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7/10/13
Let the Adventures Begin!
After gaining comfort in our 6-foot holding pools, Talise has ventured into a new and exciting place - the main pool!! This vast 18-foot deep pool provides Talise with lots of opportunity for adventure! Click here to learn about her first adventures in the pool!
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5/29/13
Swimming Time!
Talise is growing quickly! This past week she has reached the milestone of learning to swim in one of our pools! Click here to follow her story!
4/30/13
Talise's Debut!
Ben Lorber from WISN-TV Channel 12 came out to to showcase Ocean's of Fun newest family member, Talise! We can't thank him enough for capturing such precious moments of Talise's first weeks! Click here to check out his wonderful slideshow!
4/28/13
Colby is 10 Months Old!
Colby's training is well underway! Check out how fast he is learning!
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4/26/13
Colby in the Spotlight!
Thanks to Ben Lorber from WISN-TV Channel 12 for coming out and following Colby's progress during his first year of life! Check out his slideshow and see highlights of Ben's Visit!
4/19/13
IT'S A GIRL!!
On Wednesday April 17, 2013 at 12:06am, Sonoma gave birth to our brand new female sea lion pup! Check out how this little munchkin is doing!
4/10/13
Spring Registration Special
Receive 15% off all program reservations made from April 11th through April 18th! To learn more about our programs and to make your reservation today, click here!
4/5/13
Colby's Formal Training has Begun!
It's official! Colby's formal training has begun! Check out what the first steps are in training a young sea lion!
3/16/13
Early Bird Camp Registration Special Extended!
Back by popular demand, we are extending out Early Bird Camp Registration special, allowing you to recieve 20% off all camp registrations! This special is running now through March 24th! Don't miss out on these amazing savings and make your reservation today!!
3/6/13
Early Bird Camp Special
Take advantage of our Early Bird Camp Special and recieve 20% off all camp registrations made from March 5th through March 15th! Make your camp reservation today!
2/21/13
Colby is 8 months Old!
Colby is now eating fish like a big boy! Check out how his trainer's made fish fun!
2/13/13
Still trying to find that perfect Valentine's Day present for that special someone? Well book your reservation today for our Aquatic Adventure program and receive 20% off through February 17th! This program will allow you to enter our animals environment where you will have hands on interactions with these amazing animals. You may even get sea lion kiss! What more could you ask for? Learn more here!
2/4/13
Seals, Sea Lions, and snow fun! Check out our Februaruy Newsletter to see what our flippered friends are up to this winter! If you want to stay up to date on our latest news, subscribe to our Fan Club and receive program specials and the most recent newsletter!
1/27/13
Colby is 7 months old!
Colby is growing in leaps and bounds! Check out what our little tyke is learning this month!
1/10/13
Have you always wanted to be an animal trainer? Now’s your chance! Join us at Ocean Connections for the experience of a lifetime in our Job Shadow program. Learn to feed, train, and care for our flippered friends in this private interactive program.
Book today and receive 20% off all Job Shadow programs! Learn more now!
12/31/12
Colby is 6 months old!
Check out our littlest star as he learns, plays and grows at Ocean Connections!
11/5/12
Punta San Juan Journal is Live!
Follow along next week as Ocean Connections president, Shelley Ballmann, journals about her travels and provides updates on the pinniped conservation project of Punta San Juan! Read more and follow along here.
10/15/12
Colby is 4 months old!
Colby is making new friends everyday! Learn more about Colby's newest adventures at Ocean Connections!
9/11/12
Colby is 12 weeks old!
Learn more about what life is like, growing up sea lion!
8/1/12
Swimming Lessons Have Begun!
Colby has started swimming in our holding pools! Check out his progress with our newest post about this cuddly little star!
7/15/12
Pup Pool Time!
Colby is having a blast playing in his swimming pool! Check out the newest photos of Colby having splashing good time!
7/6/12
New Photos of Colby!
News reporters stopped by this week to meet Colby and take photos of the little guy playing with his toys and trainers. Check out his playful antics in his newest slideshow!
New Pup Photos
6/27/12
Colby's Debut on RealMilwaukee!
Tony from RealMilwaukee stopped by Ocean Connections to visit Slick and to meet Colby, our newest sea lion pup on Tuesday June 26. Learn more about Tony's adventures with the animals of Ocean Connections in the following videos.
6/21/12
Help us welcome our new addition!
Makaia gave birth to a healthy sea lion pup at 8:02 pm on Wednesday June 21, 2012. Follow along with mom and pup's progress as our littlest star learns what sea lion life is all about.
3/13/12
Fox 6 News: Tony has Ocean Connections with the sea lions at the Milwaukee Co. Zoo
Tony from Real Milwaukee stopped by to meet our new additions to the Ocean Connections family! Learn more about our new friends Bumper, Abby and Sonoma and our new summer programs in the following videos. You won't want to miss you chance to get up close and personal with these stars!
2/11/12
Meet Bumper!
This winter we welcomed a new member to our pinniped family! In late January, Bumper, a 2 year old male Atlantic harbor seal joined Ocean Connections from Long Island Aquarium in New York. Being a juvenile, Bumper weighs in at 130 pounds. When full grown, male harbor seals reach weights of approximately 300 pounds and lengths of 6 feet. This little guy sure has some growing to do!
For photos and news updates about Bumper’s transition to life at Ocean Connections, be sure to follow us on Facebook!
Read the latest update >
Older Articles - 2/5/12
11/22/11
Meet our New Additions
Ocean Connections works collaboratively with fellow zoos and aquariums in establishing breeding loans to diversify genetics within populations and ensure success in future generations. Our most recent collaboration unites the Chicago Zoological Society and Ocean Connections as two new california sea lions have recently joined our collection. Meet Abby and Sonoma our newest family members!
Older Articles - 10/27/11 | 10/20/11 | 10/11/11 | 10/07/11
10/21/11
Ocean Connections is recognized and received Accreditation at the 2011 International Marine Animal Trainer Association conference for having satisfied the qualitative evaluation for professional standards of the IMATA Trainer Development Program. Ocean Connections president, Shelley Ballmann proudly accepts a plaque in recognition of our program.
10/06/11
Let's GO Brew Crew!!!
In true Wisconsin team spirit the seals and sea lions at Ocean Connections are doing their part with a little "pool gating" to cheer on our Brewers! Come cheer with them by making a program reservation before our season ends!
08/11/11
Want to keep up on what's new at Ocean Connections?
Read all about our specials, program highlights, featured animals, conservation tips, and how you can sponsor a seal or sea lion in our Quarterly Newsletter.
Newsletter - August 2011 (1.3 MB PDF)
07/1/11
Fox 6 News: Tony has Ocean Connections with the sea lions at the Milwaukee Co. Zoo
06/21/11
Aqua Kids visit Ocean Connections!
Aqua Kids is an award-winning children's program dedicated to educating young people about the importance of protecting marine environments and the animals that live there. Aqua Kids motivates young people to take an active role in preserving aquatic environments and wildlife, by showing how other kids just like them can do the same. Read more >
06/20/11
Happy Birthday Sport!!!
Ocean Connections proudly celebrates the 30th Birthday of Sport our female California Sea lion this year. Sport is one of three , and the last surviving california sea lion which began with Ocean Connections in 1991 at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Life expectancy for california sea lions averages 6-10 years in the wild, however thanks to the quality of care marine mammals receive in zoos and aquariums today we expect to easily double their natural life span. Read more >
11/15/10
Want to keep up on what's new at Ocean Connections?
Read all about our specials, program highlights, featured animals, conservation tips, and how you can sponsor a seal or sea lion in our Quarterly Newsletter.
Newsletter - May 2011 (1.5 MB PDF)
OCEAN CONNECTIONS’S “GREEN LIVING EXHIBIT” RAISES FUNDS FOR GULF OIL SPILL
Green Living area continues to raise funds for the animals effected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill this past April. To date $1,825 has been raised to assist in the rehabilitation of effected animals and donated to the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (Florida) and the Oiled Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (LA). Ocean Connections will be accepting donations at our Green Living Center through October 3, 2010. Stop by to learn how you can help!
Click here to download the press release.
08/04/10
Check out some live footage of Sequoia from a recent interview by Kidd O'Shea at 99.1 WMYX. Click here to view it on 12 News.
06/28/10
The Zoological Society of Milwaukee wrote a great piece about our new pup, Sequoia. Click here to read it!
THIS JUST IN: Ocean Connections is extremely proud to have been accepted into the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums which represents the highest standards of marine mammal care and husbandry within our industry.
