Renovation Updates

Please note some exhibit spaces in the Aquarium are temporarily closed while we conduct maintenance and renovation work. Learn more on our Renovation Progress page .

Dear Friends of the Virginia Aquarium,

As we reflect on the past year, the theme “Unstoppable Impact” beautifully captures the heart and soul of our work and achievements. We’re thrilled to share that a recent Economic Impact study highlighted the positive impact that the Aquarium has on our community, providing over $250 million in economic benefits annually. This remarkable number reflects not just our role in strengthening the local economy, but also how deeply the Virginia Aquarium is woven into the fabric of our community, reaching people and making a difference every day.

Our commitment to serving those who serve us led us to give thousands of complimentary tickets to military personnel through the Snyder Military program. We continue to welcome underserved students in Title I schools through our Access Aquarium fund, providing them with transformative experiences. This year, we made significant strides in inclusion, diversity, and accessibility, ensuring the Aquarium is a place where everyone continues to feel welcome.

Our education mission remains a pillar in our daily efforts. Through engaging programs and interactive exhibits, we’ve inspired thousands of young minds and fostered a deeper understanding of marine life and conservation. These educational initiatives are crucial in developing future environmental stewards and ensuring a lasting impact in our community.

On the conservation front, our team responded to 387 calls for stranded sea turtles, dolphins, and whales and continued vital efforts to protect endangered species, locally and globally. These initiatives are at the heart of our mission to preserve the natural world for future generations.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Together, we are making an unstoppable impact, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the years to come.

Warm regards,

Cynthia W. Spanoulis | President and CEO

Dan Peterson | Chair of the Board

More to Sea

South Building Grand Opening

Marsh Pavillion lobby before renovations

After a $28.9 million renovation and expansion, the South Building welcomed guests in January 2024. Nearly 6,000 people attended the South Building’s opening weekend events, sponsored by PRA Group , which included a private dedication and ribbon cutting, exclusive media day, sold-out member day, and public grand opening. The South Building drew interest and excitement among the guests and press, with media coverage accounting for 62.7 million impressions, equating to $6.7 million in editorial value. Notable media coverage appeared in global industry trade publications, regional publications, and local news.

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation raised $14 million from generous community members and businesses in support of the project, which now hosts more school and youth education programs, youth camps, and early learning programs. In addition to the new exhibits and animals, the building has an education hall for schools to utilize for field trips, a new classroom, and an outdoor amphitheater with elevated seating to accommodate a 200-person capacity for events, programs, and entertainment.

The South Building continues to draw guests in daily with its immersive experiences, interactive exhibits, kids’ play areas, moon jelly touch pool, observable veterinary care center, water quality lab, and outdoor play area. Brand-new exhibits spotlight the superheroes of the marine world and the jelly lifecycle. Holding nearly 20,000 gallons of water and more than a dozen species, the South Building features new animals including Pacific Sea nettle jellies, decorator crabs, mantis shrimp, and cuttlefish; along with favorites like the North American river otter.

Science Education

Inspiring Future Generations

0 Title 1 Students

0 Students Reached

0 Education Programs

0 Campers & Scouts

Young student touching an animal ambassador

Racial Equity

The Aquarium completed the first year with the Racial Equity in Marine Science Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation. Staff worked with principal partners at Hampton University to plan several programs designed to get Black students interested and involved in marine science. The programs will launch next year as a part of the five-year commitment.

Scout Programs Return

Girl and boy scout overnights returned this year with fun activities such as nature night hikes, behind-the-scenes tours, hands-on science activities, creative crafts, and more. The scout overnights were a huge success in FY 2024 with sold out programs. The School & Youth Program team are excited to implement more scout workshops and overnights in the coming year.

Adult taking pictures in front of exhibit

Teacher Open House

To support educators in the community, the Virginia Aquarium hosted a free Teacher Open House, where nearly 750 teachers and their guests visited the Aquarium to learn about educational offerings, experience exhibits, attend program demonstrations, and engage with live animal encounters.

Animal Welfare

Conducting Exceptional Animal Care

0 Routine Exams

0 Procedures

0 X-Rays & Ultrasounds

0 Blood Tests

Animal Welfare Feature

Veterinary Care Practices

During the past year, the Aquarium’s animal care and veterinary teams have used the new guest-facing vet center for animal wellness exams, surgeries, and various procedures. The vet center accommodates a range of animals and is equipped with an x-ray, wet procedure table, ultrasound, surgery scrub sink, intensive care unit, and recovery room.

After a While, Crocodile!

In May 2024, two female juvenile Tomistoma departed the Virginia Aquarium and arrived safely at their new home, Crocodile Encounter in Texas. The pair hatched in September 2022 as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. For the first year and a half of their lives, the Aquarium professionally cared for and monitored the Tomistomas' health and development as they doubled in length and grew to ten times their weight.

New Owl Exhibit

In April, the Aquarium’s Great Horned Owl named Owlex made her debut in a brand-new exhibit designed especially for her. Located on the Nature Trail, the animal care team ensured comprehensive exhibit design and safely transported and observed Owlex on her first day in the new space.

Annual Events

Coming Together for our Mission

0 Pounds of E-waste

0 Live Trees Recycled

Foundation Fundraising

Raised Over $262,000

This year the Foundation’s fundraising events grossed more than $262,000 including the Aquarium’s annual Ocean Commotion, Golf Classic, Love Bites, and the Dink or Swim pickleball tournament.

Aquarium Mascots play a game of pickleball

Dink or Swim!

The Virginia Aquarium hosted its inaugural pickleball tournament fundraiser, which successfully raised more than $7,400, presented by The Oceanfront Inn. A total of 31 teams signed up to play pickleball in celebration of World Sea Turtle Day and the Virginia Aquarium’s 38th anniversary.

Presented by The Oceanfront Inn

Aquarium volunteers with trucks full of e waste

Community Recycling Events

With support from community partners and public participation, annual Aquarium recycling events, E-Cycling and Christmas Tree-Cycling, resulted in thousands of live trees being used for dune restoration and more than 21,000 pounds of e-waste being diverted from the landfill to support a healthier environment. E-Cycling was presented by PRA Group.

E-Cycling presented by PRA Group

Changing Exhibits

Elevating Guests' Experiences

The Changing Exhibits gallery rotates with new traveling exhibits that feature themes and messages related to the environment and the community. This offers ever-changing experiences with which guests will engage during present and future visits.

Amazing Pollinators

The bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibit, Amazing Pollinators, invited guests to discover the vital role of pollinator and plant relationships with a role-play adventure. Through an astounding magnitude of science and nature education, this exhibit engaged guests with ways to help pollinators at home and within the community. Amazing Pollinators is created by Minotaur Mazes, a world-wide leader in educational and interactive mazes exhibits.

Rainforest Adventure

Guests explored some of the least known habitats on Earth with the interactive exhibit, Rainforest Adventure, featuring a zipline, climbing ropes, and other jungle gym elements. The impressive maze design navigated guests through the four layers of the rainforest to discover the sights and sounds of a tropical rainforest. Rainforest Adventure is created by Minotaur Mazes, a world-wide leader in educational and interactive mazes exhibits.

About Minotaur Mazes

Building A Community

Connecting People to Conservation

Sea turtle mascot giving guest a high five

Three youth scholarship winners with their awards

Youth Scholarships

The Virginia Aquarium’s Volunteer League awarded a total of $15,000 in scholarships to three high-achieving youth volunteers for their continuous efforts, quality guest interactions, dependability, school standing, and community involvement. The scholarship winners are recent 2024 high school graduates who were selected through an application process requiring a minimum of 125 Aquarium volunteer hours.

Staff member showing oyster to a group of youth

Environmental Justice Teens

The Aquarium’s Special Programs team launched the Environmental Justice Teens (EJT) group to teach youth volunteers about conservation topics through regular program sessions. The five students educated 27 of their peers by planning and facilitating the annual Youth Ocean Conservation Summit at the Aquarium in April.

Children doing a sensory activity with sand

Waves of Change

Teaming up with the Surfrider Foundation, the Aquarium hosted Waves of Change in February, where 12 community partners and staff educated guests with sustainable-inspired activities and talks. During the two-day event, more than 7,000 Aquarium guests learned what they can do to take conservation action for the ocean.

Stranding Response

Protecting & Studying Local Species

0 Marine Mammals

0 Sea Turtle Responses

0 Turtle Releases

0 Whale Events

Stranding response staff measure deceased humpack whale on beach

Large Whale Events

As a member of the marine mammal stranding network, the Stranding Response team led logistics on nine locally stranded whales including humpback, North Atlantic right, and pygmy dwarf whale variations. Notably, the team responded to an endangered, deceased North Atlantic right whale floating off the Virginia coast, which brought challenges due to wind, weather, distance from the shore, and scavenging great white sharks. The Stranding Response team tracked, tagged, towed to shore, and conducted a necropsy of the whale, an effort that spanned four days. In 2023, National Oceanic and Atlantic (NOAA) Fisheries recognized the Stranding Response team with a Certificate of Appreciation for exemplary service during the pulse of large whale strandings in the Mid-Atlantic the year prior.

"The high rate of large whales coming shore along the Mid-Atlantic since December 1, 2022 has been incredibly demanding, and you all have risen to the challenge with inspiring professionalism."

NOAA Assistant Administrator of Fisheries, Janet Coit

Wild "Goose" Chase

On December 1, the Stranding Response team responded to a cold-stunned green sea turtle swimming lethargically in the Elizabeth River. The team managed to hoop-net the turtle in need, which was then admitted to our rehabilitation center and named Goose per our bird-focused naming theme. Goose was released back into the ocean on June 18.

Sea turtle eggs on sand during nest excavation

Egg-cellent Nesting Work

In August 2023, a loggerhead sea turtle laid her nest at the North End beach. The Stranding Response team relocated the nest for protection from the rising tide and installed protective fencing. A final nest excavation was conducted to find 79 live hatchlings emerged from the nest. Efforts spanned several days to ensure all live hatchlings made it safely to the ocean, including 24/7 observation.

Community Partners

Joining Forces for Good

0 Partner Programs

0 Community Members

Meaningful community partnerships enhanced on-site programming and extended the Aquarium's conservation reach off-site. From Blue Whale Programming in partnership with the Virginia Beach Public Libraries to STEM Days at Naval Air Station Oceana, the community engagement team provided educational activities for more than 66 programs with 15,973 community members this year.

An illustration of a komodo with a coffee cup on his head

Fathom Coffee

The Virginia Aquarium collaborated with local coffee shop, Fathom Coffee, on a new Komodo dragon blend, with sustainably sourced and packaged beans from the volcanic slopes of Flores, Indonesia, home of the endangered Komodo dragon. With sustainability in mind, the coffee shop uses reusable packaging, 100 percent solar-powered roasted coffee, electric roasters, and donates 10 percent of the profits from this blend to the Aquarium’s Foundation.

Purchase the Komodo Blend

Lynnhaven River Now

The Aquarium partnered with Lynnhaven River Now on their reusable bag collection program and serves as a drop-off site for reusable bags, which are redistributed to people who have limited access in the community. This helps avoid generating more plastic bag litter that can make its way into local waterways.

Learn About the Program

Mutts with a Mission

Mutts With A Mission’s recently graduated service dogs, handlers, and trainers toured the Virginia Aquarium several times to allow the dogs and handlers to experience new sights, sounds, terrain, and smells. Mutts With A Mission is a Virginia Beach charitable organization that trains and supplies service dogs to qualifying veterans, law enforcement officers, and first responders.

Volunteers

Putting the "Community" in Community Service

0 Volunteer Hours

0 Volunteers

0 Adult Volunteers

0 Youth Volunteers

Value in Volunteer Time

$1,627,604

In FY 2024, the work of the volunteers of the Virginia Aquarium equated to over one million dollars in value.

An Everyday Hero

On October 24, local news station, WTKR, recognized longtime Aquarium volunteer, Mike McCarthy, with the Everyday Hero award for his outstanding service to the Aquarium and community. McCarthy has volunteered for more than 10 years on the Stranding Response team and has accumulated more than 4,000 hours of service.

Read Mike's Story

Douglas Beckman Estate Gift

The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program received an estate gift from Douglas Beckman, a former Stranding Response volunteer who dedicated more than 18 years of volunteer service. With this generous planned gift, his impact on the Aquarium’s mission is indelible.

A group of Aquarium Team Members posing with award winner

Leadership Recognition

The Virginia Beach Rotary Club awarded Aquarium Volunteer Engagement Manager, Shawn Reid, as the 2023 Outstanding City Employee. Shawn oversees the 1,014 Aquarium volunteers and has maximized the department’s volunteer efforts during her 11 years within her role.

Become a Volunteeer

Join our volunteer community! The Virginia Aquarium has a variety of adult, youth, and one-day volunteer activities to support marine conservation!

Volunteer with Us

Military Programs

Supporting Those Who Serve Us

0 Aquarium Veterans

0 Military Memberships

0 Military Admissions

The Aquarium resides in a military-based region, reaching a special community of people serving our country. Discounts are offered to active and retired military families on general admission and Aquarium memberships year-round.

A military family in front of an exhibit

Military Appreciation

The Snyder Military Appreciation Program, sponsored by Checkered Flag Motor Co., partners with the Virginia Aquarium and the USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia to provide opportunities for local military families. This year, the program sponsored 4,500 admission tickets for active-duty military members and their families.

A group of military volunteers helping move a large exhibit case

USS George H.W. Bush Volunteer Days

Over 1,500 USS George H.W. Bush sailors volunteered throughout Hampton Roads in honor of the 100th birthday of the late president whose ship bears his name. The Virginia Aquarium welcomed more than 50 sailors in February and April who helped with the retail stores, horticulture team, and organization of storage rooms. As a token of gratitude, Aquarium staff treated the sailors to exclusive behind-the-scenes tours at the Shark, Sea Turtle, and Red Sea Exhibits.

Inclusion & Diversity

Creating Equitable and Diverse Experiences

Aquarium volunteer sharing biofacts with guests

Accessible Communications

The Virginia Aquarium enhanced accessibility online and on-site and has invested in new resources to provide a holistic experience for people of all abilities. Staff redesigned the website to exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines level AA and now ranks as one of the top accessible websites among the City of Virginia Beach’s departments. Additional marketing efforts included redefining social content development and graphic design practices as well as purchasing a tactile printer to begin creating sensory animal identification booklets.

MoZAICS Research

Modeling Zoos and Aquariums as Inclusive Communities of Science (MoZAICS) finished the research phase of the five-year grant awarded by the National Science Foundation. The grant team conducted research and focus groups at the Virginia Aquarium to develop inclusive practices for zoos and aquariums to support science learning for individuals with autism. The Virginia Aquarium will put these findings into practice in the coming year.

Foster Friendly

The Aquarium joined the Foster Friendly community this year to become a place where foster families feel supported. This initiative provides families of all kinds with better access to the fun and educational experiences at the Aquarium.

Pride Logo

To provide a welcoming, accessible, and educational space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, the Aquarium launched a special edition logo for Pride month that featured colors from the Pride flag. In addition to hosting a Pride Family SEAvening event on-site, in conjunction with several community partners, Aquarium staff also joined Hampton Roads Pride at their community events.

Our Commitment

Our team recognizes that diverse communities are stronger, more resilient communities, both in nature and human society.

Our DEAI Initiatives

Financial Information

Fiscal Year 2024

0 Guest Attendance

0 Memberships Sold

0 Foundation Donors

Operating Revenue & Support

$19,708,688

Percent	Category	City	Foundation
52%	Admission	$9,941,016	$340,693
14%	Retail	$2,664,948	$0
12%	Contributions, Grants & Support	$53,550	$2,201,784
7%	Membership	$1,466,958	$0
6%	Educational Programs	$0	$1,183,923
5%	Investment Income	$0	$997,186
4%	Facility Use & Concessions	$32,008	$826,622
	Net	$14,158,479	$5,550,209

Operating Expenditures

$17,117,204

Percent	Category	City	Foundation
33%	Exhibits & Husbandry	$4,818,452	$865,614
13%	Administrative	$1,766,391	$446,164
13%	Education	$706,428	$1,078,537
10%	Guest & Member Services	$2,156,007	$0
10%	Research & Conservation	$579,898	$1,048,311
9%	Merchandising	$1,627,981	$0
9%	Marketing	$1,538,750	$0
3%	Fundraising	$155,648	$329,023
	Net	$13,349,555	$3,767,649

Net City: $808,924

Net Foundation: $1,782,560

All net city revenues are returned to the City of Virginia Beach General Fund. As the Foundation is responsible for the animals and exhibits at the Aquarium, Foundation net revenues will be invested in new and advanced exhibits as well as the upkeep and maintenance of existing exhibits and their infrastructure.

Board of Trustees

Virginia Aquarium Foundation Board of Trustees

Welcome, New Trustee John Uhrin!

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation is pleased to welcome John Uhrin to the Board of Trustees in Fiscal Year 2024!

July 2023 − June 2024

Daniel R. Peterson | Chair of the Board
Delceno C. Miles | Past Officer
Buffy J. Barefoot | Treasurer
Walter (Dave) Worrall | Chair of Development & Governance Committee
Carolyn D. Robertson | Chair of Mission & Advocacy Committee
Thomas M. McNicholas III | Vice Chair of Mission & Advocacy Committee
Robert C. Fort | Secretary
Stephen M. Snyder | Officer at Large
Cynthia W. Spanoulis | Executive Director

Buffy J. Barefoot Barbara Ciara Michelle Collins Nancy T. DeFord Mark Dreyfus Robert C. Fort D. Nathan (Nate) Johnson Jay G. Kenslow	Suzanne Kern Troy A. Lindsey Emily J. MacCartney Thomas M. McNicholas III Delceno C. Miles Sherri L. Miles Dr. Scott D. Miller William C. (Trey) Oglesby III	Daniel R. Peterson Carolyn D. Robertson Christopher W. Rusbuldt Stephen M. Snyder John E. Uhrin Andrew W. Vakos Walter (Dave) Worrall

Remembering Dr. Clancy Holland

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Founding Board Member, Board of Trustee Member, and Emeritus Trustee | 1983-2023

Be a Driver for Conservation

Get your Protect Sea Life license plate!

A sea turtle getting medical care with a graphic of the Protect Sea Life license plate

Take Your Love for Sea Life On the Road

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles offers a Protect Sea Life license plate for purchase, featuring a loggerhead sea turtle! $15.00 of the $25.00 purchase fee is transferred to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation and is used to support our operation and programs in Virginia. A portion of your fee may also be tax-deductible!

Get your license plate today!

You Make an Impact.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our generous donors, whose unwavering support has made a profound impact on our community, driving forward our mission of marine conservation, education, and research throughout the year.

Make a Gift today

Unstoppable Impact: Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report