Experience the krill of learning

The American Cetacean Society-Oregon Chapter is hosting a Whale-y Family Fun Day at Newport’s Hatfield Marine Science Center Visitor Center this Sunday, March 23.

The Spring Whale Watch Week event is a fun opportunity to learn about whales, dolphins and porpoises, collectively known as cetaceans. Following the Whale Tail Trail will lead to activities such as Whale Trivia and “Can you hold your breath like a whale?” and viewing the various sizes of cetaceans at the “As Big As That?” demonstration. The trail will also include interactive displays such as feeling how cetaceans stay warm in cold waters with “Beautiful Blubber,” viewing and learning about whale lice, touching real baleen and being able to take your photo with an orca cutout will also be on the trail. Activities will be available for all ages.

Spring Whale Watch Week is a time when many schools are on Spring Break and coincides with the peak migration times of gray whales traveling off the Oregon Coast on their northbound migration from their breeding and birthing grounds in Baja California, Mexico to their feeding grounds in the Arctic. Information on whale watching and maps of Spring Whale Watch sites will also be available at the event.

Sunday’s fun will run from 10 am to 3 pm at the Hatfield Marine Science Center Visitor Center, located at 2030 SE Marine Science Drive in Newport. The event is included with admission to the Visitor Center. Admission is $5 per person aged five and older. For more information, go to.acsonline.org.