For New Jersey’s youngest residents, there’s a ton to SEA at the New Jersey State Museum.

As a part of its Small Explorers program series, the New Jersey State Museum will be hosting a talk on oceans and sharks. Children 5 years old or younger are invited to explore the deep blue sea with the Museum’s very own Miss Sue. Activities will include a reading of “Swimmy” by Leo Lionni. Little ones are also invited to create their own sea creature, check out shark teeth, shells, etc., and can even explore the “Jaw Dropping World of Sharks” exhibit at the museum.

If you’re a grown-up but still want to know more, the New Jersey State Museum is also currently hosting its “Jaw Dropping World of Sharks” lecture series. At 2 pm on the 2nd Saturday of each month, the museum will host experts to give talks on the history of sharks, how they function as a species, and what the future holds for this magnificent creature. The two remaining lectures for 2022 are as follows:

• Megalodon: Evolution, Body, Size, and Extinction will be hosted by Victor Perez, Ph.D. on November 12th.
• Guitarfishes From Rocks of All Ages will be hosted Kerin Claeson, Ph.D., on December 10th.

Both lectures will be live-streamed on the museum’s website, so please be sure to tune in the day of if you’re interested in participating.

The Small Explorers initiative is part of the Museum’s larger effort to reach young learners. Each month, the Small Explorers program selects a new theme and explores it through storytelling, museum exhibits, crafts, games, and play.

Families are welcome to register for either the 9:45 am session or the 11 am session. The event is entirely free, but space is limited to the first 10 families, so please be sure to enroll as soon as possible if you’re interested in attending. Families can register here: Registration Form – Small Explorers. Registration closings are on November 10th, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact the New Jersey State Museum at NJSMFsmallexplorers@gmail.com.