SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM
100 AQUARIUM WHARF, CHARLESTON, SC 29401 www.scaquarium.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD BY EXHIBITING AND CARING FOR ANIMALS, BY EXCELLING IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, AND BY PROVIDING AN EXCEPTIONAL VISTOR EXPERIENCE.

FACILITIES PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE AQUARIUM FACILITY, EXHIBITS, AND ANIMAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS. THE 93,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY OFFERS A STATE-OF-THE-ART ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER THAT ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF THE SOUTHEAST APPALACHIAN WATERSHED AS FOUND IN SOUTH CAROLINA: MOUNTAIN, PIEDMONT, COASTAL PLAIN, COAST AND THE OCEAN. THE AQUARIUM COMPLETED A MAJOR ENERGY PERFORMANCE PROJECT TO REPLACE CURRENT NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRIC POWER INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT ENERGY AND COST SAVINGS. THE AQUARIUM ENJOYED ITS FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATING ITS NEW ZUCKER FAMILY SEA TURTLE RECOVERY CENTER, A STATE-OF-THE-ART ON OUR MAIN FLOOR SO THAT EVERY GUEST CAN OBSERVE THE CARE AND REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION RELATED TO THESE THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES; AND INCREASED OUR CAPACITY TO CARE FOR MORE SEA TURTLES AND EDUCATING MORE GUESTS ON SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION.THE RESPOND GALLERY, AN EXTENSION OF THE ZUCKER FAMILY SEA TURTLE RECOVERY, OPENED IN 2018 AS AN ON-FLOOR COMPONENT OF THE "IN OUR HANDS" CAMPAIGN AIMED AT CURBING USE OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC. ALSO NEW IN 2018, THE AQUARIUM COMPLETED KIDS COAST, AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT THAT TEACHES PRE-SCHOOLERS ABOUT WATER AND AIR DYNAMICS BY SEEING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY PUSH BUTTONS OR PULL LEVERS.

GUEST PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE ADMISSIONS, SECURITY STAFF, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. PROVIDING NEW AND EXCITING EXHIBITS AND INSTALLATIONS TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE, THE SCA BOTH EDUCATES AND ENTERTAINS. FROM LIVE INTERACTION WITH EDUCATORS, TO DIVE SHOWS IN THE GREAT OCEAN TANK, TO UPGRADED TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT THE AQUARIUM, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW AND EXCITING INTERPRETIVE JOURNEY TO GUIDE GUESTS FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA. THE AQUARIUM TODAY IS THE CHARLESTON REGION'S MOST VISITED ATTRACTION, WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL ATTENDANCE OF 450,000. WE ALSO WELCOMED 6,047 GUESTS FREE OF CHARGES THANKS TO OUR ANGELFISH FUND. SINCE OUR OPENING IN 2000, WE HAVE WELCOMED ALMOST 9,000,000 VISITORS TO THE AQUARIUM. THE AQUARIUM BECAME THE FIRST SENSORY-INCLUSIVE INSTITUTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA CERTIFIED BY KULTURECITY, AND ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CREATING INCLUSION AND ACCEPTANCE FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES.IT IS ESTIMATED BY THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT THE AQUARIUM'S PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY GENERATES MORE THAN $283 MILLION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY EACH YEAR.

HUSBANDRY PROGRAM SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO CONTINUOUSLY COLLECT AND MAINTAIN ANIMALS FOR THE EXHIBITS THAT ARE DISPLAYED IN THE AQUARIUM FACILITIES. CURRENTLY THE AQUARIUM HOLDS 4,660 SPECIMENS OF ANIMALS WITHIN 268 SPECIES. DURING THE PAST YEAR WE DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 40,000 POUNDS OF SEAFOOD TO OUR ANIMALS. THE PROFESSIONAL BIOLOGISTS AND AQUARISTS AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM DELIVER EXCELLENT CARE FOR EVERY ANIMAL, MAINTAINING A COLLECTION THAT ENCOMPASSES THE DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE IN OUR STATE. THE AQUARIUM'S STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS DEMONSTRATE A PASSION FOR AND RESPONSIBILITY TO THESE ANIMALS, PROVIDING COMFORT, NOURISHMENT AND ENRICHMENT FOR EACH SPECIES.

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