After being sidelined the past two years due to the pandemic, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science returned to hosting tours of its facilities this month, giving people a behind-the-scenes peek at what goes on at the Gloucester Point facility.
The free tours are held on Fridays from 10-11:30 a.m. throughout August. Although free, reservations are required to participate. Details can be found at www.vims.edu/public/publictours/index.php.
The tour requires a lot of walking so it is best to wear proper attire and accommodations may be available for those with limited mobility. The tours are geared to adults and children ages 9 and up.
The tour starts at Watermen’s Hall, where everyone gathers in the lobby and walks to the auditorium to officially meet the guides for the day. This past Friday’s tour was guided by volunteers Lyon Ewell and Helmut Walter. They begin the tour by explaining the history of VIMS and the mission behind their work.
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