Caring Causes - National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month

August is National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month. This national observance was initiated in 1998 as a single day to increase our nation’s consciousness of the need for more organ and tissue donors from multicultural backgrounds. In 2020, this nationwide effort was expanded to encompass the entire month of August.

National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month honors communities of color who have been organ and tissue donors and encourages others to register as donors. It is about empowering multicultural communities to save and heal lives. Although organs are not matched according to ethnicity, and people of different races frequently match one another, individuals waiting for a transplant have a better chance of receiving an organ if there are large numbers of donors from their ethnic background. This is because compatible blood types and tissue markers (critical qualities for donor/recipient matching) are more likely to be found among members of the same ethnicity.

COTA’s Anselmo family of Miramar, Florida, knows these facts all too well. Their daughter, Savannah, was born in December 2006. Five months later, she was diagnosed with biliary atresia – a deadly liver disease with only one known cure … a liver transplant. Three days after hearing this devastating news, her father called the Children’s Organ Transplant Association to see how they might be able to help this young family whose world had literally been turned upside down.

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association is a national nonprofit with an unwavering commitment to be The Trusted Leader Supporting Families … For a Lifetime. COTA was founded in April 1986 when an Indiana family could not afford the liver transplant their toddler son needed to survive. Their family members and friends canvassed neighborhoods and county fairs to collect cash and coins to help. That first group of volunteers formed the foundation of what would grow to become COTA. Today, 40 years later, COTA is committed to helping transplant families avoid financial devastation.

COTA’s unwavering commitment … a Lifetime of Support … continues to be important to the Anselmos who have been part of the COTA family since 2007. A transplant journey is undoubtedly filled with countless ups and downs. It is indeed much like riding a roller coaster as their transplant surgeon told the Anselmos at the outset of their journey.

“COTA has been with our child her entire life. COTA has been a major constant in our family’s up and down transplant journey,” Ana and Robert said. “Being able to ride it with Savannah has been the biggest privilege for us. Deciding to take this ride with COTA many years ago was one of the best decisions we ever made.

Throughout 2026, the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is celebrating 40 years of its commitment to being “The Trusted Leader Supporting Families … For a Lifetime.” COTA is also celebrating four Decades of Donors -- those who make the selfless decision to become organ and tissue donors and financial contributors who have helped raised more than $160 million for transplant-related expenses. COTA was founded by one Indiana family in 1986. Today, thousands of transplant families, like the Anselmos, rely on COTA’s guidance and support, which is provided at no cost.

Tech Time - More Than Half of Parents Now Ask Their Kids for Tech Support

 New data shows that even very young kids — ages 2-8 — are quite helpful to their parents in navigating technology. The finding comes from the 2026 Kids Interactive Entertainment Report from Lingokids, the No. 1 online entertainment platform for young children.

More than half the parents surveyed for the report said they've asked their child for help with technology. Of those, only about 1 in 6 said their kids weren't able to help. That success rate is very impressive given that the study does not include teens and older kids and is based on surveys of 2,000 U.S. parents of kids ages 2-8.

Have you asked your kid for help with technology?

• Yes, and they were helpful - 45.9%
• Yes, but they weren't able to help - 6.5%
• No - 47.6%

The data reflects a broader pattern in how early kids are engaging with technology. Kids ages 2 to 8 already spend as much time playing online games as kids ages 9 to 16 — an average of about 70 minutes a day for both groups — suggesting that comfort with devices and apps takes hold well before the tween years typically associated with tech independence.

"There's an opportunity for parents to lean into their kids' growing tech fluency to create family bonding around technology," said Cristóbal Viedma, founder and CEO of Lingokids. "The majority of parents already say screentime is part of their daily routine and that screentime can be quality time. Household tech troubleshooting can be one more place where kids and parents use technology as a jumping off point for positive interaction."

Read the full Kids Interactive Entertainment Report at lingokids.com/research.

About Lingokids
Lingokids is the No. 1 kids' interactive entertainment platform, loved by kids, designed by educators, and trusted by parents worldwide. Used by over 20 million kids each month, Lingokids turns fun screen time into safe, high-quality play that sneaks in learning.

Lingokids sparks curiosity and creativity, helping kids explore who they are and who they can become. With over 4,000 activities, shows, and songs, more than 30 awards, and nearly 200 million downloads worldwide, we partner with the biggest names including Blippi, NASA, BBC Earth, and Oxford University Press.

To learn more, visit lingokids.com. Everything kids love.

Caring Causes - States with the Most Underprivileged Children

With August recognized as Child Support Awareness Month and 1 in 7 children in the U.S. living in poverty, the personal-finance company WalletHub has released its report on 2026's States With the Most Underprivileged Children, highlighting where vulnerable youth face the greatest challenges across the country.
 
To highlight where children face the greatest hardships, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 key indicators of child neediness. The analysis examines factors ranging from the share of children living in households below the poverty line to child food insecurity and the share of children who have experienced maltreatment.
 

States with the Most Underprivileged Kids

1. Mississippi		11. South Dakota
2. West Virginia		12. South Carolina
3. Louisiana		13. Tennessee

4. New Mexico		14. Nevada
5. Oklahoma		15. Georgia
6. Arkansas		16. Ohio
7. Alabama		17. Montana
8. Alaska		18. North Carolina
9. Kentucky		19. Indiana
10. District of Columbia		20. Arizona

Key Stats

• Arkansas and Oklahoma have the highest child food-insecurity rate, which is 1.8 times higher than in Massachusetts, the state with the lowest.
   
• Mississippi has the most infant deaths (per 1,000 live births), which is 3.3 times more than in New Hampshire, the state with the fewest.
   
• West Virginia has the highest share of children in foster care, which is 13.3 times higher than in New Jersey, the state with the lowest.
   
• Texas has the highest share of uninsured children aged 0 to 18, which is 7.5 times higher than in Massachusetts, the state with the lowest.
   
• Maine has the highest share of maltreated children, which is 12.5 times higher than in New Jersey, the state with the lowest.

 
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit: 
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-underprivileged-children/5403

“Tackling the problem of underprivileged children in America requires a multifaceted approach. On top of lifting children out of poverty and making sure they have access to adequate nutrition and medical care, we also need to look after their mental health, protect them from abuse and ensure they receive quality education. Failing to address even one of these issues can lead to worse outcomes during adulthood.”
–
“Mississippi has the most underprivileged children, with the highest share of children whose parents’ income is below the poverty level, at 26%. The state also has the highest share of low-income households where no adult works, along with the second-highest percentage of children living with grandparents and no parents present. In addition, Mississippi has the highest infant mortality rate and third-highest child death rate in the country, as well as the fourth-highest child food insecurity rate.”

- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst 
 

More From WalletHub 

• States with the Most At-Risk Youth
• Best & Worst States to Raise a Family
• Best & Worst States for Children’s Health Care

Fun Freetime - The Great Debate Game

Award-winning author and publisher Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D has released The Great Debate Game, a new interactive discussion game designed to bring people together through conversation, critical thinking, and friendly competition. 

Created for players ages 12 and up, The Great Debate Game challenges participants to debate a wide range of engaging topics—from technology and education to sports, relationships, business, and today's biggest social issues. Players compete in teams, defend their viewpoints, and earn points based on the strength of their arguments, while surprise event cards add unexpected twists throughout the game. The game can also be played as a collaborative discussion activity, making it ideal for families, classrooms, youth groups, and game nights.

 

"The Great Debate Game is designed to encourage conversation, respectful discussion, and critical thinking while making learning fun," said Scott. "Whether you're playing with family, friends, students, or coworkers, every round creates new opportunities to share ideas and see different perspectives."

I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

What was the inspiration behind The Great Debate Game?

This was actually inspired by the reaction of games testing group I belong to not want to test the Ukraine game, which involves debating issues involving the Ukraine and Russia since they thought it would be too controversial. So I didn't take it to the upcoming Protospeil room at a game conference since the leader of this local group led that room.  So I took the basic play of two teams and the debate about Ukraine and Russia and the game mechanism of winning and turned it into a debate game about general interest topics.

Why is it important for people to learn how to share different ideas respectfully? 

I think it is important to share ideas respectfully, because there can be wisdom and truth on both sides, and in graduate school for law school I actually participated in debates, and we had to take different positions regardless of our own views on a topic. 

How can games teach or improve dialogue skills, even in adults? 

I think a game can teach or improve dialogue skills for any age group by getting people to think about a topic, formulate their ideas on either side of the issue, and express them verbally to another person or a group.

Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D., is an author, publisher, speaker, consultant, and filmmaker based in San Ramon, California. She has written more than 50 traditionally published books and over 200 additional titles through Changemakers Publishing, with work spanning business, psychology, social trends, self-development, and current events.

 

Book Nook - Who’s Ready? … For the First Day of School!

 Drawing on nearly 30 years as an elementary school teacher, Anne Gigi McCrory offers young readers a reassuring look at back-to-school anxiety in her new picture book, Who’s Ready? … For the First Day of School! Told in gentle rhyme, the illustrated story follows children and families preparing the night before school while also revealing the often-unseen efforts of teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other staff members working to make the first day welcoming and memorable.

 

A mother of three and grandmother of eight, McCrory created the book to help children understand that they are not alone in feeling nervous about a new school year, and that an entire community is preparing to support them.

You can learn more with McCrory's own words:

Something I always shared with my classroom parents, especially of children in their first years of school (prek - 2) is that school is about learning, but not all the learning is academic. Children need time and experience and guidance in learning how to socialize with others. Children learn best when they feel they are in a safe environment to take risks without worry of embarrassment (like raising their hands to answer questions or trying something new) and can celebrate mistskes together because "Mistakes are signs of learning"! We say "yay you made a mistake for us to learn - what did we all learn together?" School will teach kind communication skills to build self esteem and a safe and fun community for learning. This community of caring life-long learners includes everyone in our school. The cafeteria staff, the Principal, the aides, the custodians, the bus drivers, and all the teachers want every student to feel safe and happy at school. It's important for the children to know who the adults are in the building and that they all care about the children's safety and happiness. We are all a part of building that community of learners.  

I also share with parents that your children will work and play hard all day long. Trying on new things is tiring on these little ones the first month of school. They will be hungry and exhausted at the end of the day, and sometimes a bit grumpy from being their very best all day at school. The students might need a little after school snack or to eat the left over lunch from their lunchboxes the first weeks. They are just learning how to eat their lunch in a crowded room without getting distracted. They will have food leftover. It's very natural. A good bedtime routine is very important for a great start the next day, too.  

Reading books to my own children helped us prepare for the many new and unknown situations life had ahead. There always seemed to be a Bernstein Bears book that addressed a problem we were having in a fun way. When a child reads a story about a worry or problem or new event, it allows them to experience it through a storybook character's eyes and takes away the fears or worries of the unknown by painting what it will be like for them. I wrote Who's Ready For The First Day of School to share with children that they are not alone in their wonders and maybe some worries. I wanted them to know that the teachers are just as excited with butterflies in tummies as the students are for the first day of school. I wanted them to know that there is a whole community of people at school working all summer to make school a fun and safe place; a place that they'll look forward to going to everyday.I wrote my first book "When Someday Comes" to help parents find answers to questions for their children as we all worked to find our new normals after COVID. Yet this book also helps children adjust expectations when things don't turn out exactly as they expect them to be. Sometimes when we enter new situations , they might be a little different than expected and that's ok too.  

Last I just want to thank the parents and guardians and grandparents for sharing the gift of reading to their children. The love of reading together is a life long memory your children will forever cherish and pass on to their children.

Healthy Habits - Dorm Sleep Routines

 As a former college student, I know the importance of a healthy sleep environment - something that many college students lack. For example, did you know that college students change sheets much less frequently than they should, because of the hassle? And even the way that we wake up to an alarm is often less than optimal. I found out about two products that aim to help with those issues.

1. Bed-Making, Solved: The Ultimate Dorm Hack

For college freshmen, the dorm bed struggle—wrestling with sheets that pop off or pillowcases that don’t stay put—is a universal stressor. The Lad Collective has officially arrived in the U.S. with a solution that is as practical as it is luxurious.

Partnering with Australian conservationist and zookeeper Robert Irwin, The Lad Collective has re-engineered bedding for the small-space, high-stress lifestyle:

• The One-Minute Bed: Featuring labeled corner loop straps, students can identify orientation and secure sheets in seconds.
• Dorm-Ready Engineering: Designed with 18-inch-deep pockets and heavy-duty elastic to stay locked onto tricky mattress pads.
• Smart Storage: The "JoeyPouch" allows the entire bedding set to fold into itself for compact, organized storage.
• The Bundle: Each set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, two invisible-zip pillowcases, a matching eye mask, and a seven-week supply of laundry sheets.
• Pricing: Full sets start at $160; available in Twin XL (essential for dorms) at theladcollective.us and Amazon.  (durable and long lasting after many washes)

2. Wellness for the Late-Night Student: The Mudita Sleep Collection

Between intense study sessions and early classes, sleep hygiene often suffers. Mudita's minimalist alarm clocks are designed to help students reclaim their rest by encouraging them to leave their smartphones outside the bedroom.

• Mudita Harmony 2 ($169): The ultimate bedside companion. It features an eye-friendly E-Ink® display, a massive 45-day battery life, and fully customizable audio to create a peaceful morning routine.
• Mudita Bell 2 ($79): A refreshed analog classic built with a high-quality quartz mechanism and a dedicated meditation timer for those needing a mindful study break.
• Accessibility: Available in sleek black, these units are perfect for minimalist dorm decor. Mudita ships worldwide, with U.S. retailers including Shield Your Body, Dumbwireless, and Sportique (Amazon US).

Boston Children's Museum Launches Major Resiliency Project

 Boston Children's Museum (BCM) announces the launch of Phase 1 of its Waterfront Resiliency Plan with a groundbreaking on Wednesday, August 5. Set on Fort Point Channel, the Museum is one of Boston's most flood-exposed sites as sea levels rise and storms intensify. The Plan will help protect historic buildings and nearby neighborhoods from future flooding.

Boston ranks eighth among major global cities that are most vulnerable to flooding, and the City's Climate Ready Boston Plan identifies South Boston as highly exposed under all sea-level-rise projections and storm scenarios. On January 4, 2018, the urgency became clear when Winter Storm Grayson pushed icy floodwaters onto nearby streets and into the Museum. To address the increasing risk, BCM engaged Sasaki, an interdisciplinary design firm, who brought in VHB, ARUP, and others, to provide investigation and analysis, and to ultimately design a plan that not only would protect the Museum and neighboring communities from flooding but would incorporate playful learning opportunities and climate education for young children. 

"In response to climate change, the Museum set ambitious goals for its Waterfront Resiliency Plan, a plan that will deepen its connection to the Harbor and natural environment," said David Healy, Board Chair. "When complete, the Plan will offer BCM visitors a more resilient, accessible, playful, and educational waterfront that supports its mission, vision, and values."

BCM committed early on to protecting South Boston's shoreline from sea-level rise. In 2018, with Board and leadership guidance, an Anonymous gift helped Sasaki and engineering partners develop a plan to protect the Museum, Fort Point, and nearby neighborhoods. BCM is taking a phased approach that aligns with City and State planning underway: Phase 1 will protect the Museum's perimeter and its utility systems through 2050, and Phase 2 will transform the Museum's "front yard" into a waterfront park that will protect the Museum and neighbors through 2070. When all phases of the Plan are complete, flood pathways to the Seaport, South Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, and the South End will be disrupted.

"Preparing for climate change is essential in protecting Massachusetts' economic future," said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. "Boston Children's Museum is not only a beloved destination for families, but also an important driver of tourism and economic activity on Boston's waterfront. This project will help safeguard a historic institution, strengthen surrounding neighborhoods and showcase how thoughtful investments in resilience help create more secure, sustainable communities."

BCM has now raised over $15 million and will break ground on Phase 1 this month. Construction will include three key elements:

• Reinforcement of the building envelope to reduce water intrusion
• Below-grade drainage, pumps, and storage to manage floodwater
• Protection and relocation of critical utility systems

Without this work, one severe storm could destroy systems that would take months and millions of dollars to replace, closing the Museum and disrupting critical family services.

Why Now?

• Educational Access: BCM welcomes 415,000+ visitors annually, including tens of thousands from underserved communities, making flood closures a major loss of access to play and learning.
• Neighborhood Protection: Long-term improvements will help block flood pathways into nearby neighborhoods.
• Climate Leadership: BCM will serve as a living laboratory for climate adaptation and real-world solutions.

The Waterfront Resiliency Plan blends climate resilience with immersive learning and play along the Harborwalk and Fort Point Channel. It also supports Harborwalk uses, expands public access to Fort Point Channel and Boston Harbor, and creates new ways to engage with the channel's environment and marine life. It will protect the Museum's 135-year-old building, create a green waterfront park with Harbor access, and improve visitor amenities by adding promontories and "living coastlines" with floating gardens and tide pool habitat, turning the Harbor and cityscape into a vibrant, hands-on setting for leisure, learning, and exploration.

"As one of Boston's most vulnerable coastal flood pathways, increasing protections along Fort Point Channel is a vital piece of Boston's broader climate resilience strategy," said Brian Swett, Chief Climate Officer at the City of Boston. "This project shows how strategic investments and nature-based solutions can safeguard critical infrastructure while expanding vibrant, accessible waterfront space for all Boston families."

Phase 1 of the Waterfront Resiliency Plan has been generously supported by New Balance, An Anonymous Donor, the Yawkey Foundation, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, the Lovett-Woodsum Foundation, Constance Counts, Cynthia Taft, Glenn and Kathy Murphy, and the Executive Office of Economic Development.

About Boston Children's Museum 
Boston Children's Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. More information about Boston Children's Museum can be found at www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn.

Hours and Admission 
The Museum is open Wednesday–Monday (Closed Tuesday) from 9:00am–4:00pm. Advance tickets/reservations are highly recommended, especially during weekends, holidays, and school vacation weeks. Adults, $24, children (1-15) and senior citizens, $24; children under 12 months and Museum members are always free.

House & Home - Home Ownership Costs Survey

Homeownership is still a benchmark of success in America, though it’s increasingly out of reach. For those who do manage to secure a home, the financial difficulties don’t subside.

A new nationwide homeowner survey by Credible found that 64% of homeowners, and 70% of first-time homeowners, say home ownership is a source of financial stress.

• 63% underestimated the true cost of homeownership (73% for first timers)
• Homeowners pay a median of $400 monthly more than expected
• Top unexpected expenses: repairs, renovations, and property taxes
• 38% consider themselves “house poor”

Property taxes are a particular pain point; over half said they wished they understood just how much those can increase.

Parenting Pointers - Learning Compassion Through Fostering Kittens

Children are spending more time on screens than caring for others. Families are discovering an unexpected way to teach empathy, responsibility, and compassion - by fostering cats and kittens!

 

Helen Sanders CatPAWS is working with foster families who are giving children a hands-on role in caring for vulnerable kittens. From helping prepare bottles and clean bedding to learning patience and celebrating adoption day, fostering offers valuable life lessons that extend far beyond pet care.

I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

How can fostering cats help teach kids skills like empathy and responsibility?

With lives literally in their hands, children who are introduced to fostering animals gain a powerful understanding of how their actions can affect, and save, lives. For example, a child who helps warm a bottle for a kitten who can't yet eat on her own, or who learns to be gentle and quiet around a cat still learning to trust, is practicing empathy in the most direct way possible; learning to read another creature's needs and respond to them. 

Fostering can build a foundation of empathy and responsibility that will stay with children and inform their choices and impact on society into adulthood. Responsibility grows right alongside that empathy: these small lives depend completely on the family caring for them, and when kids take on an age-appropriate piece of that care and stick with it, even on the days it isn't convenient, they learn what it means to have another life counting on them.

What are some positive impacts fostering can have on a child's emotional development?

Fostering an animal, watching the animal learn to trust, to heal, can build a child's confidence. In helping another being, especially one so helpless as a kitten, they understand that what they do, their actions, can impact others and change circumstances. A child who helps a frightened cat come out of her shell, or helps a litter grow strong enough for adoption, comes away knowing they were part of saving a life; and that sense of purpose travels with them well beyond the foster room. 

Some of the cats Helen Sanders CatPAWS takes in arrive with illnesses or injuries and need to be nursed back to health; walking that road with an animal and watching them recover teaches patience, resilience, and a quiet kind of caring that comes without instant rewards. Fostering also gives kids a sense of community and a feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves. 

And then there's the goodbye: sending a cat off to her adoptive family is bittersweet, but it teaches kids that love means wanting the best for someone even when it means letting go, an emotionally mature lesson that fostering delivers gently, with a happy ending attached.

What do parents and guardians need to consider before fostering as a family?

While fostering an animal can be a valuable and life-changing experience for a child, it is important to remember that animals, especially tiny kittens, are fragile and require experienced, diligent care. It is critical that an adult understands the responsibility and is comfortable and knowledgeable in making sure the requisite care is provided to the fostered animal. 

Families won't be doing this alone: Organizations like Helen Sanders CatPAWS provides the supplies, food, and medical care, and covers the cost if a foster cat needs medication or a vet visit. New fosters are also paired with experienced ones who can walk them through anything difficult, including nursing a cat through an illness. 

Beyond that, it helps to match the foster to the family: bottle-baby kittens need feeding every few hours around the clock and suit a household with more availability, while a calm adult or senior cat needs little beyond food, water, a clean litter box, and a quiet room, making a wonderful lower-intensity first foster for a family with kids. It's also worth setting expectations with children early, especially about the eventual goodbye, so the adoption feels like the happy milestone it's meant to be, and preparing them for the fact that some cats arrive needing extra care and patience alongside the fun. 

One practical note specific to our organization: because our foster support network and partner vet clinics are local, we ask that fosters live in the Seal Beach area and have reliable transportation, since you may need to bring your foster to vet appointments or adoption events.

Why are foster homes critical during kitten season?

Tiny kittens are the most vulnerable, helpless animals that go into shelters and that people may find. Fostering them can literally save lives! During what is known as ‘Kitten Season,’ there are many unwanted litters born, far more than can be taken in by shelters, rescues or adopted. Taking these kittens into a foster home gives them the chance to heal, to grow, to have a life and eventually, a home! 

Kitten season, spring and summer, is when outdoor and community cats give birth, and litters start arriving faster than the shelter system can absorb them. Public shelters simply aren't built to provide the around-the-clock care that unweaned kittens need, so a foster home is often the single thing standing between a bottle baby and a chance at survival. 

It's real work, those babies need feeding every few hours, but a few weeks of a foster's time gives a kitten the warmth, feeding, and safety she needs to get through those critical early days. During kitten season especially, we need more people willing to be that bridge from hopeless to home than at any other time of year.

Travel Tidbits - Inspire a Lifetime of Curiosity in Myrtle Beach

As summer begins to wind down and schools start back up, it’s the perfect time of year to turn a beloved beach trip into an adventure filled with hands-on learning and discovery. Across South Carolina’s Grand Strand, families can uncover hidden treasures, visit historic landmarks, and experience science and marine life in exciting new ways.

“The beach creates special occasions for families to spend meaningful time together, and some of the best memories come from encountering something new,” said Stuart Butler, president of Visit Myrtle Beach. “From exploring our rich history and natural environments to interactive attractions that make learning fun, the Myrtle Beach area offers experiences that entertain, educate and inspire curiosity for a lifetime.”

This summer’s beach renourishment project widened miles of shoreline, helping to protect the coastline by adding sand once buried beneath the ocean floor. Treasure hunters can now uncover an abundance of unique shells and shark teeth, turning a beach day into a fun science lesson.

Sea turtle nesting and hatching season runs through October and both Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park offer one-of-a-kind chances to view turtle tracks and nests. Learn about marine life through ranger-led programs or explore the preserved ecosystems on your own.

Through mid-October, hop aboard the Visit Murrells Inlet Saltwater Marsh Eco Tour, where a wildlife biologist helps families discover the coastal estuary and the wildlife that call it home. The two-hour cruise includes live touch-tank discoveries and exploration of a private beach.

At the world-renowned Brookgreen Gardens, the Lowcountry Zoo is home to rescued native wildlife such as red wolves, bald eagles and American alligators. You can also catch one of the live demonstrations at Alligator Adventure in North Myrtle Beach, which features hundreds of reptiles and other animals.

Dive into discovery at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach through a variety of immersive experiences like feeding stingrays, meeting a penguin or sloth up close, and going behind the scenes at the Marine Science Research Center to learn how the aquarium’s animals are cared for.

STEM-focused experiences also abound at WonderWorks with more than 100 interactive exhibits like the Astronaut Training Gyro and the Bubble Lab. And at EdVenture Myrtle Beach, younger children enjoy imaginative play at the Coastal Café, the Neighborhood Market and other spaces.

Take a step back in time while celebrating America’s 250th birthday in Conway, one of South Carolina’s oldest communities, where historic charm meets vibrant college town energy. Stroll beneath centuries-old live oaks while admiring the scenic views along the Riverwalk, relive the tales of Revolutionary War hero “The Swamp Fox” at Horry County Museum and learn about the legacy of farm-to-table at the L.W. Paul Living History Farm. All three experiences are free.

From the shoreline to historic downtowns, interactive attractions and protected natural areas, the Grand Strand invites families to learn something new while creating unforgettable memories. For more unique ways to learn and explore at the beach, visit VisitMyrtleBeach.com.

About Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Myrtle Beach isn’t just a beach. It’s The Beach. Popularly known as the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach is one destination made up of 14 unique communities that stretch 60 miles along the northeast coast of South Carolina. Families, couples and those in search of a warm welcome will find more than just a day at The Beach when they come together to connect and enjoy vibrant entertainment and family attractions, including world-class golf, shopping and fresh coastal Carolina cuisine. From the moment you arrive, you’ll find you belong at The Beach – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For additional information on tourism offerings in the Myrtle Beach area, go to visitmyrtlebeach.com