Discovery Station of triggerfish in Reiman Gardens last Saturday helped kids learn knowledge of triggerfishes and their environment through entertaining activities.

Every Saturday this summer education interns in Reiman Gardens lead kids to learn a particular sea creature which has its sculpture counterpart in the Gardens. All of the plastic materials on these sculptures were found and picked up on beaches by volunteers. The sculpture of triggerfish stands just outside of Children’s Garden.

Kids at Discovery Station were first asked to get familiar with appearance of triggerfish by pictures offered on the table and the sculpture outside of the Children’s Garden. Then education intern introduced eating habit and living environment of the triggerfish.

“Triggerfishes are aggressive hunters able to crush hard food because of their tough teeth and strong jaws. Triggerfishes are pretty common in coral reefs which are severely affected by global warming and pollution. Plastic materials were found in triggerfish’s stomach”. Education intern Hannah Bengtson said.

After knowing the general information of the triggerfish, kids would search for cards of five animals triggerfishes eat, including sea snail, sea urchin, marine worm, shrimp, and crab. A map made by education interns showing the location of facilities of Children’s Garden was given to aid kids.

Once kids found the animal, they wrote the name of or drew the animal on the map according to its location, and they could read the information of the animal on the card to learn more about it. After finding all the five animals, kids chose a seashell as the gift.

“It’s cool to have different animals that triggerfish eats and to let kids investigate these animals”, Bengtson said, “With kids’ program, you try to let them do something active, and also learn something through that.” Bengtson said it was a good way to let kids learn these animals and find different places in Children’s Garden.