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Our Easter-grams are a sweet and unique way to share some springtime cheer with someone special! These personalized, digital videos feature one of our incredible animal ambassadors delivering a custom message from you.  This one-of-a-kind Easter greeting is sure to hop straight into their heart and be treasured long after the eggs are found!    For US residents, you can learn more or reserve your Easter-gram by clicking here.   For internation residents, you can learn more or reserve your Easter-gram by clicking here.    

Join Ocean Connections and Keep Sevier Beautiful for our first clean-up of 2026 and help remove pollution from the Greenway and Little Pigeon River.  Date: Saturday, March 7th, 2026  Time: 9:00 - 11:00AM ET  Location: Meet at the Pirates Voyage Parking Lot (2713 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863) Bags, gloves, and grabbers will be provided. Please wear close-toed shoes. Long-sleeves, pants, and bringing water are recommended. Questions? Contact us at education@oceanconnections.org 

  Ocean Connections is bringing our Marine Mammal Summer Camp to Hershey this August. Each day includes opportunities to learn about and interact with our seals and sea lions on top of exploring ZooAmerica.           Questions? Contact us at education@oceanconnections.org.

Over the past few months, Talise and Nalu have grown so much!  Since Nalu’s arrival at the beginning of November, we have seen him blossom into an adventurous, curious and strong pup.  When he was found dehydrated and malnourished on the California coast, he was too young to eat fish and he needed his mother’s milk to survive.  Unfortunately, his mother was nowhere to be found.  This meant that releasing Nalu back to the wild would not be an option; in order to survive he needed around the clock care and bottle feedings every 4 hours.  Ocean Connections was asked to provide a permanent home for Nalu, and we gladly excepted. Weaning Nalu and getting him to eat fish, quickly became a priority; at the same time we were in the process of weaning Talise as well.   After several weeks of playing with fish, both pups discovered just how good fish can be!   Now that the pups are eating fish consistently, their formal training has begun! The very first step for both pups, is learning what a clicker is.   Our clicker is used as a bridge, spanning the time span between when the correct behavior is preformed and when reinforcement is received.  Talise and Nalu are now learning that when they hear a “click” good things, like fish come! The pups quickly caught on to the clicker, and have now begun target training.  This is where they learn to touch their nose to a small bead.  Eventually they will learn to follow the target wherever it goes.  By using this target, our trainers will be able to guide the pups step by step through all the different behaviors they will learn.  The same training process is used with all of our animals! In the middle of December, Talise joined Nalu at the Milwaukee County Zoo Animal Hospital, which provided Nalu with a much-needed playmate during the weaning process.  Since their introduction, these two have become constant playmates.  Wrestling and romping through the pool are their favorite games, and once they have worn each other out, they often snuggle up next to each other for a nice long nap. Talise and Nalu will soon make their trek back to Ocean Connections!  They will continue to build a relationship with their trainers, one that is built on trust.  This trust is essential for the pups to be successful in their training.  The pups will also meet all of their pool mates and will work on building relationships with all their flippered friends.  This spring is sure to be full of fun, learning and new adventures for Talise and Nalu.  We are very excited to see their training progress and hope you will join us this spring and summer to see Talise and Nalu and their training progression first hand!

Join Ocean Connections this summer for the ultimate camp experience! If your child is between the ages of 7 - 12, we have a variety of camps for you to choose from. Our summer camps offer the chance to meet our seals and sea lions up close and personal while learning about marine mammals, animal care, training and conservation. From full week programs that immerse campers in the field of marine mammal science to 2 to 3 day specialty camps focused on animal behavior and animal training, Ocean Connections has a program that appeals to every animal lover out there.  As an Ocean Connections camper, children get the chance to: Learn about seals, sea lions and other marine mammals. Explore animal adaptations and habitats. Train seals and sea lions. Interact with marine mammals and participate in sea lion presentations. Explore the Milwaukee County Zoo. Create works of art with the help of our flippered friends. Be sure to check out all of the camps we offer today and make your reservation here! Be sure to take advantage of our Early Bird Camp Special and receive 15% off of any camp reservation made from March 11th – 20th! Click Here to Reserve A Camp!  

This past fall, Ocean Connections took part in the National Network of Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI), a collaborative effort led by the New England Aquarium, Associations for Zoos and Aquariums, Monterey Bay Aquariums and several other facilities.  NNOCCI is a grant-funded project that teaches educators in informal science facilities, like Ocean Connections, how to best present climate change to our visitors and guests. Through in-person meetings, conference calls and webinars, two staff members spent time learning about strategic framing.  Strategic framing is a technique used to successfully educate visitors about environmental issues and inspire them to want to make a difference.   The strategies learned have been scientifically tested by the Frameworks Institute to see how the public responds and if the topic is easily understood. A huge part of the Ocean Connections mission is to educate the public about marine mammals, the environment and conservation.  By being a part of this program, Ocean Connections has gained invaluable knowledge about how to reach our guests and inspire them to become agents of change for our environment. Once the training phase was complete, a staff development meeting was held for all of our staff and volunteers to attend.  This meeting allowed the rest of our staff who had not gone through the training process, to learn about the techniques of strategic framing as well. So what is Climate Change Anyway? Actions such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, release an excess amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  This build up creates a heat-trapping blanket around the earth that does not allow the earth’s excess heat to escape, which results in an increased average global temperature.  Since the ocean absorbs much of the excess heat, one of the many effects of increased temperatures is a warmer ocean.  Many fish populations depend on specific water temperatures to grow, reproduce and survive.  When the water becomes too warm, fish may move to deeper and colder waters.  When fish populations move, many predators can be negatively affected.  For example, sea lions will spend more time out at sea hunting, therefore leaving behind the safety of land areas and their pups for longer periods of time, risking their survival. There are many things that we can all do together to help reduce our carbon emissions and preserve the world around us for generations to come.  By supporting environmentally friendly organizations, regulations and using sustainable energy sources, we can make a difference together for the seals and sea lions in the wild.

There is no better way to learn what it’s like to be a marine mammal trainer than to talk to one! Kelly has been with Ocean Connections for 18 years and is Director of Training and Husbandry.  Kelly always puts forth 110% not only for our animals, but also for our staff.  We sat down with Kelly to ask her a few questions about her life as a trainer. When did you begin at Ocean Connections? I started my career as a volunteer at Ocean Connections in Late 1995-1996, the experience changed my life.  In 1997 Ocean Connections launched their first season of interactive programs and I was privileged to be hired on as a Apprentice Trainer to assist in the beginning of an amazing journey.  I have devoted the last 18 years to this wonderful organization.  Each morning I wake up loving what I do and why I do it. What is one of your most memorable moments so far as part of the Ocean Connections team? I have so many incredible memories, but one that stands out was providing a "make a wish" experience to a young 10 year old girl.  She had spent most of her life in the hospital and was not expected to survive the year.  She always loved marine mammals but the doctors said she was not stable enough to travel.  Her parents heard about OCEANS and asked if she could meet our animals...that program was the most amazing experience.  Slick, our big sea lion boy, did not hesitate to jump out of the pool and cuddle up close to the young girl in her wheel chair.   Her parents said they had never seen her smile so BIG.   I always knew our animals were amazing and made a big difference but to see her arms around Slick...I will never forget the joy it brought to her and her family that day :)  What is your favorite part of your day at Ocean Connections? The Animals - they are silly, entertaining, amazing and just so exciting to work with.  Yes, it is fun to train them but not a day goes by when they don’t teach me something too.   It is amazing to be able to provide and share these experiences with our guests.  It is by far one of the coolest jobs! What advice would you give someone looking to enter the marine mammal field? It is an extremely rewarding but hard field to get your foot in the door.  If you are hard working, passionate, dedicated and persistent you will be successful.  I encourage gaining as much hands on experience as possible.  Career paths in psychology, biology or zoology are a great start.  Most college students devote their summers to completing internship and volunteer positions in organizations just like OCEANS.  This is a very rewarding field to be part of, so it is worth all the hard work to get started.    What are 3 of the most important characteristics needed to be a successful marine mammal trainer? 1.  Passion, this field is a very passion driven career.  We love our animals and we love the world around us.  We want to do all we can to teach others about our beautiful animals and how to protect our earth. 2.  Dedication:  Trainers work very long hours, whether it is staying late to; clean an animal area, finish training sessions, providing an interactive program, assisting with a medical procedure, witnessing the birth of sea lion at 2am, or monitoring/providing middle of the night pup feedings; well let’s just say it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. 3.  Experience:  One is not born to train but becomes a successful trainer through experiences, exposure and proper mentorship.  It is not a field you "master", as the animals continue to teach you new things daily.  There is no doubt we love the animals we work with, but that alone does not make a successful trainer.  Passion and dedication to our mission is what drives me to be better at what I do each day.  I always base everything I do, and every decision I make, on what is best for the amazing animals entrusted under my care.   

Our three California sea lion pups are doing phenomenal.  The summer season was an exciting time for all three of them, as it was Colby’s first season performing in shows while Talise and Nalu were learning all about the sights and sounds that accompany the summer season.   Currently, the pups are re-acclimating to the cold weather, by eating lots of yummy fish to build up a nice thick blubber layer for the winter months.  When temperatures are not too cold, the pups love romping through the pool, especially with their big buddy Diego.  These flippered friends have a ball chasing each other and engaging in games of tag at all hours of the day! This winter will be a training extravaganza for our three pups!  They are in a stage of their development where their brains are like sponges, ready and eager to learn, learn, learn!  For youngsters like Colby, Talise and Nalu, training foundations are established as they begin to understand how to learn. We expect each pup will learn at least 25 new behaviors this winter! Be sure to follow us on Facebook to get the latest updates on our quickly growing pups!

With the conclusion of a busy summer season came an even busier fall for both the trainers and animals of Ocean Connections. Our Milwaukee location closed its doors and began renovations in late September to repair and improve our facility.  Over the past few years, we have experienced very harsh winters that have taken a huge toll on our facility, just like they do on your local roadways.  It was time for a makeover!  The renovations needed; however, required our animals to be off the premises.  Some of our Milwaukee animals traveled across the zoo and others across state lines to the Chicago Zoological Society’s Seven Seas facility while our Hersheypark team was thrilled to extend their season. Ocean Connections staff spent the season rotating between facilities to ensure animals received the best possible care during this exciting time.            Once animals were safely moved to their temporary fall homes, renovations at our Milwaukee location began.  The biggest undertaking was resurfacing our 250,000 gallon main pool and two holding pools.  The old paint was removed, concrete work was preformed, the pool was tented and resurfacing/ painting was completed.  Fortunately we experienced beautiful fall weather, which allowed us the opportunity to also complete numerous repairs around the facility including filtration maintenance, landscaping improvements and equipment upgrades.  Once the facility was readied, it was time to turn the pool back into a salt-water environment.  This process took another week as salt was added, the water heated and water quality parameters balanced out. When all was said and done; however, we stood back and smiled. It is amazing how much can be accomplished in 7 weeks! All of this would not have been possible without the time and dedication of our colleagues and friends at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Hersheypark and the Chicago Zoological Society. It is always a privilege to collaborate with colleagues that share our mission of providing exceptional marine mammal care and outstanding conservation education. After 7 weeks of renovations, we were able to reunite all of our animals into their beautifully updated environment!  First home were the Hershey kids, Geneva and Diego, two of our California sea lions and Bumper, our male Atlantic harbor seal.  Soon to follow were Slick, Makaia and Sonoma, three of our adult California sea lions returning from the Chicago Zoological Society.  And finally our energetic sea lion pups Colby, Talise and Nalu returned with Scooter and Satara, two harbor seals to complete our colony.   The greetings between old friends was a pleasure to watch with lots of "Zerberts" from the ladies in greeting and vocalizations from Slick as he re-established his territory!  There was no short supply of splashing water as the animals chased, wrestled and enjoyed swimming together. Excited to have the entire Oceans family back home again, our team is eagerly awaiting a winter full of animal training advancement and staff development opportunities. 

It’s that time of the year! Be sure to take advantage of our best prices of the year!  Black Friday, November 27th-28th, offers 25% off all interactive programs (excluding Observer Program) and interactive program gift certificates! From our Aquatic Adventure program that lets you enter the water to touch, feed and interact with our flippered friends, to our week long summer camps where kids get to explore the world of marine mammals, there is sure to be a program for every animal lover! Click here to learn more about our programs and secure your reservation!

The Holiday Season is a time for giving!  Are you looking for a way to give back?   Since 1991, Ocean Connections has been striving to excel in the field of marine mammal science and education.  It is with the support of our gracious donors that we are able to provide exceptional animal welfare for the marine mammals within our care while creating a place where our guests can meet these extraordinary animals and learn about marine life, conservation and today’s environmental demands. All donations made to Ocean Connections are used in providing exceptional animal care, constantly improving upon husbandry and veterinary needs, and supporting our conservation and research efforts directed towards the future of marine life in the wild. We hope that you will consider Giving Back this holiday season with a gift to support marine mammal care and conservation.  Our animals thank you!

There is no better way to learn what it’s like to be a marine mammal trainer than to talk to one! Emme has been working as a trainer at Ocean Connections for the past 2 years.  Working with animals has provided Emme with a plethora of exciting learning opportunities. It is her drive and passion for the animals that make her a wonderful person to talk to about what it is like to be a marine mammal trainer! When did you begin at Ocean Connections? My first experience with Ocean Connections was as an intern in the summer of 2009.  I knew immediately I had been a part of something special. I was able to return the following two summers as a trainee and educator, and then finally had the honor of becoming a trainer in 2012. What is your favorite part of your day at Ocean Connections? Every animal at Ocean Connections has his or her own unique personality. I love getting to know each of our animals and experiencing first-hand the trusting relationship that is built between an animal and a trainer. Any moment in my day where I am working with one of our animals is definitely a favorite one. I do; however, have to say that one of my favorite parts of my day is when that one person, whether it be after a show or in a program, approaches me and asks a phenomenal question or tells me how inspired he or she was by the animals and the work that we do as trainers. It’s extremely rewarding to see the difference that I am able to help make. What inspired you to work with marine mammals? I saw a dolphin show when I was four years old and I came home from the aquarium that day with a dolphin stuffed animal convinced that I would one day train marine mammals. It was a dream that stuck, but I couldn’t fully explain why until I was in college. I have always loved animals but realized later in life that my other great passion is teaching. I love to see that light bulb go off, whether it is in the eyes of an animal I’m training or in the eyes of someone who has just discovered something new. My passions inspired me to get here, and it’s amazing to realize that every day I get to live out my dreams. What is one of the most important lessons you have learned at Ocean Connections about working with animals? There is so much knowledge that I have absorbed during my time with Oceans that makes this question a bit challenging to answer. However, I think that actually is the answer – one of the most important lessons I have learned is that there is always more to learn. While we are training the animals under our care, we are learning just as much as they are. It is so important to keep your mind open and never be afraid to admit you are still learning.