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Shark Week is Jaw-some in KC

2023 Edition

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The Discovery Channel introduced the world to Shark Week in 1988, and now it has become an annual, week-long event of television programming and a "nationally recognized" summer tradition for families, budding marine biologists, ocean adventurers and dreamers, young and old alike.

We may be land-locked in Kansas City, but that doesn't mean we have to miss out on Jaw-some Shark Week Fun! Celebrate all things shark with these ideas:

Around Kansas City:

Spot the Whitespotted Bamboo Shark at the Kansas City Zoo: While Kansas City Zoo isn’t doing any special events for Shark Week this year, you can still visit and look at all the marine animals they have, including the Whitespotted Bamboo Shark. You can find this animal in the Stingray Bay pool. If you really love marine animals, stay tuned for the zoo’s brand-new Sobela Ocean Aquarium, expected to open on September 1st, 2023!

Sea Life Summer of Sharks: Sea Life has many activities going on in honor of Shark Week - and you can enjoy these activities throughout the months of July and August! You can try to identify different shark species, listen and learn from shark experts, and participate in shark-themed activities, all at no extra cost. Add a Behind the Scenes Tour to your visit for even more fun! 

From Sea Life: "Sharks are as hot as the Kansas City weather during this week of sharks, and SEA LIFE Kansas City’s newest three Bonnethead sharks are getting named after some of the hottest names from KC’s favorite sports team. 

Locals voted and with more than 70% of the vote, chose the names Mahomes, Kelce and Reid after Kansas City’s favorite football team. Bonnethead sharks are naturally aggressive, fearless, and great at adapting to new situations and conditions in the same way Mahomes, Kelce, and Reid adapted throughout the season and playoffs to be fearless and win the championship!  The new male sharks can be spotted in the new Shark Sanctuary exhibit at SEA LIFE Kansas City.

The new arrivals were born at Missouri’s Wonders of Wildlife and will stay in the Midwest as they took a short 3-hour trip to the Aquarium. The three Bonnethead sharks include an adult father with his two 11-month-old sons and reside in the new Shark Sanctuary exhibit in SEA LIFE Kansas City. The younger sharks are just 2ft long and will only grow to about 3ft once fully mature.

The shark trio will reside in the new Shark Sanctuary at SEA LIFE Kansas City. This new exhibit will give guests an up-close view of the new Bonnethead sharks as well as a new way to learn about all of the sharks at SEA LIFE. Their role in the ocean, conservation efforts, and what locals can do to help sharks will all be on display in this new area. The new sharks and exhibit coincide around a new Summer of Sharks limited time experience which includes new shark talks and activities in the Aquarium from now through August 31st. 

The Bonnetheads are the first of their kind to be born and raised in an Aquarium. The Wonders of Wildlife Animal Care team were able to successfully raise these shark pups on a unique omnivore diet. Other shark species are mainly carnivores, but Bonnetheads have been found to have diets consisting of up to 60% seagrass. SEA LIFE Kansas City is proud to partner with another AZA-accredited institution like Wonders of Wildlife in promoting animal education and conservation."

Shopping at Crown Center: You can even celebrate Shark Week by just taking a shopping trip. At Crown Center, lots of stores sell shark-themed items. Most notably, the toy store, Toy Time, has many ocean and shark-related toys and games to get your kids excited about sharks. At The Crayola Store, you can buy marine animal coloring books and crafts. The store Function Junction has some shark molds for cooking and baking, so you can make shark food. Even Chip’s Candy Factory has shark-themed candy items, like Gummi Sharks.

At Home:

If you would rather stay inside, there are many shark activities you can do from the comfort of your own home.

Dive into the excitement of Shark Week, the longest-running annual event in cable TV history, starting in 1988 and continuing every July since. Explore Mid-Continent Public Library's delectable "Shark Chum" collection of captivating books and thrilling movies. Note that this curated list is specially for adults. 

National Geographic on Disney+: If you have Disney+, there are countless documentaries and shows featuring sharks and other marine life, giving you hours of content. This is an entertaining and educational way to celebrate Shark Week.

Movie Marathon: If you prefer to watch fiction, there are plenty of movies out there about sharks. Also on Disney+, you can watch Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, which feature a prominent shark character. Some other kid-friendly movies featuring sharks include Soul Surfer, Shark Tale, and The Reef.

Crafts: If you have a creative household, consider creating some fun shark-related crafts. It could be as simple as coloring a shark and cutting it out, or as involved as creating a shark with a moving mouth using a brad and pieces of construction paper.

Bonus Less-Than-A-Tank-Of-Gas Getaways:

If you don’t mind traveling and would prefer to make a day trip in honor of sharks, here are two places you could visit:

Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo: Just like the Kansas City Zoo, the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska doesn’t have special events this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Shark Week there. At the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium, you can experience the 70-foot shark tunnel where sharks will circle above you. Read our tips for a Weekend Getaway to Omaha for more ideas.

BRANDON ALMS

Wonders of Wildlife Shark Dive: The Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium is a great Shark Week trip. You can look at all the marine life they have and pay extra to do a shark dive. During the Out to Sea Shark Dive, you wear special gear to go in a metal cage underwater and get close to the sharks. To experience the Shark Dive, children must be at least ten years old and have parental guidance and permission, depending on their age. Book today: wondersofwildlife.org/tours Read our Six-Stop Tour: Springfield, MO for more local ideas.

Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl & Grill: This aquarium-themed bowling alley and casual restaurant at Fun Mountain theme park in Branson, features a truly one-of-a-kind bowling experience. This incredible underwater atmosphere features sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays. Reserve a lane at Fun Mountain Bowling.

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