The Whalemobile and its life-sized inflatable whale, Nile, are coming to the Old Forge Library on Wednesday, July 8, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for an unforgettable, hands-on educational experience for children and families. Participants will have the rare opportunity to step inside Nile, a 43-foot inflatable humpback whale modeled after a real whale that the Whalemobile team has tracked and observed off the coast of Massachusetts nearly every summer since 1994.
During the interactive presentation, children will learn how whales compare to humans, explore Nile’s migratory path and calves, and discover how researchers study these massive marine mammals in the wild. Hands-on artifacts including real baleen, whale teeth, and bones, will give attendees a unique chance to touch and examine the incredible adaptations that help whales survive in the ocean ecosystem. At the conclusion of each session, attendees will learn Whale Safe Habits they can adopt at home to help protect oceans and the environment.
The event will be broken into four half-hour sessions to ensure an intimate and engaging experience. Timeslots are at : 2 pm, 2:30 pm, 3 pm, and 3:30 pm.
Each individual session is limited to 20 participants. While the program is completely free and open to the public, pre-registration is required due to limited space. To reserve a spot, community members should call the library at 315-369-6008 or email oldforge@midyork.org. Once registered, families will receive a confirmation detailing what to expect and how to prepare children for their whale encounter.
Children ages 5 and older do not need a parent to accompany them inside the inflatable whale. To maximize availability for young learners, parents are kindly asked not to register themselves unless absolutely necessary. Parents are still welcome to peek inside, take photos, and listen to the presentation from just outside the whale structure.
The Whalemobile team is comprised of passionate naturalists from various New England whale watch companies, bringing more than 50 years of combined field observation experience to the program. Through dynamic school and library visits, they aim to foster curiosity and wonder about marine life while inspiring the next generation of lifelong ocean advocates and environmental stewards.
