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Nature center, aquarium and zoo in Chula Vista, California
The
Living Coast Discovery Center
is an environmental education center with marine animal, animal and bird exhibits located in the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
in
Chula Vista, California
.
[1]
[2]
Permanent displays at the Living Coast focus on native animals and plants found in
Southern California
and
San Diego Bay
.
[3]
Exhibits
[
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]
Shovelnose guitarfish
in the touch pool
The site consists of several large exhibit spaces:
- Turtle Lagoon ?
Green sea turtles
[4]
[5]
- Discovery Center Galleria ? includes
seahorses
,
jellyfish
,
eels
,
sharks
,
lobsters
,
crabs
,
octopus
,
garibaldi damselfish
,
sea stars
,
snakes
,
lizards
- Shark & Ray Experience & Sting Ray Touch pool ?
Leopard sharks
, grey
smooth-hound sharks
,
horn sharks
,
swell shark
,
shovelnose guitarfish
,
bat rays
,
round rays
,
diamond rays
, crabs,
fish
, and
loggerhead sea turtle
[6]
- Burrowing Owl
Courtyard
- Shorebird Aviary ?
light-footed Ridgway's rail
,
black-crowned night heron
,
black oystercatcher
,
red-breasted merganser
,
hooded merganser
, and more
- Raptor Row ?
red-tailed hawk
,
red-shouldered hawk
,
Cooper’s hawk
,
peregrine falcon
,
turkey vulture
,
barn owl
,
great horned owl
,
burrowing owl
,
American kestrel
- Eagle Mesa ?
golden eagle
,
bald eagle
- Native plant gardens and composting demonstration garden
There are 1.5 miles of trails from the Center in the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge out to the shore of
San Diego Bay
.
In addition to general public exhibits, the Living Coast hosts over 15,000 school children at their facility each year for educational field trips that focus on Science and Environmental programs.
History
[
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]
The Center was originally opened in 1987 as the Chula Vista Nature Center that was owned and operated by the City of Chula Vista. In 2010 the organization transitioned over to an independent
501(c)(3)
non-profit and a new name.
[7]
Mission
[
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]
The Living Coast Discovery Center inspires the community to connect with and care for our coastal environment. The vision is a thriving natural coast through engaged conservation.
- Partner in collaborative research and restoration of coastal wetlands and bays.
- Provide student-focused education through STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.
- Increase knowledge of coastal environments,
climate change adaptation
, and human coexistence with the natural resources of San Diego Bay."
[8]
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]
32°38′24″N
117°06′37″W
/
32.6401°N 117.1104°W
/
32.6401; -117.1104