The Aquarium on Wheels rolled into Whittier Narrows Nature Center in South El Monte this fall, bringing a hands-on marine exhibit to local families. Aquarium on Wheels offers a 1,500-gallon mobile tidepool that lets visitors touch sea anemones, spiny sea stars and even feel the rough skin of a swell shark. The program aims to spark curiosity in ocean life and broaden access for communities that may lack field-trip funding.
Aquarium on Wheels Comes Ashore
Whittier Narrows Nature Center occupies 400 acres of riparian habitat managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. On select dates this year, the Aquarium of the Pacific’s mobile tidepool truck will be parked just steps from the center’s visitor pavilion. Educators from the nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific lead interactive lessons about tidepool ecosystems and coastal conservation. Students, parents and lifelong learners can ask questions, handle creatures with wet-hands etiquette and learn why these animals matter to our Pacific coast.
Aquarium on Wheels Educators Teach
Each visit features guided, age-appropriate lessons. Younger children practice identifying sea stars and hermit crabs by color and shape. Older students discuss food webs, habitat threats and local conservation efforts. Educators also share simple actions families can take—such as reducing plastic use—to protect ocean species. All lessons follow state science standards and complement outdoor school programs. Local teachers have praised the program for bringing marine science directly to campus, cutting costs on bus rentals and chaperones. One South El Monte Elementary instructor noted that hands-on interaction boosts student engagement and retention of science concepts.
Mobile Tidepool Experience Returns Soon
The Aquarium on Wheels schedule at Whittier Narrows Nature Center is:
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(An Aug. 6 event passed before organizers finalized this story.) Admission is free with Nature Center entry, and no advance registration is required. Families can arrive any time during program hours to explore the tidepool exhibit. Parking and restrooms are available on site. For details on Aquarium on Wheels or other educational outreach, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific at www.aquariumofpacific.org. To learn more about the Nature Center’s programs, go to parks.lacounty.gov.
Community Relevance
By hosting Aquarium on Wheels, the Nature Center strengthens its mission to foster stewardship of wetland and marine habitats. South El Monte families gain access to marine science without traveling to Long Beach or other coastal destinations. Local school districts can integrate the mobile tidepool into their science curriculum at no extra cost. With state budget cuts affecting field trips, this program fills a vital gap in hands-on learning for underserved communities.
