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Send us your news and pictures. E-mail Keith Miller at kmiller@IAAPA.org.
 Great Wolf Lodge Dedicates UCA Pavilion
Great Wolf Resorts and the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) dedicated the new UCA Pavilion on April 20, 2011, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas. Built from a partnership between Great Wolf Lodge and UCA, the 3,000-square-foot covered outdoor space provides exclusive right of use to the UCA during its summer programs at the resort. At other times, the pavilion will be available for group rental and events. CEO of Great Wolf Resorts Kim Schaefer, Sr. Vice President and General Manager of the UCA John Newby, Executive Director of USA Cheer Bill Seely, and a host of cheerleaders were on hand for the dedication ceremony. www.greatwolf.com
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 Seals in New Jersey
Staff members of the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey, and its “Fins for the Future” program have partnered with the nearby Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) for “New Jersey Seals in Focus,” which offers guests an intensive look at New Jersey’s seals. Guests can meet with the aquarium’s marine mammal experts for a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility’s “Seal Shores” exhibit and visit the underwater viewing area for a one-on-one photo opportunity with the seals. A portion of the proceeds from “New Jersey Seals in Focus” tickets will be donated to the MMSC. www.adventureaquarium.com
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Very First to Ride
The first official public riders on the “Wooden Warrior” roller coaster at Quassy Amusement Park prepare to make the first plunge. A first-riders auction benefitted the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Connecticut Food Bank, and Connecticut Public Television. www.quassy.com
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Eyes Wide Shut
These girls may appear to have their eyes open, but they actually don’t as they sit on the Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph’s, Michigan, during a spring break outing. Face painter Jenny Bush painted eyes on the girls’ eyelids to create this playful illusion. Money raised from Bush’s work was donated to the local humane society. www.silverbeachcarousel.com
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 Space Shuttles Landing for Good
On April 12, 2011, the 30th anniversary of the space shuttle program’s first flight, NASA ended years of anticipation by announcing the permanent retirement homes of the four remaining shuttle orbiters. Because of their power as huge tourist draws, the competition among 20 potential sites was so fierce it’s been likened to the drama of bidding to host an Olympic games.
The winners: The flagship Discovery will land at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex outside Washington, D.C.; Atlantis will go the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex in Florida; Endeavor will be displayed at the California Science Center in Los Angeles; and the prototype Enterprise, which never flew in space, will go to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.
“We are really honored and thrilled that Atlantis will be staying at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex (KSCVC), and we will be creating an amazing home to recognize the achievements of the space shuttle program,” KSCVC public relations manager Andrea Farmer told Funworld. www.nasa.gov
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Joël Robuchon Cuisine Graces Sentosa in Singapore
Joël Robuchon, regarded as the world’s most-decorated Michelin-star chef, opened two of his highly regarded restaurants on April 28, 2011, at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. Joël Robuchon Restaurant and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon will both showcase French haute cuisine but will also offer new dishes inspired by local ingredients and culture. As the first Joël Robuchon restaurants in Southeast Asia, they will be directed by teams of chefs and managers handpicked by Robuchon. www.rwsentosa.com
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‘Walking with Lemurs’ in England
West Midland Safari Park in Bewdley, Worcestershire, England, recently opened the largest lemur walk-through facility in England. “Walking with Lemurs” is set in a natural woodland area where the lemurs have free range; it is home to Ring-Tailed Lemur, White-Fronted Brown Lemur, and Red-Bellied Lemur, all native to Madagascar. www.wmsp.co.uk
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