Tennessee Aquarium

“For some people, a journey through our exhibits can feel like jumping into a river of knowledge. Experiencing unusual, exotic or otherwise unseen animals encourages inquisitive minds to soak up information about the natural world. Through interesting creatures, inspiring conservation efforts and environmental education programing, the Aquarium immerses people in the fascinating stories of life above, around and below the water. This work is at the core of our mission as an educational nonprofit. The Tennessee Aquarium has been continuously accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, affirming our goal to achieve the highest standard of wellbeing for the animals in our care. We continually invest in our facilities, programs and staff to keep them among the best in the world. The AZA accreditation reflects our commitment to industry best practices. Many people say that being accredited means that the public can expect an institution to live up to its promises. For the teachers who use the classroom resource, it means they have confidence in the quality of environmental education we provide. For visitors engaging with our animals, it means they can trust that our experts take the critical and complex steps necessary to meet the physical, psychological and social needs of our animals. For our members and donors, it enhances the value of the Aquarium experience and reaffirms their choice to invest in our work.”

“The Conservation Institute has a team of expert scientists that conduct scientific studies and restore natural ecosystems. Successful restoration programs of Lake Sturgeon, Southern Appalachian Brook Trout and Barrens Topminnows preserve the unique and delicate balance of biodiversity in Tennessee. Each year, the Aquarium reaches more than 700,000 people to raise awareness of the life teeming in our local waterways. Our daily communication efforts share the practical, everyday implications of our freshwater conservation work. We collaborate with a broad group of partners including Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservatio, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund to preserve our region as a global hotspot for aquatic biodiversity.”

“Through contributed support, the Aquarium has initiated several new ways to mobilize teens to take action for the environment. Teen specific outreach programs, a growing teen volunteer program and an immersive weeklong summer experience all work together to help more than 100 teens make connections between science education and real world applications. Reaching teens at a time when they typically show a declining interest in science topics, the Aquarium is providing a pathway for youth to grow their knowledge, skills and abilities to positively impact our community and their future. The outreach program brings the wonders of the natural world directly to school classrooms, community centers and other facilities within a 150 mile radius of our downtown facility. Aligned to state curriculum guidelines, our outreach educators deliver interactive, grade specific lessons on topics such as reptiles and amphibians, aquatic ecosystems, insects and more. With community support, the Aquarium offers these programs free to schools in financial need, helping both city and rural students develop an awareness of the natural world, teaching them to plan and solve problems and guiding then to become responsible stewards of our planet. Our professional education staff help teachers leverage our exhibits as an extension of their school classrooms. Each year, more than 3,000 teachers turn to the Aquarium for help integrating environmental education into their lesson plans.”