IRL – it’s an acronym used when online friends meet “In Real Life.”
Shamu drops in on the Wildside Reunion Ice Cream Social
Last weekend, nearly 20 Texas bloggers got together IRL for the Wildside bloggers reunion. This is the second year that SeaWorld has hosted the event, during which a group of select bloggers from across the state converge at the park for a weekend with their families.
Many of these folks communicate with each other regularly on the Web – either through comments on their blogs, Twitter messages or Facebook posts. So, the chance to see each other in the flesh isn’t one they get very often. The bloggers hail from all over the state, from Dallas and Austin to Houston and San Antonio. The Wildside reunion gave them a chance to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and experience the fun of a day at SeaWorld with them all.
I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the bloggers at previous SeaWorld events, but this was the first time for me to meet many of them IRL. We started the weekend with an Ice Cream Social at the nearby Holiday Inn Northwest, a great hotel partner known for being San Antonio’s greenest hotel.
Debi (aka @MomonMars) meeting our umbrella cockatoo. Photo by @Kamichat.
Our host, Penny Herring with Holiday Inn, treated us to ice cream and cake since the reunion weekend happen to fall on a birthday Wildside blogger MommaDJane’s teenager daughter, Topanga.
At 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, we met at SeaWorld to enjoy the day. First on the agenda was stopping by Dolphin Cove to feed the dolphins. Since the rest of park doesn’t open until 10 a.m., this is a great activity to get in early.
Next, we dropped by Castaway Cafe to grab a bite and meet some animal friends. One of the bloggers, MomonMars, got to hold one of the animal ambassadors – Susie the umbrella cockatoo. As it turns out Susie is no spring chick, but at 30 years old she’s only middle aged.
After that, the Wildsiders and their families left to experience the park, blasting Tweets throughout the day to let each other know what was going on.
Finally, we all caught up for the 5:30 showing of Azul: Lure of the Sea. It was a completely packed house, so everyone scrunched together to watch the show. And after the show, we got to meet a few of the cast members.
The Wildsiders are true friends to SeaWorld’s animals and staff. In fact, one of the Wildside attendee’s husband, Sean, is a tennis blogger and he’s offered to get me connected to the tennis scene in San Antonio. That’s what these folks do best – make connections – and I feel fortunate to have connected with them IRL.
Wow! Hasn’t the summer just flown by. It’s been a busy summer for us at Adventure Camp but before we know it, school will have started and we’ll be back to weekend operations. We’ve had over 2,500 campers experience our resident camps, day camps and sleepover programs since the summer began.
If you follow Camp on Facebook, you’ve probably seen some of the cool things our campers get to do, from sleeping in front of sharks and penguins to meeting animals to learning about energy and wildlife conservation. I think my favorite part of day camp each week is on Thursday, all of our Ocean Quest campers gather near the new Animal Conservation Connection Center and receive a presentation by our Animal Ambassador Team. They’ve been introduced to animals like pythons, armadillos, cockatoos and alligators. They often learn what we can do in our own backyard to help animals on the other side of the world like recycling and eating food that’s grown or harvested responsibly. They also learn what it means to be responsible pet owners: making sure you can take care of a animal for as long as it lives and meet its needs no matter how big it gets or how much it eats.
We still do have a few camps left before the end of summer.
Ocean Quest – day camp program for 5-12 year olds.
Small Wonders – day camp program for 3-4 year olds accompanied by a parent.
Family Sleepover – spend the night with your family at the Sharks/Coral Reef Exhibit and learn about our animals. Only available August 10.
We’ve even got some great specials on Ocean Quest camps for the rest of the summer. You can either register one child and receive another half off, or pay full price and receive a Fun Card for the camper. For more information about these programs or more programs we’re offering this fall, give us a call at 1-800-700-7786 or online at www.seaworld.org.
At SeaWorld, our fellow employees aren’t simply co-workers – we’re team members. And as members of the same team, it’s important for us to take care of each other and have fun in the process.
In that vein, here are a few photos of us doing just that – having fun and being a team!
(From top to bottom)
Kitchen Kooks – Our Park President and Vice Presidents took over Breakaway Cafe, our team member cafeteria, to serve breakfast and lunch. To the surprise of some team members (not this one, of course), the fare was very tasty.
Kickball Fun – SeaWorld has several kickball teams that play regularly. Don’t let the outfits fool you, these players come to win!
Serving up lunch in the team member cafeteria.
Park President, Dan Decker, makes a MEAN sausage and kraut!
Celebrate sharks at SeaWorld during the month of July
When I first started working at SeaWorld, I’m not going to lie; I was excited about being around all of the “cute” animals. Dolphins! Penguins! Sea lions! Shamu! I mean, who could blame me? I was eager to learn more about them, and I knew my guests would be eager to hear all I had to say while around their habitats. Win-win!
Then there were the sharks. I mean, I always thought they were cool, but they didn’t tug at my heart like some of the other animals. I’m sure I had the same pre-conceived ideas that most guests have when they think about sharks. Stop for a minute, and think about what comes to mind when you hear the word “Shark”. Scary? Menacing? Mysterious? Danger? It’s easy to think those things, given what we are usually told about them on television and movies.
The truth is, once I got to know more about sharks, different words started coming to my mind. Awesome. Important. Beautiful. And, unfortunately, Misunderstood. There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding sharks, but there are also so many amazing facts about them that it’s hard not to like sharks a whole lot more once you get to know them too. Here are a few of my favorites:
Most people immediately think of teeth when they think about sharks. While looking at their rows of teeth may be impressive, there is so much more to the story. Each species of shark has a different shaped tooth depending on their diet. Their teeth can be broad and serrated like a knife for seizing and cutting, or long and sharp like fork tines for catching smaller prey. Because of their biting force, they often lose teeth while feeding. Some species of sharks can lose and replace up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime!
Because they are the “scavengers of the sea”, a shark’s senses are well adapted for honing in on prey that is weak, sick, or injured. They have an incredible sense of hearing, and a keen sense of smell, and their eyes are especially adapted for seeing in low light. They have pits on the underside of their snouts called Ampullae of Lorenzini. These sensory pits help the shark sense electrical currents from other animals, and allow them to know exactly when to bite down. They also have a lateral line, which is an adaptation to help them sense vibrations in the water.
Sharks are important to ocean ecosystems because they keep populations healthy by feeding on weaker animals. This leaves the stronger ones to survive and produce stronger young.
Sharks eat far less than most people imagine. Cold-blooded animals have a much lower metabolism than warm-blooded animals. In fact, in a zoological environment like SeaWorld, a shark eats about 1-10% of its total body weight each week. Studies done on wild sharks show that they have similar food intakes.
Over the years, people have used sharks for food, medicines, and vitamins; shark teeth for weapons and jewelry; and shark skin for sandpaper. But today some shark populations are on the brink of extinction. Shark meat is a popular food (with many sharks being caught only for human consumption of their fins). And thousands of sharks are caught by accident, snagged in nets set out to catch other kinds of fish.
Today, I can honestly say that sharks are probably my most favorite animals to talk about. This is why I am very excited that during the month of July, SeaWorld San Antonio will be celebrating sharks! This celebration will include shark talks and activities at our Sharks/Coral Reef exhibit, and each morning, we will be screening our “Saving a Species-The Shark Story” in Sea Star Theater. This 2-D movie delves into the mysteries of these fascinating creatures. You will learn about the variety of shark species, their amazing adaptations, and find out what is being done to protect and preserve sharks worldwide.
With lots of people planning to make trips to SeaWorld San Antonio this weekend, the weather has been a top-of-mind topic. Will the park close because of rain? Will shows still go on? What about rides?
Most of the rain we’ve experienced because of “Alex” has been short and scattered. So far today, we’ve had no weather delays on any of the rides or slides. I’m no meteorologist, but my friends at KENS-TV say that the worst is behind us with rain chances as low as 30% by Sunday. Even the Fireworks Celebration is still scheduled as planned for tonight and tomorrow night.
That being said, we’re open for business and expect to have a lot of fun this weekend. And should the rain delay your favorite ride for a moment or two, you’ve got plenty of indoor excitement to escape to. Say hello to some beautiful sea life in our Sharks & Coral Reef exhibit, check out a 4D show in Sea Star Theater, chill out with our Penguins, or visit our Animal Connections centers – all of which are indoors or covered. No matter the weather, our restaurants make a perfect place to take a break and have a snack.
Check our series of blog posts below about July 4 weekend to make the most of your trip!
Wherever you spend your weekend, have a happy and safe Independence Day.
This year we have a special treat to get you in the sprit for our 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza. Straight from the roots and traditions of South Texas, SeaWorld San Antonio is proud to present the Palacio Brothers on July 3 and 4 at Ski Stadium as part of our pre-Firework entertainment.
This musical family trio features Delio Adrian Palacio on accordion and bass guitar,
Brian Esteban Palacio on lead guitar,
and the youngest, Marcel Nicolas Palacio, on drums.
This high-energy, eclectic band will appeal to audiences of all ages. When asked to describe their music, Delio responded,“we are a high energy, Latin rock, and blues, funk, jam band of three brothers topped off with soul.”
Come enjoy the fantastic moves, hard-driving music and exquisite melodies and harmonies of the Palacio Brothers this Saturday and Sunday – only at SeaWorld San Antonio!
Ever wonder how SeaWorld continually pulls off some of the most impressive fireworks displays in the area? We don’t just go to the local fireworks store and fill up the truck with whatever flies in the air and goes bang. Many months of planning go into one fireworks presentation.
First we start in the studio; yes SeaWorld San Antonio has its own recording and editing studio, where our creative team of producers and audio designers choose music that fits the theme. Next, we cut the music to create one seamless track that leads into the other. Then we send the track to our fireworks designers who listen to the music and create an entire visual representation of the fireworks display on a computer simulator.
Once all the creative is complete, we move on to making “The Magic” happen.
Safety is our first priority.
We create a fire watch team. Working with the local Fire Marshal we map out the placement of nine team members trained to watch for any fallout or debris that may get into a guest area. All of these members of the fire watch team are equipped with a radio on a secure channel and a fire extinguisher.
The island in the middle of Ski Lake is cut short of any excess grass that may cause a fire, and then watered down with a sprinkler system to ensure nothing catches fire.
In the past we have always started our Fireworks Spectacular at 9:15 p.m. We learned from data acquired data from our in-park Weather Bug that wind gusts in the park are greater between 8:45 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. following the setting sun. Which means our best time to shoot would be after 9:30 p.m.
Because of this date, we decided to finish the day by closing the park with our Independence Day Fireworks, starting at 9:45 p.m. This guarantees that the sun has set completely and we are being as safe as possible for the sake of both our guests and our animals.
In addition to the fireworks we will have continuous entertainment starting at 7:30 p.m., including our ski show “Cool Vibrations.” So, if you happen to see me running around Ski Stadium, I will be there organizing everything.
Say hi, but don’t leave too early because the fun doesn’t start till the sun goes down.
SeaWorld San Antonio was nominated for the Air Quality Stewardship Award through the Alamo Area Council of Governments. Honored by the nomination, we submitted our application for this prestigious distinction. Recently, we learned that SeaWorld was selected as an award recipient! Often times some of our conservation initiatives go unnoticed, but behind the scenes we are always looking for ways to be greener. Knowing that our decisions directly affect the environment we all live in makes our green decisions easy to make.
One of our green initiatives is fleet management. We have several pieces of equipment or vehicles that use alternative fuels. We use different types of electrical powered equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks and segways. We also have vehicles that are powered with propane. We have several golf carts that are solar powered along with some pieces of equipment that are charged with solar panels.
Solar powered golf cart
And, we cannot forget the use of bicycles that our Security team often uses to get from place to place. For those pieces of equipment and vehicles that use diesel or gasoline, we have fueling practices that do not allow our team to refuel during the hottest parts of the day.
Many of our green initiatives allow our team members to play an active role. SeaWorld has a Team Member Recycling Center where team members can bring their clean and segregated recyclables from home. In the first year of our Team Member Recycling Center, we recycled over 10,000 pounds of recyclables!
Team Member Recycling Center
Team members who work in an office environment at the park have more efficient lighting than they had a few years ago. Some team members have even elected to work with less light fixtures in their offices. Less lighting saves on electrical consumption and also on the air conditioning demand in their area. Some team members are part of our SWEAT group – SeaWorld Environmental Action Team. SWEAT participates in different clean up activities as well as developing conservation initiatives that the park will undertake. The newest conservation initiative has the team going through the park and performing energy conservation audits by looking for ways to conserve energy throughout our facility.
Here are some community initiatives that you may not be aware of:
Participation in CPS Energy‘s Load Curtailment Program
SeaWorld San Antonio is extremely honored to be awarded by the Alamo Area Council of Governments with an Air Quality Stewardship Award.
Air Quality Stewardship Award - 2010
We definitely have our work cut out for us to continue to reduce our impact on the environment. Through the support of our team members, we will continue to make SeaWorld an even greener place to work and visit.
This week, we would like to introduce you to Nurra, our Bennett’s wallaby.
Nurra was named in honor of our Adventure Camp program, as her name means “camp” in Aborigine. If you have ever wondered how we decide on the names of our animal ambassadors, they often refer to something about that animal. It could be something we observed here at the park, or something that pertains to their adaptations or habitats in the natural environment. Their name is usually in the native language of the area they are naturally found. Our resident camp counselors help Nurra’s keepers by assisting with cleaning her habitat and preparing her food. Their camp experience also allows them a chance to hold her and have their pictures taken with her.
Wallabies, like their larger kangaroo relatives, are indigenous to Australia and Tasmania. They use their long tails for balance, and strong legs for jumping. They are nocturnal herbivores, spending a lot of time browsing for grass and plants. They use their sharp front teeth for cutting grasses, and their large, flat molars for grinding their food.
Wallabies usually live alone, except for females and their offspring. They are a marsupial, which means that after the baby, or joey, is born, it continues to develop inside the mother’s pouch for up to an additional eight months.
Wallaby mothers have the ability to conceive while they are still caring for a joey in their pouch, but the embryo will not start to develop until the older joey has left the pouch.
The mother wallaby is able to produce two different kids of milk, a higher fat and energy rich milk for her older joey, and a less energy rich milk for the newborn still in her pouch. Joeys will usually separate from their mothers after about one year.
Not only does SeaWorld take care of Nurra, we also care for her distant relatives. In 2009, Victoria, Australia experienced an unusually strong drought coupled with a severe heat wave. This precipitated major brushfires, devastating southern Australia, its communities, and natural spaces.
You can visit Nurra at the Animal Connections Reservation Center at the front of the park as she visits with guests throughout the day. She also makes regular appearances with our day and resident campers, and tour guests. Stop by and say hello!
Our Suspicions were right. Pass members do like EXCLUSIVE water park time.
On June 9th, we started allowing annual pass members only into the Lost Lagoon an hour earlier than everyone else. So far we have had about 700 pass members take advantage of this cool event. You will see from the photos that it is a pleasant experience and there is still plenty of room for more of our loyal members.
This year, Lost Lagoon opens at noon on weekdays, so that means pass members are coming in at 11 am, claiming their spot and getting a locker if needed and oh yeah splashing in the wave pool, lazy river and breaking loose on our water slides.
Since this is only available for the month of June, there are just two Wednesday’s left. And yes if you become an annual pass member in the very near future, you will be able to take advantage of this too.
Wave TV is SeaWorld’s bi-weekly video feature program created for team members. Wave TV debuted in 2005 and was originally conceived to showcase park events for team members as they rode the shuttle bus to their workstation. Last year, this award-winning communications program moved to the SeaWorld YouTube channel; now everyone can share the program. Check out what’s new behind the scenes at SeaWorld San Antonio.
