There is almost always something new happening at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. The Aquarium kicked off 2026 with a new Chief Operating Officer and celebrated the grand opening of the Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center last month. The building includes spaces for special events, the new Expedition Asia habitat area, classrooms for educational programming and summer camps and the new Coral Cove Childcare Center. 

"There's no resting on our laurels," Chief Operating Officer Ari Robinson said. "We're always looking to grow our organization and our impact on the community."

Robinson assumed his new role last December but has a long history at the Aquarium. He started out as a volunteer 28 years ago, taking the Aquavan to area schools to teach children about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Robinson became an educator and later took on many different roles in various departments at the Aquarium. Most recently, he held the title of Senior Vice President of Operations. 

“I absolutely love the Aquarium,” he said. “This place has been my life.”

Coral Cove Childcare Center, which is located in the new Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, features a colorful and spacious classroom. (Photo courtesy of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)

As Senior Vice President, Robinson was involved in nearly every aspect of developing the Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, from the overall building design to its decorative details. 

The building has opened gradually, in phases, over the past year. A grand opening was held on Feb. 20 after the last of the animals from the original Expedition Asia space settled into their new habitats.

"Expedition Asia includes the clouded leopards, binturongs, Asian small-clawed otters, the tree kangaroo and new fish and birds," Robinson said. "We have great new habitats for them."

The now-vacant area in the original building that once housed those animals will eventually be renovated into habitats for new species yet to be announced.

Approximately one third of the Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center is an event center which is available to the public for private and corporate events. “The ballroom can seat up to 2,000, depending on the configuration,” Robinson said, adding that the event center is a revenue generator for the Aquarium’s educational programming.

The opening of the Science Learning Center expands the Aquarium’s ongoing educational mission to inspire people to explore, discover and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. The new building includes 11 classrooms and four laboratories, providing state-of-the-art facilities for elementary, secondary and university students.

New Chief Operating Officer Ari Robinson was instrumental in planning almost every aspect of the new Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center. (Photo courtesy of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium)

Robinson discussed some of the ways in which the Aquarium has partnered with local universities to advance scientific research and offer educational opportunities for college students. For example, students at Utah Valley University conducted genetic mapping studies of the gentoo penguins at the Aquarium and discovered that the birds are not always monogamous. As genetic diversity is critical to maintaining healthy penguin colonies, this research was important for zoos and aquariums. “That study showed that how penguins are managed in captivity should change,” Robinson said. 

Last year, Utah State University and the Aquarium formed a partnership, creating the state’s first marine biology program. Robinson explained that USU students can take coursework at the Aquarium to achieve a Bachelor of Marine Science degree. “Currently, we’re working with graduate students who are researching cuttlefish and bullfrogs,” he said, adding, “We’re giving students the opportunity to do veterinary work with more exotic species.” Students can get hands-on experience to research specific species and study aquatic ecology.

The Aquarium’s educational mission also now extends from the university level to preschool. Coral Cove Childcare Center recently marked the one-year anniversary of its grand opening. Co-owner Juliana Lindsay explained, “We offer preschool as well as childcare for ages 2 to 12. We are open to children of Aquarium employees and also the public.” 

“Children at Coral Cove have daily access to the Aquarium,” she said. “We provide unique, hands-on learning opportunities that support curiosity, discovery and real-world learning.” 

Coral Cove is licensed to accommodate 85 children and has 20 to 25 staff members. Parents have the option to enroll their children in either full- or half-day preschool. It is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Co-owner and operations manager Joanne Albrecht noted that they also do before- and after-school pick-ups. “It’s a pretty good project, and we love it!” she said. 

“We follow a play-based learning approach,” Lindsay said, explaining that they use a pyramid model developed at USU. “It supports social and emotional development and helps build positive relationships.” 

Albrecht explained that the children do any activities that the Aquarium offers for visitors on a given day. Any time that an educator brings an animal out of its habitat to show to visitors, the children can get an up-close look. “We go to Nature Storytime and learn about the animals,” she said. “We also use the outside play area to learn more about nature.” 

Rhu, the clouded leopard, will celebrate her birthday this month in her new habitat in the Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center. (Photo by Emily Weinstein)

At the Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom, children can connect with the natural world through creative activities designed to appeal to the senses and the imagination. 

“It really is a one of a kind educational experience,” Lindsay said. “We feel so proud to offer that to the community as well as to the children of our Aquarium families.” 

“Our program includes childcare, preschool and summer camp and we’re actively enrolling now for the next preschool season which starts in September,” Albrecht said. 

“We would love for families who are reading this article to come and see us,” Lindsay said. “Visit us if you’re here. We would love to show people what we are all about.” 

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is located at 12033 S. Lone Peak Pkwy. in Draper. To learn more about the Aquarium and Coral Cove Childcare Center, visit www.livingplanetaquarium.org.