Aquarium of the Pacific
“It was amazing just to see the wonder and amazement in the residents’ eyes.” Kerensa Jones, MSCH-Riverside |
A seal plays peekaboo with MSCH-Riverside residents, Nazaria and Alfredo, at the Aquarium of the Pacific, in Long Beach. |
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” — Jacques Cousteau Thanks to the Mountain Shadows Foundation CARE (Creating Active Recreational Experiences) program, Riverside residents recently set sail on a fantastic voyage of exploration at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. |
Riverside resident, Justin, watches the inhabitants of the mysterious underwater world of the Pacific Ocean. |
The Aquarium of the Pacific’s mission is to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems, according to their website – and we’d say it’s mission accomplished!
Says Kerensa Jones, MSCH-Riverside, “Resident Justin is seven years old, and he can walk. Watching him walk up to the windows and experience things for the first time, it was amazing.
“Justin especially loved the seals. He was trying to grab at them through the windows. He got to touch a stingray! When he reached into the water, he was just all smiles and so happy. Seeing the expression on his face, and on the faces of the other residents, they were just in complete awe. It almost made me cry, the looks they would get of wonder.” |
MSCH-Riverside resident Nazaria studies the ocean life from her front row seat at the School of Fish. |
Says Jessica Parker, House Coordinator, MSCH-Riverside, “The trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific – it was an awesome thing.
“Nazaria is almost 30 years old now. She’s been at Mountain Shadows since she was 17. Mentally, she’s probably about five months old. She’s nonverbal, but she loves being around people. She enjoyed the aquarium a whole lot.
“Nazaria especially loved the holographic wall, where you see water flowing. (Visitors stand in a digital waterfall and can see the fish swimming around them.) I let Nazaria go freewheeling, rolling her own wheelchair, and she went right up to the wall. It was so good! She was smiling so much. She was trying to touch the water on the wall.” |
Riverside resident, Alfredo, and Jessica, at Lorikeet Forest at Aquarium of the Pacific. |
Adds Jessica, “Alfredo is cortically blind. He loves country music, especially Johnny Cash. Whenever we put the music on, he loves to dance. He does a lot of dancing!
“Since Alfredo is cortically blind, he liked things that were bright and light and had lots of color contrast. He also loved the birds, because he could hear them. He really enjoyed that.” |
Nazaria, all smiles at the Aquarium of the Pacific. |
The Aquarium of the Pacific has a variety of exhibits and interactive experiences, from coral reefs, to sea jellies, to penguins, to sea otters, to a shark and stingray touch pool. |
Justin at the Aquarium of the Pacific. |
“Everyone had a great, great time,” says Jessica. “To see the residents light up is just so beautiful. The happiness they experienced there, it was just amazing.” |
Nazaria, Alfredo and Jessica. |
Kerensa joined Mountain Shadows in 2022, just after her 19 year old daughter had passed away. “I was having a hard time,” says Kerensa. “I feel like my daughter guided me to this job, because she knew I needed something to feed my soul, to make me feel better. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else.” |
Adds Kerensa, “The residents have such amazing personalities. People tend to think that because they don’t talk, or they’re in wheelchairs, or they are mentally disabled, that they don’t have personalities, or quality of life. That is not the case. They are so loving. They are so grateful for anything you do for them. But they do way more for me than I do for them. “Honestly, they’ve saved me for sure. The residents help me through every day. They bring me joy. Joy and peace.
“If I’m having a hard day at home, I can go to work, and they make me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile. They just make my frown turn upside down. There’s no other way to really describe it.” |
“It’s only a drop in the ocean, but the ocean wouldn’t be the same without that drop.” – Mother Teresa The Aquarium of the Pacific is home to more than 11,000 unique creatures. Mountain Shadows is home to just over 300 unique individuals. The ocean – the world – would not be the same without each and every one of them. Our thanks for your generosity to our CARE program, which opens new worlds to all of our residents. |
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The Mountain Shadows Foundation – Because We CARE |
Thanks to YOUR SUPPORT, the Mountain Shadows CARE program provides recreational and social experiences to residents and participants adding meaning and richness to their lives.
It’s easy for you to help us continue to provide activities like this – activities that improve the quality of our residents’ lives in fulfillment of their dreams. Here are some ways you can help ensure these crucial activities can continue for years to come: -
Make a one-time donation today by clicking on the donate button below.
- Make a monthly or annual contribution.
- Leave a Legacy Gift.
To learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society, to include us in your estate plan, or to let us know if you have already designated Mountain Shadows to receive a legacy gift, please contact Mandy Huiras, Director of Development at: mhuiras@mtnshadows.org, or visit our website by clicking here:
Learn More About the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society Please share this story with your family, friends and co-workers to help grow our Mountain Shadows Family!
To learn more about Mountain Shadows volunteer opportunities, please click below:
Learn about Mountain Shadows Volunteer Opportunities Here |
Mandy Huiras
Mountain Shadows Foundation Director of Development
Contact Mandy today to learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation and how you can continue to make a difference in the lives of our residents:
mhuiras@mtnshadows.org |
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