An Ocean on the Lake: Inside Chicago's Shedd Aquarium

I've loved zoos and aquariums my whole life - but sometimes I wish that they were better about getting their messages out there.  Too many people still think of them only as places of entertainment, or in terms of animals penned up.  Thankfully, many facilities are becoming much more proactive in sharing the stories of their animals and the people who take care of them, as seen in the many recent series that have come out detailing life behind-the-scenes at many zoos.

Chicago's Shedd Aquarium is the latest to join the trend.  The Shedd has joined with ABC7 Chicago to create a mini-web series called An Ocean on the Lake, with different themed episodes covering a wide variety of topics, from proper nutrition to caring for confiscated wildlife.

In many ways, the coronavirus pandemic forced zoos and aquariums to hone their storytelling abilities.  With our facilities closed, social media was really the only way that we could stay engaged with the public.  It seems to have worked - upon reopening, the public was ready and eager to come back and see us.  Now that the worst of the storm has (hopefully) passed, we need to continue to build on these gains and continue to spread the message of what we stand for - conservation, education, and excellence in animal care.

An Ocean on the Lake