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In 2009, Ocean Connections partnered with Hersheypark to provide educational and conservation-based marine mammal programming.  Our seals and sea lions, alongside our animal care specialists, help to teach guests visiting from all over the world about marine life, conservation, and the environment.  Many of the Ocean Connections animals are rescues and serve as ambassadors whose stories inspire positive action for our world's ocean. Immerse yourself in the world of marine mammals, animal care, and environmental protection during featured presentations and interactive programs.  Don't miss out on these exciting and educational opportunities!  Show admission is included with your Hersheypark ticket.  Schedules may vary so plan your visit by checking the posted schedule located outside of the Hersheypark Aquatheatre or by clicking here. Looking for a more up close and personal experience with our flippered friends? We are excited to offer the following experiences that are perfect for any marine mammal lover: Seal & Sea Lion Feeding and Photo Session: Offered after select Seal & Sea Lion Shows. Come poolside to give some tasty fish treats to one of our seals or sea lions or get a high-resolution family photo with one of our animals! Flippered Friends & Family: Join our interactive VIP experience at Ocean Connections! Bring the whole family to visit our seals and sea lions. Learn all about the importance of these ambassadors and feed them before engaging in a private poolside training session with our seals or sea lions!  Job Shadow: Interested in a career working with marine mammals? Guests 13 years of age and older can come behind the scenes to shadow one of our animal care specialists! Learn how we provide exceptional care for our seals and sea lions, come poolside for a private training and husbandry session, and more!  For more information or to make a reservation for this program click here.   Get Directions

.photoslider_main img {border: #93e4ff 10px solid; } .photoslider_thumb {border: #93e4ff 5px solid; } 10/20/11 It's been a week of progress for our two new arrivals. Sonoma spent her week learning some training basics including how to target or station for extended periods of time and gating/ shifting between pools. Sounds easy but these two fundamentals are extremely important and will assist her as she progresses with training. Abby came to us already understanding how to gate/ shift and has been successfully integrating out into the main pool for daytime sessions with her new pool mates. We don't just open up the doors and say have fun.....each animal has their own personality and social order, requiring us to take approximations by providing Abby with both controlled sessions and free time with the other animals. As we build up her comfort level by creating positive interactions with her pool mates we will lengthen the time she spends in her new environment during "free time". We are establishing a routine and building a positive social environment for all animals at Ocean Connections.     < Back to Current Events

Talise, a female California Sea Lion, was born on April 17, 2013 to her mother Sonoma at Oceans of Fun. She spends her days romping through our vast 18-foot main pool with all of her pool mates! Her favorite play mate is Colby, our one-year old male sea lion pup. These two can be found splashing and porpoising through the pools all day long! All of these play behaviors serve a very important role in helping Talise learn about relationships, how to survive in her environment while increasing her strength and coordination. Meet our pup!

Check out our latest newsletter here!

Check out our latest newsletter here!

Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett joined Governor Scott Walker on May 1st at Oceans of Fun. We were excited to be able to offer a unique learning opportunity about our wonderful animals and their wild counterparts to help educate about conservation and steps we can take to help seals and sea lions in the wild.  It didn't take long for the FUN to break out as our celebrities met Slick and Scooter up close. Between fish, sea lion kisses and backrubs we introduced the Governor and Secretary to the wonderful world of marine mammals providing a morning to remember!

Join our animal care team on Facebook Live with Fox6 News Milwaukee!  Dedicated to saving species around the globe, our facility has enacted multiple programs including offering Seal and Sea Lion Feedings to fundraise contributions for our worldwide strides in conservation. We encourage you to drop in on our Facebook Live with Fox6 as we share with you more information on our new program and our Saving Species initiative following our 1:30 Seal and Sea Lion Show at around 1:45/1:50 CST!

.photoslider_main img {border: #93e4ff 10px solid; } .photoslider_thumb {border: #93e4ff 5px solid; } New Arrivals... 10/07/11 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! Abby is a 24 year old female california sea lion who will win your heart over in less than 30 seconds! This beautiful animal is highly inquisitive and was ready to meet her new pool mates and trainers immediately. Abby never skipped a beat, entering her new environment she was immediately ready for a training session and plenty of love! She immediately greeted her new pool mates (through a fence line) and settled in enjoying the warm Wisconsin sunshine all afternoon. If you've been around Ocean Connections for a few years, you may remember Sonoma! Born right here 11 years ago, we've brought this little lady home! Geneva spent a few years down at Riverbanks Zoo in North Carolina and two years ago made her way to the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois. Unfortunately she has not bred yet and we're all hoping that we may improve the odds here in Milwaukee. As Sonoma has a tendency to be a bit nervous in new, unfamiliar surroundings, we all prepared and expected her to struggle a bit with this relocation. Wonderfully, we were all in for a delightful surprise! We certainly don't know if she remembers her "home" but showing absolutely No signs of stress, Sonoma is relaxed, playful and even snuggled into her old sleeping area to get a great first night of sleep back in Milwaukee. Trainers from both facilities are impressed and excited over her response to coming home! The first step in acclimating animals into a new environment is to ensure their health and comfort. We want to ensure that all of our animals are healthy, eating well, engaging in sessions and getting a good night sleep. While Sonoma and Abby are provided visual access to their new pool mates, we won't actually formally introduce them for a couple of days to provide our new arrivals a chance to settle in. Currently there is plenty of greetings and nuzzling occurring through the fence lines as all of our animals introduce themselves. As part of our preparation, training staff's from both facilities (Ocean Connections and The Chicago Zoological Society) have spent considerable time working together both prior to arrival and currently to ensure that the animals acclimate smoothly into their new environment and routine. Wonderfully our initial goals are all being met as both Abby and Sonoma are doing beautifully! < Back to Current Events

Say Hello to Scooter! Adult male Pacific harbor seal Average weight is approximately 225 pounds Born May of 1996 Arrived at Ocean Connections in October of 2009 Scooter is our oldest male harbor seal in the family. He is a 16 year old Pacific harbor seal who came to us on a breeding loan in collaboration with Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT and the Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL. Scooter is a wonderful addition to the Ocean Connections family and has won over the heart of many guests. Gentle and trusting, Scooter is a natural in our interactive programs and camps. He is a very special animal - due to large cataracts Scooter's eyesight is extremely limited.  His trainers have committed themselves to providing him with excellent care and have altered his training style to ensure success.  Scooter is highly receptive and has spent the past three years here stimulated with new husbandry training goals which ensure voluntary cooperation between the veterinary staff and Scooter.  He continues to learn each and every day.  We're really not sure who is learning more....Scooter or his trainers.....but we're all having a wonderful time!  

Meet Harley! Sub – Dominant Male Average weight is approximately 500 pounds Born June of 2002 off the coast of California Arrived at Ocean Connections in April of 2009   Harley is the newest addition to our Ocean Connections family. He is our 7 year old California Sea Lion who came to us from the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois. Harley was actually born in the wild and was rescued two times as a stranded pup on the beaches in California. While at the marine mammal stranding center, medical testing was done and it was found that Harley was in fact deaf. Being deaf this made Harley a non releasable animal. Due to his deafness, Harley’s survivability rate in the wild would have been very low. Once this was determined he then found his home at the Brookfield Zoo. Harley moved to Ocean Connections in May of 2009 in order to breed and join our existing colony of sea lions. Harley is a very fun and unique animal who thrives on the attention of his trainers and other animals. He is an extremely quick learner and enjoys training, performing in presentations, and relaxing poolside. Harley will start shows this season. Be sure to stop bye and visit our newest performer!  

It's a girl! Early in the morning on Sunday June 10th, our Atlantic harbor seals Mango and Bumper at our Hersheypark location welcomed their very first pup!  So far, Mango has been an incredible mom and the two have already made it through some incredible milestones!  They are successfully bonding and establishing nursing patterns.  This is the first seal pup to be welcomed into the Oceans of Fun family and this little lady is already proving to have a big personality.  In honor of our partnership with Hersheypark and her sweet personality, we have given our newest family member the name Cocoa! Welcome to the world, Cocoa!

We are excited to welcome back Megan Pospychala from Fox6 News to assist in releasing a very special announcement.  The animal care team at Oceans of Fun has been working on a very special surprise that we would like to share with you while also providing an update on our rescued California sea lion, Moana. Join us on Facebook live on September 5th at 1:30PM to share in our celebration!   Update September 6th:  Missed the announcement? No worries! You can still view our very special Facebook Live by clicking here.

Join the Ocean Connections FANCLUB to receive our quarterly newsletter electronically, learn more about the Seals and Sea lions at Ocean Connections and receive promotions and specials notifications. Email Address: * First Name: Last Name: * required Old email sign upage stored below for backup...   Join the Ocean Connections FANCLUB to receive our quarterly newsletter electronically, learn more about the Seals and Sea lions at Ocean Connections and receive promotions and specials notifications. Name: Email:

Shipping Policy: Orders for items that are in stock are usually shipped within 24 to 48 hours, excluding weekends. Barring exceptions, these orders ship out Monday through Friday. Currently Ocean Connections only ships to addresses within the United States. We offer free standard shipping. If expedited shipping service is needed, please call us to place your order at 414-453-5527. Return Policy: If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, feel free to return the item along with your receipt. Items returned within 30 days will receive a full refund. We cannot accept returns on items past 30 days of purchase. If your purchase was charged to a credit card, a credit will be issued to your account. If you paid by check, a refund check will be issued within 10 days from receipt of the returned item. If your purchase was damaged upon arrival, please contact us for return shipping instructions at 414-453-5527.  

Interactive Programs are Non-refundable Rescheduling: Rescheduliing may be done 14 days prior to the program date without penalty dependent upon availability. You may offer your program session to a friend of the same age if rescheduling is not possilble. Please alert us of any participant changes. All changes will need to be verified by Ocean Connections staff. If you need to reschedule  less than 14 days prior to your scheduled program, you may reschedule with a rescheduling fee. Reservation Rescheduling Fees associated with less than a 14 day notice are as follows. Summer Camp reservations will be charged a $50.00 rescheduling fee per reservation and are based on availability. All other program reservations will be charged a $25.00 rescheduling fee per reservation and are based on availability. If you miss a program due to a medical issue, you may provide a doctor’s note confirming care within two weeks of your missed program  to reschedule your program without penalty. All rescheduled programs are subject to program availability. Please access your Ocean Connections account to reschedule your programs. We do not issue refunds. If we cancel: In the event that Ocean Connections must cancel a  program due to based on weather restrictions or animal needs we will attempt to reschedule the program or extend a credit for a time which will work for you. If we are unable to do so, or if we cannot accommodate you in another session, you will receive a refund. COVID- 19 Rescheduling/ Cancellations: All efforts are being made to to provide programming under Milwaukee County Direction. In the event that a program can not run due to State or County restrictions, we will make every effort to reschedule the program, provide you credit for our upcoming season or credit for an operating program. All rescheduling will be handled on a case by case basis.

Join our animal care team on Facebook Live with Fox6 News Milwaukee as we share a big announcement with all of you!  We encourage you to drop in on our Facebook Live with Fox6 as we share with you more information at 1:30 CST!

Our store is OPEN!  If you're looking for unique, holiday gifts that support an incredible cause, we are thrilled to announce that our separate, non-profit organization Ocean Connections has opened its very own Etsy store!  Full of custom seal and sea lion paintings, flipper prints, wine glasses, and more, there is something for everyone this holiday season.  We'll be adding new items all the time so be sure to check back soon!  Visit our store by clicking here.          

We're hanging out with Molly Fay and Tiffany Ogle on TMJ4's The Morning Blend on September 8th at 9:25AM.  Ocean Connections CEO and President, Shelley Ballmann, talks all about our feedings, photo sessions, seals, sea lions, and our Flippered Friends & Family program.  Be sure to tune in for this exclusive interview!

You've fallen in love with her big eyes and the way she bounces along the land; now enjoy swag featuring TikTok's favorite harbor seal: Mango!  We are thrilled to announce that sweatshirts, t-shirts, stickers, and mugs are now available that all feature a beautiful image of our rescued, female, Atlantic harbor seal, Mango.  All proceeds from our merchandise directly contribute to the care and welfare of our seals and sea lions. Get yours today by clicking here.

With COVID-19 still heavily affecting our communities and learning institutions, we know that providing external educational opportunities is more challenging than ever.  Ocean Connections is excited to share that we are bringing the magic of marine mammals straight to your classroom!  Each program is 30-45 minutes long and includes quality virtual time with our animal ambassadors.  Our Digital Learning Opportunities are completely customizable to fit any age group and cover a wide variety of topics. To learn more or reserve your program today click here.

Meet Satara! Adult female harbor seal Average weight is 110 pounds Born in May of 1994 Learned to swim within 5 minutes of birth Came to Oceans of in the spring of 1997 from the Indianapolis Zoo Satara is our 18 year old Atlantic harbor seal and has been performing at Ocean Connections for 15 years. Satara enjoys interacting with the public in daily presentations and interactive programs. People of all ages enjoy her in our Aquatic Adventure programs as she loves to rub against participant’s legs and entertain them with her antics. The only female harbor seal in our pool, Satara is certainly in charge! Satara's favorite things to do are to play with enrichment in her environment and to chase the other animals around the pool letting them know that Seals Rule!  

Meet Diego! Juvenile male Growing leaps and bounds he already weighs 250 pounds Born on April 11, 2004 Born to Makaia and Slick Diego is a spunky, juvenile male sea lion. Born to Makaia and Slick on April 11, 2004, Diego is an affectionate and lovable animal. Diego's birth surprised us in the spring of 2004, as he arrived very early in the season. Although sea lions don't usually pup until mid-summer, this little guy arrived full term wieghing 13 lbs on Easter day. Diego weaned from his mother at 10 months of age and today eats approximately 18 lbs of fish each day and weighs 250 pounds. He loves training and currently knows approximately 75 different behaviors. In the summer of 2009, Diego (along with his trainers) began traveling to Hersheypark in Hershey, PA to star in a new summer show.  Each fall Diego returns along with his poolmates to Milwaukee where his training continues.  This past year Geneva joined Diego in Hersheypark for the summer season. Diego is now back in Wisconsin enjoying the fall and winter with his pinniped pals at Ocean Connections.  

Thank you for visiting the Ocean Connections website and reviewing our privacy and security statement. Ocean Connections is strongly committed to maintaining the privacy of your personal information and the security of our computer systems. With respect to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, Ocean Connections makes every effort to ensure compliance with applicable federal laws. As a general rule, Ocean Connections does not collect personally-identifying information about you when you visit our site, unless you choose to provide such information to us. The information we receive depends upon what you do when visiting our site. If you visit our site to read or download information, we collect and store the following information: The name of the domain from which you access the Internet The date and time you access our site. The internet address of the website from which you linked directly to our site. The above information is used by software programs on our website to create summary statistics which allow us to assess the number of visitors to the different sections of our site, identify what information is of most and least interest, determine technical design specifications, monitor system performance, and help us make our site more useful to visitors. If you identify yourself by sending an e-mail containing personal information: You also may decide to send us personally-identifying information, for example your mailing address, in an electronic mail message requesting that information be mailed to you. Information collected in this manner is used solely for responding to requests for information or records. This information is never lent, sold, rented or given out for any reason to anyone...EVER! If you follow a link to other sites outside Ocean Connections: Our website has many links to other sites. When you link to any of these sites, you are no longer on our site and are subject to the privacy policy of the new site. Cookie Use Notice On a limited number of its web pages, Ocean Connections may employ "cookies" to provide better service to its customers. Ocean Connections does not use cookies to collect any personally identifying information from users or to track user activities beyond our website. Ocean Connections does not maintain copies of cookies on our website after you leave our website. Cookies are small pieces of temporary data that are exchanged between a website and a user's computer which enable a "session", or "dialog", to be established between the two machines. With the session established, Ocean Connections is able to tailor its responses (i.e. identify and provide you with the information you want) and help you traverse our web pages in the most efficient and effective manner possible. The session is often broken when the Ocean Connections server does not receive further requests from your computer or you simply exit your browser. Ocean Connections limits its use of cookies to "session cookies"… types of cookies that are temporarily stored in your computer's memory. Session cookies are normally deleted from a user's computer when the user logs off the computer or the user exits the browser. For security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, our website also employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996. Security Statement Ocean Connections understands that you may have concerns about using your credit card to make a purchase on line. We obtain credit card information during the order process by using an SSL connection using 128 bits encryption. While Ocean Connections believes it has taken reasonable steps to protect confidential information that you have provided through this website, Ocean Connections cannot absolutely guarantee the security of such information. Please contact the webmaster if you have any questions or concerns. Ocean Connections strives to protect its users personal information and privacy.

Ocean Connections welcomes you to come visit our flippered friends!  Before you arrive, there are some policies to keep in mind.  Our top priority is ensuring the safety of our animals and guests so we are closely following the guidelines of the CDC as well as the Milwaukee County Zoo.  Please thoroughly read our protocols below before visiting. The Milwaukee County Zoo is currently in Phase 2 of its reopening, with outdoor habitats open, along with some animal buildings, concessions, and merchandise outlets with 25 percent capacity for visitors and Zoo Pass holders.  Ocean Connections is open daily and will offer various programs throughout the day while enforcing the following:  Physical distancing and face masks for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 will remain in place to align with federal and state guidance.    Visual signage and staff members are reminding visitors to maintain a 6-foot physical distance while inside the Ocean Connections stadium.      All visitors must wear approved face masks fully covering their nose and mouth throughout the duration of their visit. Approved face masks include: cloth face masks with two or more layers of breathable, washable fabric; or disposable face masks such as non-medical grade paper or procedure masks.  FDA-approved face masks for sign language (ASL or LEP) interpreters. Ocean Connections Saving Species Masks can be purchased by clicking here or visiting our Sea Lion Shoppe.  Unapproved face masks include: neck scarves or bandanas, neck gaiters or buffs, winter scarves, face shields, masks with exhalation valves or vents, masks with inappropriate images or writing. Advanced registration for Ocean Connections Seal & Sea Lion Feedings and Photo Sessions is not required but is highly encouraged.  Ticketing and programming information can be found by clicking here.   Our Commitment to Keeping You Safe:  Ocean Connections and the Milwaukee County Zoo are taking additional precautions to keep you and your family safe during your visit including: A single point of entry will be designated through which all visitors are admitted into the Ocean Connections stadium  Hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout the Zoo, including entrances and exits to our facility  We are enhancing our already-stringent cleaning protocols, and continuously cleaning and sanitizing all high-touch surfaces like railings, stanchions, and more  Ocean Connections visitors (ages 3+) will be required to wear masks. Ocean Connections Saving Species Masks can be purchased by clicking here or visiting our Sea Lion Shoppe. All Ocean Connections staff members working directly with the public will be required to wear masks      Ocean Connections is dedicated to the well-being and safety of its patrons, staff, and animals. We will continue to follow the required guidelines related to COVID-19. Please be aware that changes to Ocean Connections operations and protocols may occur at any time.  Current guidelines are temporary and, when appropriate, Ocean Connections will transition into cooperation with the Phase 3 guidelines set forth by the CDC and Milwaukee County Zoo.