Field Trips

The Potomac Valley Aquarium Society is pleased to present three field trips for our All-Aquarium Catfish Convention 2010!

Please note: No refund will be made for any field trip reservation, unless you can find a substitute for your trip.

If busses become filled, there will be a wait list. Email the field trip coordinator to have your name placed on the waiting list, fieldtrips@catfish2010.com. Please provide us with a cell phone number so you can be reached in the event space becomes available.

Field trips are available only to registered convention guests and their companions. All field trips board promptly at 9:00am on Friday, October 21.

Field Trip 1: National Zoo Amazonia Exhibit and DC National Aquarium, $45

Coordinator: ft-zoo@catfish2010.com

The Amazonia exhibit at the National Zoo captures a snapshot of the Amazon's 4000 mile river. Built in 1992, in the old polar bear pens, the exhibit houses a 15,000 square foot rainforest and a 55,000 gallon aquarium featuring fish of the Amazon. The aquarium is home to a wide variety of Amazonian fish including wild discus, freshwater rays, arapaima, pacu, and ten types of catfish. A sample field station and the new Amazonian Science Gallery round out the exhibit.

The next stop is the D.C. National Aquarium, a beloved fixture of downtown D.C. and home to the very first meeting of the Potomac Valley Aquarium Society back in 1960! Housed in the basement of the Department of Commerce since 1932, the National Aquarium houses over 1500 specimens and 250 species in it's many tanks. Displays highlight American marine sanctuaries, freshwater river systems, the Amazon river basin, and more. Popular exhibits include the shark tank, turtle tank, crocodile display, amazon river display, electric eel, and the octopus. Please note, this aquarium will be shut down and moved to a new location in the next two years, so be sure to see this little part of history before it goes!

Lunch court in the Ronald Reagan Building across the street.

Field Trip 2: Local Fish Store Shopping Spree, $40

Coordinator: ft-lfs@catfish2010.com

PVAS president, Sherry Mitchell led this trip back in 2008 when she was just the club's "cake lady" and a good time was had by all. The long bus trip was fun with a quiz by "teacher Sherry," games, crazy prizes, and snacks. This year Sherry and the gang will head back to Discus Hans to get a look at his expanded operation. All discus lovers should come ready to buy! Participants will also trek to Exotic Aquatics and House of Tropicals up near Baltimore for shopping, shopping, and more shopping! Lunch is on your own during one of our stops. Book early as this trip always sells out quickly!

Field Trip 3: Wild Collecting Trip, $40

Coordinator: ft-collect@catfish2010.com

Please note: All participants are responsible for getting back to the bus at the designated departure time. A field trip coordinator with a cell phone will be assigned to tour groups, however in the event that a guest does not return to the bus on time, they are responsible for acquiring their own transportation back to the convention hotel.