabilitation program that ministers to the needs of hundreds of sick and injured shorebirds, raptors, sea turtles, and marine mammals each year.

While it is the official aquarium for Texas, the Texas State Aquarium operates as a private, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) educational institution and receives no operating support from city, state, or federal sources outside of specific grant projects. The Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The Aquarium contributes significantly to the quality of life of South Texas. In addition to providing a high-quality, family-oriented, entertaining, educational venue, the Aquarium has a $42,000,000 annual economic impact on the Coastal Bend region. As a successful, self-supporting non-profit, the Aquarium focuses its fundraising on projects that expand its educational and cultural value to South Texas and the State of Texas through new exhibits, exhibit renovations, and educational programs for teachers, students and the general public. The Texas State Aquarium also achieves its mission by partnering with other highly respected organizations, among them the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Coastal America (where we serve as an official Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center), Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, Coastal Bend Bays Foundation, Dolphin Breeding Consortium, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies – Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Informal Science Education Association of Texas, Texas Education Agency, Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Tourism Industry Association, The University of Texas Marine Science Institute, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Texas State Aquarium Facts in Brief Name: Texas State Aquarium (www.texasstateaquarium.org) IRS Designation: 501(c)(3) – Tax Identification Number: 23-7044950 Year Opened: 1990 Number of Full-time Staff: Full-time: 129 – Part-time: 61 Number of Paying Members: 4,633 (most are household members, which translates to over 14,000 individuals) Number of 2006 Visitors: 483,407 – the highest attendance in 13 years (over 7,700,000 visitors since 1990) Number of Exhibits: 25 (permanent and special exhibitions) Number of Animals: More than 5,000 animals representing over 300 species within 100,000 square feet Awards: More than 15 awards for educational and exhibit excellence Annual Budget 2007: Revenue (projected): $7,667,678 – Expenses (projected): $7,187,091 Annual Audit Performed By: Lovvorn & Kieschnick, L.L.P., Corpus Christi (361-884-8897) Current Endowment: $1,514,205 (general) - $50,250 (education) Endowment Management: Century Management (Austin – 512-329-0050) Primary Bank: American Bank (361-992-9900) Stock Transfer Agent: Dean Hrissikopoulos, Merrill Lynch (361-887-4341) Expense Allocation - 2005

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Conservation Cove Campaign Facts in Brief Campaign Goal: $3,000,000 This figure includes 15% endowment for long-term sustainability of the Aquarium. Primary Exhibits to be Funded: Hawn Wild Flight Theater

Raptor Roost Otter Space Turtle Cove Outdoor Marsh American Alligator Exhibit Freshwater Fish and Reptile Exhibits

Location: Lower level, facing Corpus Christi Bay Partial Species List: Information about many of these species may be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife

Department website: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/.

Alligator Snapping Turtle American Alligator Bald Eagle Barn Owl Crested Caracara Diamondback Terrapin Green Sea Turtle Guadalupe Bass Hawksbill Turtle

Indigo Snake Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle North American River Otter Northern Harrier Hawk Peregrine Falcon Texas Gopher Tortoise Turkey Vulture White-tailed Hawk

Campaign Administration: Conservation Cove campaign will be administered on a daily basis by

Mary McQueen, Chief Development Officer for the Texas State Aquarium (361-881-1255 or mmcqueen@txstateaq.org).

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How the Aquarium Touches Lives

On Thursday, January 18, 2007, the Texas State Aquarium was happy to learn that yet again that they had attained their goal of inspiring appreciation and wise stewardship of the Gulf of Mexico. Fourth-grade student Sommer Flowers of Alice, Texas announced she was donating more than $75 to the Aquarium’s rehabilitation program. Flowers raised the money by holding a cardboard sign reading, Save the Turtles… Be a Hero in front of her home. Sommer, who is nine years-old, is a student at Hillcrest Elementary School. She is an animal enthusiast. Her hero, the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, inspired Sommer to collect money to help injured and endangered sea turtles.

Mary McQueen, Chief Development Officer of the Aquarium, remarked, “Sommer’s commitment to conservation is inspiring. It is heartwarming that someone so young believes in the beauty of the wild enough to give of her time and talent for the benefit of sick and injured sea turtles. Conservation and philanthropy efforts are gifts to our community; they both hold the promise of a better future for all through the actions of individuals. With her efforts, Sommer has chosen to be an individual who makes a difference.” Sommer Flowers’ donation will help the Aquarium continue its mission of rehabilitating injured animals. When she grows up, Sommer says she wants to carry on her own destiny to help animals.

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Conservation Education at the Texas State Aquarium

Conservation education lies at the heart of the mission of the Texas State Aquarium. The Aquarium offers informative, enriching, and entertaining exhibits and educational programs year-round. In fact, the majority of Aquarium visitors are families with young and school-age children. Each year on average 465,000 people visit the Aquarium. In addition, the Aquarium provides educational programs serving more than 65,000 students and teachers annually. These age-appropriate programs integrate State-mandated skills assessment using marine-ecosystem themes. While students come primarily from South Texas, schools from throughout Texas and the U.S. have participated in the more than 500 education programs and activities the Texas State Aquarium has developed. More than 1,200,000 children have benefited from these educational programs since 1990, and the Aquarium has received more than 15 awards for educational and exhibit excellence.

“While most zoos and aquariums were originally established for curatorial and research purposes,” remarks Kevin Coyle in, Environmental Literacy in America (The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, Washington, D.C., September, 2005), “public education has moved to the forefront of their missions. This is an exciting development for environmental education and a huge opportunity for improving environmental literacy.” The Texas State Aquarium has realized the importance of its role in providing a safe environment for children and families to see and learn about nature first-hand and thereby to develop a greater appreciation and awareness of wildlife and the environment.

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Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior suggests that children must be inspired to leave their video games and iPods and experience nature in person. Only by doing so will they become knowledgeable stewards of our shared natural resources. Kevin Coyle observes, “young people (and grown-ups too) basically love nature … they love interacting with a world they can see, touch, hear, and smell …. We must conscientiously supply our children with the education and tools they will need to rebalance the overarching relationship between society and the natural world in the years ahead.” Through the Conservation Cove campaign, the Aquarium will be able to improve its effectiveness in providing an educational experience of the highest caliber for visitors of all ages and walks of life. We invite you can help us achieve our goal by supporting the Conservation Cove campaign today.

In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand.

We will understand only what we are taught.

Baba Dioum Senegalese ecologist (1968)

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Conservation Cove Overview

The Conservation Cove capital campaign is a $3,000,000 initiative that will support the renovation of exhibitions located on the lower level of the Aquarium, and the development of new ones. This area of the Aquarium was built in 1995, and hence is over ten years old. The exhibits will be refreshed, expanded in some instances, and reconceived as:

Hawn Wild Flight Theater Raptor Roost Otter Space Turtle Cove

Outdoor Marsh American Alligator Exhibit

Freshwater Fish and Reptile Exhibits

Currently 20,000 square feet in size, Conservation Cove will increase in size by 5,000 square feet. The Aquarium brings its mission to life through experiences that enlighten and educate students, teachers, and the general public about the animals and habitats of the Gulf of Mexico, while promoting wise stewardship of these precious natural resources. To keep the environmental messages fresh and engaging, the Aquarium pursues an active renovation and expansion program for both its animal exhibit and education programs. The Conservation Cove campaign involves renovation and expansion of a series of independent yet related exhibits showcasing a variety of animals, some of which face or have faced significant environmental challenges. With innovation and program updates, such as the one in which we are currently engaged, the Aquarium experience becomes more compelling to visitors, thereby encouraging repeat visitation.

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Through the Conservation Cove campaign, the Aquarium will broaden the interpretive and exhibit scope of the existing pavilion while creating a cohesive “look and feel” to the exhibit area and its underlying conservation messages. The exhibit area will expand by 5,000 square feet with the addition of the Hawn Wild Flight Theater. New interactive exhibits and animal habitats for additional species such as the Bald Eagle, the Guadalupe Bass and the Diamondback Terrapin will be added. Graphics throughout will discuss the challenges each of these animals face due to factors such as the decline of marsh, wetland and coastal habitats, and will celebrate the successful stories of habitat and species recovery. With this transformation, Conservation Cove will provide an opportunity to better engage visitors and present important messages on the value of diverse South Texas habitats, key environmental issues facing the animals, and what visitors can do to help conserve these species.

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Texas State Aquarium: Proven Success In 2006, following four years of exhibit expansions and enhancements, Aquarium attendance reached 483,407 visitors, the highest level of visitation in over 13 years. According to the most recent Morey Survey (July, 2006) — an independent survey which incorporates visitor responses from ten of the leading aquariums in the nation — visitors spend an average of 2.7 hours at the Texas State Aquarium, 23% longer than the benchmark average of 2.2 hours. The same survey provided empirical evidence of the quality of the Aquarium experience, both as an educational and entertainment venue. These include:

• Excellent ratings of overall satisfaction (76%) increased from 67% in July, 2006 and were higher than the Benchmark Average (66%).

• Excellent ratings of exhibit quality (77%) increased from 74% in

July, 2006.

• Excellent ratings of entertainment experience (69%) increased from 62% in July, 2006 and were higher than the Benchmark Average (63%).

• Excellent ratings of educational experience (74%) increased from 68% in July, 2006 and were higher than the

Benchmark Average (66%).

• Excellent ratings of value for admission (58%) increased from 51% in July, 2006 and were higher than the Benchmark Average (49%).

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An individual’s adoption of proactive environmental practices is predicated on multiple experiences with evocative and effective messages that increase awareness and encourage personal action for wise stewardship of our natural resources. The Conservation Cove campaign, and in particular the construction of the Hawn Wild Flight Theater, will increase both the entertainment and educational values of the Texas State Aquarium experience.

The Aquarium initially introduced Conservation Cove in 1995. Additional exhibits were added in 1999, 2001, and 2003. These interconnected exhibits provide an excellent opportunity to highlight the plight of endangered, threatened, and protected animals and communicate a common conservation theme: by working together, we can help conserve these species and the habitats upon which they rely.

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Conservation Cove Components

A. Hawn Wild Flight Theater The Hawn Wild Flight Theater adds a new venue to the Aquarium designed to engage guests through entertaining, free-flight bird presentations that deliver inspiring and empowering conservation messages. The theater and accompanying animal holding space will encompass approximately 5,000 square feet fronting Corpus Christi Bay. Bleacher-style seating will accommodate 300 guests under a large shade structure. Within this intimate, open-air theater, guests will enjoy 20-25 minute presentations showcasing a variety of raptors.

This will be the only program of its kind within a 150-mile radius of Corpus Christi. World renowned animal trainer Steve Martin and his Natural Encounters Inc. staff will assist Aquarium staff in developing and launching exciting bird shows featuring the stunning aerial acrobats of these predators of the sky. Guests will experience free-flight performances, learn how these birds hunt in the wild, what they eat, and their importance to area ecosystems. Owls will demonstrate their silent flight, while the Harris’ Hawk will show its speed and agility in the hunt. Guests will learn the differences between the species, some of the challenges each face, and what they can do to protect such animals in the wild.

A number of small mammals will also be incorporated into the presentations including some exotic species, such as an African Serval (wild cat) or a rare Amazonian Tamandua (anteater). Such species increase the “wow” factor, facilitating that all-important personal connection between human and animal, and help demonstrate the global nature of environmental challenges with stories that mirror our local conservation issues. Also included will be a number of the Aquarium’s current bird residents, such as the White-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Barn Owl, and Crested Caracara. These birds are part of the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Program and have been deemed non-releasable due to their injuries. Sharing the stories of these animals and their challenges in the wild can provide moving and empowering conservation messages.

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Seeing these impressive animals up close, outside an enclosure, provides a compelling experience, one designed to encourage people to care about our indigenous wildlife. From the exhilarating flights of the Harris’ Hawk and Peregrine Falcon, to the humorous antics of Parrots and the endearing nature of the gentle Tamandua, guests will be entertained, engaged, and educated about the splendor of our natural world and what we as individuals can do to address the challenges facing these remarkable animals. B. Raptor Roost Exhibit

An expanded raptor exhibit will provide additional enclosures housing a wider variety of raptors, including Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, and Peregrine Falcon, as well as other species. Exhibits will include both enclosures - where birds are free to fly and perch at will - and free-standing shaded kiosks. These tethered bird perches provide up-close, unencumbered viewing for a more personal animal encounter experience.

The compelling nature of birds of prey combined with the educational messages of Wild Flight presentations and multiple viewing opportunities will allow Aquarium guests to connect with the conservation stories of these species. Upon leaving this exhibit, visitors will better understand how their daily activities can affect our regional wildlife and the steps they can take to minimize detrimental impacts.

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C. Otter Space Exhibit

Otter Space, constructed in 1996, showcases North American River Otters, a playful, endearing species that captures the attention and hearts of visitors. Renovations to Otter Space will focus on exhibit enhancements for a more naturalized habitat and new interpretive graphics to help convey this important story. Historically, the North American River Otter ranged over more than half of the State of Texas, including the Nueces River system. Hunting and the disappearance of wetland and river habitat resulted in a rapid decline of this protected species. Sea Otters, an ocean-going cousin to the River Otter, were once a threatened species. With legal protection for the animals and their kelp habitat, their numbers are on the rise.

River Otters have only limited protection and are not yet expanding their populations to former ranges. By concentrating educational messages on the effects human actions have upstream on River Otter populations throughout the watershed, the Aquarium can offer suggestions for personal action to help bring a wild population back into our region. Environmental messages will contrast River Otter and Sea Otter species and their respective population recovery, and provide personal action initiatives for habitat conservation.

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D. Turtle Cove Turtle Cove features several species of sea turtles, including Kemp’s Ridley, Hawksbill, and Green Sea Turtles. The survival of these three species is of particular concern. Having once plied the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea in great numbers, their populations have dwindled. Today’s residents of Turtle Cove have come through the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Program. Due to the Aquarium’s well-established reputation in the field of marine animal rehabilitation, these non-releasable turtles have been entrusted to our care. A component of the exhibit tells the story of each Turtle Cove resident, providing a powerful message of the challenges these animals face in the wild and allowing visitors to see these extraordinary species so rarely seen outside of their natural marine environments.

Educational messages will include models showing the differences between marine, freshwater and terrestrial turtles. Environmental messages will discuss the threats to sea turtles due to entanglement and disturbances of nesting habitats, as well as advances in conservation initiatives and their effect on population recovery. Plans are underway to replace the current Turtle Cove exhibit with a more naturalized environment that will allow for both above- and below-water viewing. The new exhibit will incorporate better keeper access to the animals, an updated filtration system, and new interpretive graphics integrating the conservation message with the overall Conservation Cove theme.

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E. Outdoor Marsh Exhibit The Outdoor Marsh replicates a natural salt marsh environment, showcasing an important habitat in need of conservation. Expansion efforts will focus on the addition of a boardwalk through the marsh, complete with seating and shade structures. With this addition, Aquarium staff will be able to conduct educational programs and enhanced guided tours. Educational graphics will be installed at periodic points along the boardwalk that will offer key scientific facts and also tell conservation success stories. Today, the only way to view the marsh is from the outside looking in. By building the boardwalk, the Aquarium will allow better views of the plants and animals that live within it, and therefore a better understanding of this unique type of habitat.

Wetlands serve multiple purposes critical to the health of the Gulf of Mexico, including nurseries for marine organisms, resting spots for migrating bird populations, home for terrestrial animals, and barriers against chemical and physical pollution, and storms. In addition to watching the various shorebirds, such as gulls and pelicans, visitors will be able to see examples of the crucial vegetation such as black mangrove and spartina grasses that make up Texas coastal marshes. To promote natural resource conservation and increase safety, solar powered lighting will be added to the 420-foot boardwalk.

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F. American Alligator Exhibit The American Alligator represents a “back from the brink” success story. This indigenous reptile, once on the verge of extinction, has made a tremendous comeback over the past 30 years thanks to effective protective regulations. Often confused with the still-endangered American crocodile, this exhibit’s messages will focus on the differences between the two species, the success of alligator conservation efforts, and the challenges which still face crocodiles.

Under the renovation, the alligator pond will be enlarged and redesigned to replicate a swamp-like habitat incorporating more rustic materials and finish – wood posts with metal grid fencing, a wood shade structure with a metal roof, natural rockwork rather than laid stone walls, and natural plantings to help it blend into the overall site. Included in this area will be a walking bridge that spans the alligator pool, various viewing locations, and a shaded interactive interpretative zone.

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G. Freshwater Fish and Reptile Exhibits

A series of freshwater fish and reptile exhibits will be added to Conservation Cove to expand the conservation message. Freshwater fish exhibits will help explain that what affects local waterways also affects coastal and Gulf of Mexico waters, and ultimately our own food sources.

The Guadalupe Bass, the State Fish of Texas, is found only in Texas in the Nueces River system. It will be highlighted in this new exhibit. Loss of habitat and interbreeding with the introduced smallmouth bass has raised scientific concern for the survival of our State Fish. The Diamondback Terrapin, Alligator Snapping Turtle, and Texas Gopher Tortoise are among the animals to be showcased, along with the Indigo Snake. These fascinating Texas reptiles are facing increasing pressure such that their numbers are declining. Yet their challenges are not insurmountable. A human population empowered with knowledge and actionable conservation initiatives can help return these species to stable population levels.

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Naming Opportunities The following naming opportunities are available to donors to the Conservation Cove campaign:

Exhibit or Component Amount Partner

Naming of Conservation Cove $ 500,000 Hawn Wild Flight Theater $ 350,000 Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc. Otter Space $ 250,000 Turtle Cove $ 250,000 American Alligator $ 250,000 Outdoor Marsh (boardwalk, shaded seating, educational signage) $ 200,000 Bald Eagle $ 150,000 Raptor Roost (4 hawk exhibits, $25,000 each) $ 100,000 Raptor House $ 100,000 Freshwater Fish $ 50,000 Freshwater Turtle $ 50,000 Sea Turtle Interpretative Zone $ 50,000 Raptor Interpretative Zone $ 50,000 Alligator Interpretative Zone $ 50,000 Freshwater Fish and Reptile Interpretative Zone $ 50,000

Subtotal: $2,450,000

Donor Wall Tiles (Community Campaign)

Extra Large, $25,000 x 7 $ 175,000 Large, $15,000 x 10 $ 150,000 Medium, $10,000 x 15 $ 150,000 Small, $5,000 x 10 $ 50,000 Individual paving tiles, $250 x 100 $ 25,000

Subtotal: $550,000

GRAND TOTAL NAMING OPPORTUNITIES: $3,000,000

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Funding to Date During our quiet solicitation phase for Conservation Cove, we are pleased to report the Texas State Aquarium has received the following commitments (20% of our $3,000,000 goal):

Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc. $ 350,000 The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston $ 100,000 Aquarium Trustee Campaign (in progress – through May, 2007) $ 92,800 The Coastal Bend Community Foundation $ 15,000 Texas State Aquarium Staff (94% participation) $ 14,689 The George and Mary Hamman Foundation $ 10,000 The Prichard Family Foundation $ 10,000 Other Donations $ 5,150 Yvonne H. Simard Foundation, Inc. $ 5,000

~~~~~~~~~~~ Total gifts and pledges to date (February 26, 2007) $ 602,639

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Evaluation of Our Success

Evaluation of Conservation Cove will be based on attendance levels, general visitor surveys to assess the impact of the Aquarium experience and measure trends, and specific exhibit evaluations. Attendance will be measured against data from previous years. An increase in attendance can be an indication of success, reflecting positive public reception to new or expanded exhibits.

Public reaction to the content of exhibits and their educational value will be tracked through intercept surveys, which capture public attitudes toward the Aquarium experience. Ratings at or above current scores will also substantiate the success of the exhibits. The Aquarium conducts a number of visitor surveys each year, traditionally in March, June, and July. An estimated 300 to 500 completed surveys during each period provides feedback on multiple aspects of the guest experience. This information is used to evaluate, modify and enhance programs. The Aquarium can include questions about each new exhibit as it is brought on line to gauge visitor impressions. The data is compiled by Morey & Associates, along with similar data from nine other aquariums throughout the nation including the

Monterey Bay Aquarium, National Aquarium in Baltimore, and Aquarium of the Pacific. Reports from the data allow the Aquarium to compare its experience with national benchmark data, monitor trends, and modify its programs. The Texas State Aquarium will also conduct periodic exhibit-specific surveys designed by the education staff. Surveys are designed to assess environmental and conservation interest and participation levels, and can be modified to evaluate specific educational or exhibit features. These exhibit evaluations are conducted in five parts:

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• Pre-Exhibit Interviews – conducted face-to-face with visitors to gauge

their interest and knowledge of conservation and environmental issues prior to entering a specific exhibit. Several questions of this instrument are changed periodically to focus on different aspects of the various exhibits and their educational messages.

• Post-Exhibit Interviews – conducted face-to-face with visitors after

their exhibit experience to ascertain their impressions of the exhibit, its message, how much they have learned, and if there has been a shift in interest in conservation or environmental issues.

• Pre-Guest Book – allows guests to respond to selected conservation

and exhibit questions before entering the exhibit.

• Post-Guest Book – allows guests to respond to selected conservation and exhibit questions after experiencing the exhibit.

• Observational Evaluation – conducted by an Aquarium evaluator as they watch and record guest behaviors and the

time spent in the exhibits. With analysis of the information, the Aquarium can assess the effectiveness of the educational messages and modify its programs accordingly.

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Fundraising and Exhibit Construction Timelines The goal of the Conservation Cove campaign is $3,000,000. With the quiet initial phase of the campaign just underway, the Aquarium already has secured $602,639 in gifts and pledges. The Aquarium’s Staff Campaign was held in November, 2006 and raised $14,689 for the project with 94% participation, a significant demonstration of the staff’s personal commitment. A leadership gift has been received from the Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc., thanks to the support of Bruce Sams Hawn, President of the Foundation and Chairman of the Texas State Aquarium Board of Trustees. The Trustee Campaign began mid-December, 2006 and is expected to be completed by the end of May, 2007. Trustee participation in various annual fundraising initiatives ranges between 85% and 93%. The Aquarium expects its Trustee participation in Conservation Cove to equal these traditional levels of giving. The Trustee Campaign has a goal of 100% participation, for a total of $750,000. The quiet phase of the campaign will continue throughout 2007 and is expected to raise 60% of the total campaign goal. Exhibit Construction Phase I The conceptual design work for Conservation Cove is underway and will continue through the spring, 2007. Construction will be phased over three years to maximize the effectiveness of program introduction. This strategy allows the Texas State Aquarium to market each component of the campaign separately, providing something new each year for Aquarium guests and to encourage repeat visitation. Construction on the Hawn Wild Flight Theater commenced in October, 2006 and is expected to be completed in spring, 2007.

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Steve Martin and the Natural Encounters staff will be on-site at Texas State Aquarium between February and April, 2007 to train Aquarium staff and birds in preparation for opening of the exhibit in May, 2007. Natural Encounters will remain at the Aquarium for approximately five months to finalize bird and staff training to ensure the Texas State Aquarium’s quality program expectations. The Aquarium will hire up to five additional bird

keepers to present the programs and care for the animals. The bird shows will be presented up to four times daily, depending on the season. Phase II Construction of Raptor Roost, the Outdoor Marsh Boardwalk, and renovation of the American Alligator Exhibit are expected to commence in late 2007, with exhibit openings scheduled for 2008. Phase III Exhibit renovation and construction of the final components - Turtle Cove, Otter Space, and the new Freshwater Fish and Reptile exhibits - are expected to begin in 2008 with completion of the full project in 2009. Final timelines will be adjusted depending upon fundraising success.

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The Texas State Aquarium staff will oversee the construction project with Fulton Construction, the original contract agent for the Aquarium, as the general contractor. Upon completion, Conservation Cove exhibits will fall under Aquarium operations; ongoing operating and exhibit maintenance costs will be covered by the Aquarium’s general operating budget.

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How You Can Make a Gift to Conservation Cove

By making a gift to support the Conservation Cove campaign, you will help the Texas State Aquarium attain its goal of interpreting the critical habitats of the Gulf of Mexico for people of all ages and walks of life in the most engaging and compelling manner possible. Conservation Cove exhibits will have a cohesive visual “look” and will convey critical information about threats to sensitive species, but also conservation success stories. The importance of the Texas Gulf Coast environment will be highlighted throughout the pavilion. The exhibitions in Conservation Cove will help visitors explore how they can adapt their daily activities and be wise stewards of our shared marine and coastal resources. Gifts of all sizes to Conservation Cove are welcome and deeply appreciated. Gifts by check, cash, or by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) are accepted. Gifts of stock may be also be made. Pledges may be made over a three-year time span, if desired. To charge your gift by telephone, call 361-881-1255 (Mary

McQueen), or 361-881-1340 (Main Development Office), or e-mail Mary McQueen: mmcqueen@txstateaq.org. To make a gift of stock, please contact Mary McQueen at the Aquarium, or you may also contact Dean Hrissikopoulos at Merrill Lynch, at 512-887-4341. Checks should be made out to the Texas State Aquarium and mailed to: Conservation Cove Texas State Aquarium 2710 South Shoreline Boulevard Corpus Christi, Texas 78402

Thank you!

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Supportive Information

Conservation Cove Exhibition Renderings by Jack Rouse Associates

1. Conceptual Exhibit Master Plan (page 32) 2. Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “A” (Sea Turtle Exhibit – page 33) 3. Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “B” (American Alligator Exhibit – page 34) 4. Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “C” (Raptor Roost – page 35) 5. Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “D” (Hawn Wild Flight Theater – page 36) 6. Eagle and Bird Tether Station Area Concept Elevation (page 37) 7. Interpretative Graphics for Turtle Cove (page 38) 8. Turtle Interpretative Zone (page 39)

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Conceptual Exhibit Master Plan

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Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “A” – Sea Turtle Exhibit

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Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “B” – American Alligator Exhibit

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Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “C” – Raptor Roost

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Exhibit Area Perspective Sketch “D” – Hawn Wild Flight Theater

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Eagle and Bird Tether Station Area Concept Elevation

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Interpretative Graphics for Turtle Cove

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Turtle Interpretative Zone

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Board of Trustees Texas State Aquarium

• Barry Andrews, Andrews Distributing (Dallas) • Patrick J. Birmingham. Corpus Christi Caller-Times • Stephanie H. Bottom, Community Volunteer • Reagan Brown, Peterson Development Corporation • Willard E. Brown, The Bolton Foundation (Waco) • John W. Creveling, Jr., Community Volunteer • MaryJane Crull, Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens • Dr. Randy B. Cutlip, Amy Shelton McNutt Trust • Thomas R. “Tom” Dobson, Whataburger, Inc. • Paula Dodd, Water Street Seafood Company • Elinor A. Donnell, Community Volunteer • John F. Dorn, Community Volunteer (Houston) • Sharon Emerson, Centerplate • William D. “Bill” English, Cheniere Energy, Inc.

(Houston) • Margaret “Peggy” Fagan, The Prichard Family

Foundation • Pat Frost, Frost National Bank (San Antonio) • Dr. Robert R. Furgason, Harte Research Institute • Eddie L. Garcia, New York Life • Robert K. “Bob” Grimes, Valero • Shawn Bevly Groesbeck, Bevly Farms • Rob Hall, H-E-B • Joni Harrel, Community Volunter • Judith Hawley, Port of Corpus Christi Authority • Bruce S. Hawn, Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc., CHAIR,

TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • R. Scott Heitkamp, ValueBank Texas • Charles A. “Charlie” Hicks, Ed Hicks Nissan • Gloria Hicks, Ed Hicks Nissan • Peter Holt, Holt Companies (San Antonio)

• Susan E. Hutchinson, Davis, Hutchinson & Wilkerson LLP

• Nina L. Johnson, Turf and Irrigation Hardware, Inc. • Lee R. Jordan, Captions, Inc. • Dr. Ray M. Keck, III, Texas A&M University-Laredo • Dr. Flavius Killebrew, Texas A&M University-Corpus

Christi • Wallace L. Lundgren, Community Volunteer (Austin) • David F. Martineau, Pitts Oil Company (Dallas) • Anna Martinez, Community Volunteer • Robert A. May, Community Volunteer (Beeville) • Julie McNeil, Community Volunteer • Mark Meyer, American Bank • Josephine W. Miller, San Patricio County EDC • Patty Nuss, Community Volunteer • J. Ted Oakley, Herndon Plant Oakley Ltd. • Bonnie B. Pereida, Merrill Lynch • Gayle Runnels, Valley Beverage (McAllen) • Alice H. Sallee, Community Volunteer • Deneece Ann Squires, Community Volunteer • Lorraine Stern, Port Aransas Community Volunteer • Sam L. Susser, Susser Holdings • Nathan Taggart, Taggart Motor Company • George E. Tanner, Mestena Operating Ltd. • Denise S. Tavares, Community Volunteer • Jeff Thomas, H-E-B (Austin) • Rich D. Tuttle, Flint Hills Resources • Yma Urban, Community Volunteer • Wayne Vann, Navy Army Federal Credit Union • Sylvia A. Whitmore, Frost National Bank

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Key Staff Texas State Aquarium

Tom Schmid President and Chief Executive Officer

~

Mary McQueen Chief Development Officer

Ed Majors

Chief Operating Officer

Julio Flores Director, Finance

Sarah Paige

Director, Animal Husbandry

Tara Schultz Director, Science Education

Rhandi Parish

Director, Human Resources

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Educational Programs

The vision of the Texas State Aquarium is to inspire appreciation and wise stewardship of the Gulf of Mexico. Under the humorous heading, “Aquacation,” the Aquarium’s educational programs are developed to support the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) objectives. The grade levels each program serves are noted in parentheses. Modest fees are charged for most programs, per student. Texas State Aquarium Programs Self-guided Tours (K-12) Set your own pace to explore galleries that interest you and your students the most. Trained Volunteer Interpretive Guides stationed throughout the Aquarium are eager to help answer questions. Our Fair Feathered Friends (K-1) Shake a tail feather as you examine and identify various beaks, feet, and feathers of birds from the Gulf of Mexico. Then, enjoy a visit from one of our resident raptors.

Shoreline Encounter (2-4) Students will enjoy this hour-long journey to the Aquarium’s backyard shore and pier. Students will observe beach inhabitants and collect oceanographic data using scientific sampling gear. An alternate, indoor program will be provided in case of foul weather. Guided Tours (3-12) You and your students will be immersed in a guided overview of the Aquarium, led by our Education Staff. View highlights from the mako shark model to Dolphin Bay and the outdoor exhibits. Then you and your chaperones can lead a more in-depth exploration.

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Gallery Programs (3-12) Enjoy an in-depth look at some of the most fascinating aspects of the Gulf of Mexico. Program topics include: coral reefs, sea turtles, sharks, marine debris, marine mammals, and jellyfish. Behind-the-Scenes (3-12) Is Corpus Christi Bay a healthy place to live? For an hour and fifteen minutes, students will become marine biologists, test the bay water, and even use computers to analyze their results. SeaLab Programs Conducted in the Aquarium’s SeaLab facility (located about one mile from the Aquarium), these hands-on educational programs are designed for specific age groups. Float Your Boat (4-5) Join us and learn buoyancy principles. Students will discover what boats and fish have in common. You will learn to wear a personal flotation device and test the buoyancy of a canoe. Foul Play (6-12) Amazing marine systems await your discovery when you examine and classify the microscopic and larger communities on a variety of hard surfaces. The Wonderful Wetlands (9-12) Students will enjoy this opportunity to study flora and fauna when they take a canoe trip into a wetland. Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared to get wet and muddy. An alternate, indoor program will be provided in case of foul weather.

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Camp-in Programs The Aquarium’s camp-in programs include dinner and breakfast. ZZZs Under the Seas (ages 7-18) Experience the wonders of the deep as you spend the night in the Aquarium. Camp-in with the sharks, tarpon, and other creatures of the Gulf of Mexico. This program includes a guided tour, behind-the-scenes tour, dive show and games. Girl Scout Wildlife Patch (ages 7-10) This adventure is geared just for Brownies and Junior Girl Scouts. What a great way to earn your Wildlife Patch! Explore the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico and sleep with the fishes. Scouting Under the Sea (ages 7-10) Cub Scouts can earn their Wildlife Conservation Belt Loop or Academic Pin by learning about natural resources, endangered species, how animals protect themselves in the wild and what we can do to protect them and their environments. Oceanography (ages 11-18) Learn about water properties, waves, tides, and much more during this program geared for secondary science classes and Boy Scouts interested in earning the Oceanography merit badge. Outreach Programs These programs are conducted in classroom settings. Seaside Seashells (1-4) Discover beautiful homes for interesting animals. Students will identify different shells that may be found on Texas beaches. The Great Jetty Mystery (1-4) Visit a jetty community and help the bumbling Shorelock Scales solve a mystery. Students will meet a wave, barnacle, stone crab, and sea urchin as they investigate the possibilities.

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The Saga of Sea-leste (1-4) Help a hatchling sea turtle find its way to the sea. Students will meet a variety of sea creatures that teach Sea-leste the facts of life through their special adaptations. Coral Reef Under Conservation (1-4) Explore underwater worlds on this tour of a lifetime. Students will view coral reefs – some of the world’s most beautiful and valuable ecosystems – then create a coral reef on their own! Dorsey’s Adventure (1-4) Follow a young dolphin on a journey of discovery. Students will meet a fish, turtle, and human as Dorsey experiences an ocean adventure of ups and downs. Jellyfish Jampions! (4-5) It’s the funniest game show to ride the waves. Students chosen from the audience will don jellyfish costumes to prepare for the challenge. The Building Blocks of a Wetland (4-5) Learn about wetland communities and the significance of food chains. Students will create their own food web using wetland flora and fauna. Point to Non-point: Making the Connection (5-7) Create a watershed. Students will examine substances that dissolve or become suspended in water, learn about the relationship of water to living organisms, and have increased awareness of water conservation. Texas River Basins (7-8) Explore Texas in a new way. Students will discover the major river basins in Texas and discuss the impacts of non-point source pollution on the Gulf of Mexico watershed. Wetlands and Water (7-8) Discover the importance of a wetland, identify local animal and plant species, and observe several chemicals found in water at three lab stations.

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Chowin’ with the Coral (5-12) Don’t get left out at the dinner table. Students will discover how coral polyps feed and create their unique reef system. The program also addresses factors that are causing coal reefs to disappear. Marine Careers (5-12) Explore the possibilities! The program includes information on education requirements, job opportunities, and a look at the types of people required to run a world-class facility like the Texas State Aquarium. Sharks (5-12) Learn more about these predators of the deep and find out how little of their bad reputation they deserve. The program discusses aspects of shark biology and conservation efforts. Turtle Hurdles (5-12) Discover the plight of endangered sea turtles. The program includes seat turtle biology, population decline, and conservation efforts. Jellyfish – Floating Phantoms (5-12) Pulse through for a closer look at the fascinating creatures you’d prefer to keep at arm’s length! Live and preserved jellyfish reinforce the presentation. Waterbirds (5-12) Over 490 species of birds can be found in the Coastal Bend of Texas. Discover the beauty of these unique, feathered creatures. Oceanography (5-12) Dive into oceanography and learn about the deep blue sea. Physical, chemical, and biological aspects are integrated through hands-on demonstrations. All That Trash (5-12) Learn all the dirty things about garbage. Students will learn how marine debris is a danger to animals through entanglement and ingestion, and what they can do to help. Ocean in a Box (K-12) Take a trip to the ocean and never leave your classroom! Examine shark, sea turtle, and bird bio-facts; shells; and corals.

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Live Animal Outreach (K-12) Staff biologists and live animals provide exciting learning opportunities about Texas birds of prey and avian rehabilitation. Videoconferencing

Videoconference programs from the “Flint Hills Resources Distance Learning Studio” delivers natural science live to any classroom. Through a series of real-time cameras, students can view and learn about the animals of the Gulf of Mexico. Each videoconference package offers pre- and post-videoconferencing activities and hands-on interaction during the program. Each session is 50 minutes and is limited to 25 students per class. Coral Reef Under Construction (3rd grade) Students learn about coral habitats, “virtually” visit Aquarium exhibits, and build their own reef. All About Water (3rd grade) Students learn about the physical properties of water, the relationship

of water to living organisms, and the importance of water conservation. Scoundrels of the Sea (3rd grade) Students discover the unique creatures that live in the Gulf of Mexico and in the deep hidden places of the sea. Students “virtually” visit the “Islands of Steel” exhibit, learn about the benefits of the ocean’s top predators, and create their own sea monsters. The Saga of Sea-Leste (4th grade) This interactive puppet show is about a sea turtle hatchling searching for other sea turtles, and encountering many different sea creatures on her journey. Students “virtually” visit the Aquarium’s “Turtle Cove” exhibit.

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The Building Blocks of a Wetland (4th grade) Students “virtually” visit the Aquarium’s “Outdoor March” exhibit, and learn about producers and consumers, food webs, and the importance of wetlands to the overall health of ecosystems. Helping Herons, Patching Up Pelicans, Rehabilitating Raptors (4th grade) Students identify bird adaptations and meet patients of the Aquarium’s Bird Rehabilitation Program. Students “virtually” visit the live shorebirds at the “Outdoor Marsh” and “Life of a Salt Marsh” exhibits. The World of Dolphins (5th grade) Students meet the residents of “Dolphin Bay.” Students engage in hands-on activities that demonstrate the concepts of thermal regulation, ocean habitats, and human activities that threaten dolphin populations and their survival. Float Your Boat (5th grade) Boats float! Students create and test their own boats, view ships in the Port of Corpus Christi, and come to understand the general physics of why even the largest and heaviest of supertankers do not sink. Sea of Submersibles (5th grade) Students learn the importance of ocean exploration while understanding how new technology allows ocean submersibles to collect information. Students have the opportunity to create and test their own Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. Professional Development All sessions are registered with the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), and accredited by the Texas Environmental Education Advisory Committee (TEEAC). Flying WILD Flying WILD is an exciting new education program that introduces middle school students to bird conservation through school festivals, hands-on activities, and community service projects. This program is offered through a new partnership with the Council for Environmental Education.

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Project WILD and Project WILD Aquatic Project WILD emphasizes wildlife, while Project WILD Aquatic focuses on the world of water and aquatic habitats. The programs may be conducted separately in 6-hour sessions, or combined in a 10-hour session. Each offers a teacher manual of fun, hands-on, easy-to-use educational activities; helpful scientific information preceding all activities; powerful techniques and methods of teaching problem-solving and decision-making skills; an adaptive approach to varied learning styles, appropriate for K-12 grades; SEBC/TEEAC credits. Project Learning Tree Project Learning Tree is a broad-based environmental education program, teaching kids how to think, not what to think, by strengthening critical-thinking, team-building, and problem-solving skills. Topics range from forests, wildlife, and water to community planning, waste management, and energy. Each 6-hour session offers a grade-appropriate curriculum manual and 6 SBEC/TEEAC credits. Snooze with the Sharks Earn SBEC and TEEAC credit with Project WILD, PLT, and Flying WILD programs while enjoying a unique opportunity to spend the night among the sharks at the Aquarium. “Snooze with the Sharks” is an annual event held in May. Classroom Activities Use science or math to explore different marine habitats. Developed by science educators at the Aquarium, over 300 classroom activities explore a wide variety of topics.

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Assistance for Disadvantaged Youth

The Texas State Aquarium makes every effort to enable economically and physically disadvantaged youth to visit the Aquarium and to participate in its programs. Each year the Aquarium opens its doors to the community for two Dollar Day events by reducing admission to a $1 per person. These deep-discount admission and community outreach programs allow the area’s disproportionately large population of economically disadvantaged families to experience the Aquarium. According to the Texas Education Agency, minority students make up 71 percent of the students in Education Service Center Region II, which encompasses Corpus Christi and more than 40 surrounding school districts, and 56.1 percent of those students are classified as

economically disadvantaged. Dollar Day programs allow these area children and their families the opportunity to spend quality time together while sharing in the Aquarium’s educationally enriching exhibits and activities. Since 2000, the Aquarium has offered twelve Dollar Day events averaging 7,535 visitors per event. It becomes clear when watching the crowds on Dollar Day that the majority of people in attendance would not normally have a chance to experience the Aquarium and its educational messages without such a program. The Gloria Hicks Education Endowment, established in 2000, provides free educational programs and tours for disadvantaged youth. In addition, the Aquarium has an active Education Grants Program, whereby it secures funding to provide education programs, tours and admission to schools, youth groups, and at-risk populations free of charge. The Aquarium is ADA compliant to ensure that those individuals with physical challenges can participate. The Texas State Aquarium also modifies its Guided Tour program for the deaf and blind, adding components that bring the visitor experience to life for those special populations. In 2003, the Texas State Aquarium developed the Videoconferencing Education Program, AquaVision, in conjunction with a Texas Education Agency TARGET grant. Over the past three years, more than 10,000 area children have participated in the programs free of charge. The Aquarium continues to find funding to keep access to its programs available for youth and the disadvantaged.

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For More Information For general information about the Texas State Aquarium, please see our website: http://www.texasstateaquarium.org/. For more information about the Conservation Cove campaign, please contact Mary McQueen, Chief Development Officer, 361-881-1255 (mmcqueen@txstateaq.org). Online Resources

• American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) The Texas State Aquarium is an accredited member of the AZA: http://www.aza.org/

• Coastal America

The Aquarium is an official “Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center”: www.coastalamerica.gov

• GulfBase GulfBase is a database for Gulf of Mexico research, and is based at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi:

www.gulfbase.org

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• Morey & Associates

Morey & Associates is the leader in market research and consultation for the cultural attraction industry: http://moreyandassociates.com

• The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (NEETF)

To read the report, “Environmental Literacy in America: What Ten Years of NEETF/Roper Research and Related Studies Say about Environmental Literacy in the U.S.,” by Kevin Coyle, September, 2005, see these web pages: http://www.neetf.org/pubs/ELR2005.pdf

• Natural Encounters, Inc. Natural Encounters will host bird flight presentations in the new Hawn Wild Flight Theater:

http://www.naturalencounters.com/

• Jack Rouse Associates (JRA) JRA is designing the new exhibits in Conservation Cove. The company “specializes in audience-centric innovation, an

integrative way of thinking and problem solving”: http://www.jackrouse.com/flash/index.htm

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Many of the wildlife species found in Conservation Cove exhibits are described on the Hunting and Wildlife pages of the TPWD website: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/

• Texas State Aquarium

www.texasstateaquarium.org

• U.S. Department of the Interior Threatened or endangered species information may be found on this website: http://www.doi.gov/

Conservation Cove Case Statement produced by Carolyn M. Appleton and the Staff of the Texas State Aquarium, 2007.

All photographs are provided by the Texas State Aquarium, except the photograph of the Bald Eagle on page 28, that is from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Exhibit renderings are by Jack Rouse Associates.