The Florida Aquarium Getting A Big $15 Million Upgrade

One of my favorite places to take my family is going to expand. The Florida Aquarium has always been an awesome spot in Tampa to visit when in town. It’s so good, people from all around the country come to visit. It has been named amongst the best aquariums in America.

Well, it looks like the top aquarium in the country is going to expand. Last week, the Florida Aquarium with $15 million being approved for funding from Tampa’s CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). The last time the aquarium had received any funding from the city was back in 1997, according to the CEO & President of the Florida Aquarium Roger German.

The Aquarium has a lot of great attractions and showcases, and not to mention my 3-year-old daughter’s favorite, the splash pad water play zone. The expansion will first start the aquarium turning the ball room area in the Mosaic Center into a new exhibit hall that will be 3,700 square feet.

Next will be a Rugged Coast that will feature large fish, and a puffin habitat that will be two levels. What’s also cool about this next phase in the expansion is there will be a few windows where guests can view all their nesting areas all packed in a massive 45,000-gallon habitat.

Lastly, the new exhibit you can expect to see by 2026 is Rocky Shores. This outdoor habitat will being California Sea Lions to the west coast of Florida for the first time! It will also expand the African penguin habitat. Learn more about all the new habitats here.

The new expansion is set to be done by 2026. When it’s finished it will bring some great attention to an already amazing oceanic experience. I can’t wait to see the finished layout & take my kid to see the puffin exhibit because I already know it will be her new favorite part of the Florida Aquarium when it opens. The coolest part of the puffin habitat is that is the first one in the state of Florida.

Overall, the entire project for the expansion will cost $45 million, and the aquarium has already covered $30 million.

Some people are conflicted about using city funds and taxes to house sea lions when we are facing a serious housing crisis in Tampa. A few people have spoken out saying the aquarium shouldn't qualify for funds and instead to use the money for the community.

Majority of the CRA members agreed to the decision because of how much the Florida Aquarium does to support the community. Only one member voted to not give them the money because he thought $15 million was too much.

Summer is almost here, don't let your kids waste away their vacation at home! We know it's hard to juggle working and making sure your little ones stay educated and entertained all summer. That's why we've made a list of the best 13 Tampa summer camps for kids of all ages.

From sports camps to STEM programs and field trip opportunities, Tampa Bay has so many summer camps to choose from. So we've made it easier for you to narrow down your choices by providing our favorites and we've got all the dates, times, ages, and rates listed right here.

Summer camps can be such an enriching experience for kids. They provide opportunities for children to learn new skills, make new friends, build self-confidence, and learn about independence. How do you choose the right one? Well, you want to make sure that it offers something your child is interested in.

It can be risky to sign them up for an expensive 5-6 week camp for a new experience they might lose interest in quickly. Then it becomes a fight to get your kid out the door during summer to a camp they hate. So if your kid loves soccer, maybe they can join a different sports summer camp to learn new skills that can ultimately help them with their main interests. But they might not have any interest whatsoever in an arts or STEM camp.

We get how expensive summer camps can be, so we also tried narrowing down our search to find the most affordable Tampa summer camps that still offer lots of fun activities.

Whichever camp you decide, register your kid as soon as possible. Some camps give discounts for early registration and you don't want summer vacation to sneak up on you. See a full list of Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco camps here.

Pin Chasers day camp is catered to beginners and more advanced bowlers alike. BONUS: bowling camps keep kids active while staying inside safe from the heat and storms of summer. Camp includes: A FREE bowling ball, pin water bottle, and t-shirt for each child, daily snacks and lunch, bowling and competitions, indoor and outdoor games, arts and crafts, and other activities, arcade games and camp party.

Ages: 5 through 15
Where? Pin Chasers Midtown, East Pasco, or Veterans
When? June 3rd – July 26th (see specific dates below), 9:00 am through 3:30 pm
How much? $239
Early drop-off (7:30 am) and/or late pick-up (6:00 pm) are available for a flat rate of $30.

Register here

These themed art camps focus on the exploration of art material through hands-on guided learning.

Ages: K-5th grade
Where: Mitchell Elementary, 205 S Bungalow Park Ave, Tampa, FL 33609
How much: $139.99 per camper per session. $25 non refundable deposit to hold spot
When: June 3 - June 6th, June 10 -13th, June 17 -20th
Registration deadline: May 15, 2024

Register here

Come face to face with amazing wild animals, take on the newest thrill ride- Iron Gwazi- and learn what is takes to be a Zookeeper at a Busch Gardens Summer Camp, choose between day camps or resident camps.

Ages: Kindergareen-8th grade.
When: Select dates May-August, 2024
How much: $169-339. Prices vary for ages and the type of camp (Zoo-keeper, thrill seekers, water activites, etc)
Where: 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612

Register here 

Your kids will love the hands-on STEAM activities at MOSI camp! Camp hours are 9 am – 4 pm. Extended hours are available from 7 am – 9 am and/or 4 pm – 6 pm for an additional fee.

When: May- August 2024
Ages: Kindergarten to 12th Grade
Where: 4801 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, Florida, United States, 33617
How much: Ranges from $132/week to $289/week

Become a MOSI Member today and save 25% on camp fees.

Register here

The Tampa YMCA Summer Camps are now ACA Accredited! This means the Tampa Y camps underwent a thorough review of our operations by the American Camp Association (ACA).

When: May – August, 2024
Ages: 6-14
Where: 16221 Compton Dr., Tampa, FL 33647
How Much: Ranges from camp type - $252 (non members)/$195
Prices vary based on membership, type and date of camps.

Register here

Kids can enjoy 7 weeks of fun with games, sports, arts and crafts, movies, guest speakers, field trips, and more!

When: June 10-July 26 (no camp July 4 & 5)
Ages: 5-13
Where: Pasco Middle School, J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, Veterans Memorial Park, Wesley Chapel District Park
How much: $325.00 per camper

Register here

ALM Sports Summer Camp is coming to Sky Zone this summer. They have activities such as swimming, Movies, Field Trips & MORE

Ages:5 - 14
Where: 10137 E Adamo Dr, Ste 800B, Tampa, FL, 33619
When: June 3rd - August 9

Register here 

Bricks 4 Kidz is back with a whole new summer of LEGO® camps. All of their camps are week-long camps that have full day and half day options. Pricing and discounts vary depending on location, length of camp, and when you register. 

Ages: 4.5 – 12 years old.
Where: Multiple locations
When: May 31 – August 13, 2022 (Varies by location) See all summer camp locations. 
How much: $160 – $260, Half and Full Day Camps

Register here

Led by our experienced and dynamic staff, this camp features daily field trips, along with a wide variety of exciting, hands-on activities, including sports, art, science, clubs and much more!

Ages: 5 and older
When:May 28 - August 9, 2024 (No camp week of July 4th)
Where:13303 W. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33635
How much: Single half day $40/Full week $200. Single full day $80/full week $250

Register here

All summer camp registrations include a Busch Gardens and Adventure Island Pass used weekly during summer camp.

Ages: 3rd - 8th grade
When: May 29 - August 2
Where: 1511 US 301 South Tampa, FL
How much: Registration $150/ Weekly $150 (Early registration gets $50 off, ends 4/15)

Register here

This camp offers acting, arts & crafts, games, singing, drums, musical theatre, beginner guitar, ukulele, and other fun activities.

Ages: 5 - 17
When: June 3rd - August 2nd / 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: 402 Oakfield Dr., Brandon, FL, 33511
How much: $230 full day camp; $160 half day camp; $55 daily drop in rate

Register here

Your young chef will enjoy our fun, hands-on Culinary Camps while learning skills to last a lifetime: Cooking!

Ages: 8 and up
When: May 28 - August 5th (no camp week of July 4) 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: 13936 W Hillsborough ave Tampa, FL, 33635
How much: $250-$300/week

Register here

Science-themed AquaCamps feature hands-on learning, animal encounters and so much more.

Ages: 3-14
When: May 28 – August 2, 2024. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL, 33602
How much: $160-$365 (Varies per summer program/age)

Register here.