Northeast News
December 14, 2011

The search is on to find 12 young people in the Kansas City Metro area to champion the conservation efforts of the new SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium, which will open in April 2012 at Crown Center. More than 5,000 sea creatures will be featured at the new exhibit, in addition to an underwater tunnel.

With the world’s sea creatures under threat from overfishing, pollution and global warming, SEA LIFE Kansas City plans to recruit a dozen environmentally aware children to spearhead a marine conservation drive in the Greater Kansas City metro area.

“SEA LIFE Kansas City will be the newest member of SEA LIFE’s global conservation initiative, doing all we can to preserve the precious life that dwells in our oceans,” said Mendy Rose, marketing manager of SEA LIFE Kansas City. “We want to engage the support of the Kansas City community in our mission, and particularly the children who will be the future custodians of our seas and oceans.”

To help preserve sea life, youngsters ages six to 12 are encouraged to apply for the job of “young environmentalist.” The chosen twelve will form the Young Environmentalist Panel and will road test all educational and environmental programs offered by SEA LIFE Kansas City. They will also serve as a team of advocates, taking news of SEA LIFE conservation efforts back to their own classmates and even other schools. For their efforts, the youngsters will be awarded an annual pass to the new aquarium and participate in the grand opening events.

“This group of students will work with our curator to learn what impact even those in the Midwest can have with their everyday actions in saving our oceans,” Rose said. “They will also help in promoting SEA LIFE’s global conservation efforts, including our project to build a vital sea turtle rescue center in the Mediterranean.”

To apply for the 12-member panel, those ages six to 12 must:

•Write a 100-word essay beginning “We need to protect our SEA LIFE because…”

•Create a picture with any medium of an imaginary sea creature

•Be willing to talk to their school and classroom about the importance of taking care of our world’s sea creatures

•With their parents’ involvement, become a “fan” of SEA LIFE Kansas City on facebook and upload the entry at www.facebook.com/SEALIFEKansasCity.

Entries should be uploaded via facebook by clicking on the YE Contest application located on the left side of the page. Deadline for entries is Jan. 2, 2012.

Beginning Jan. 3, all entries will be posted to a gallery on SEA LIFE Kansas City’s facebook page and the public will be able vote for their favorite young environmentalist.

Voting will take place through the month of January and the winners will be announced Feb. 2, 2012.