The Monterey Bay Aquarium will open a new bilingual exhibit for young children on Saturday, Nov. 7.

"Ocean in Motion / La Danza del Mar" features live animals, a custom-built wave machine and interactive play areas where kids ages 2 to 6 learn about marine life through movement. The exhibit is presented in English and Spanish and welcomes visitors of all ages, the aquarium said.

The gallery replaces what Hoodline identified as the aquarium's previous Splash Zone space.

An expanded African penguin habitat anchors the exhibit. The aquarium describes African penguins as critically endangered. Digital activities near the habitat teach children about the effects of climate change and overfishing on the species, KSBW reported.

Other animal stations include big-belly seahorses in a seagrass habitat, leaping blennies in a large open-top tank and a 20-foot-long coral reef featuring bluespotted ribbontail rays, clownfish and anemones. Floor markings invite children to hop from rock to rock like blennies. Near the seahorses, kids can hold on to a seagrass cluster.

"The main theme of this exhibit is building empathy with ocean life in kids through movement, so we've selected endearing animals that move in fun ways," Monterey Bay Aquarium CEO Jenny Gray said in the press release.

Emily Saich, vice president of exhibitions, said the design team engaged with young children and their caregivers early in the project. The goal was to ground the exhibit in movements and words kids would naturally use around each animal. Labels throughout the gallery use a children's-book tone, with the animals as main characters, so caregivers can read them aloud.

The exhibit draws on research showing that empathy drives long-term environmental engagement, according to the Mercury News. Role-play and mimicry give children the animals' perspectives.

The primary pathway through the exhibit is fully accessible to visitors of all ages and abilities. A water play area lets children splash.

Major donors who made the exhibit possible include the Acton Family, Connie and Bob Lurie, and the Susie and Gideon Yu Family, the aquarium said.

Aquarium members will get preview access before the Nov. 7 public opening. Specific preview dates have not been announced.

Upcoming community events on the Monterey Peninsula:

  • Saturday, Sept. 12: Monterey sign fundraiser benefiting Big Sur fire relief
  • Saturday, Nov. 7: "Ocean in Motion / La Danza del Mar" opens at the Monterey Bay Aquarium