Our Mission
The mission of our facility is to educate visitors about the importance of the estuarine and oceanic ecosystems of the New Hampshire coast, while providing a unique opportunity to view and touch sea animals that they may never otherwise encounter. Our intent is to improve public awareness of the Gulf of Maine’s natural wonders, help visitors to fully appreciate New Hampshire’s remarkable natural resources, and to foster a stewardship for the seacoast and its environment.
About the Facility
The center contains multiple exhibits focusing on the Gulf of Maine and the precarious balance between human use and healthy ecosystems. Visitors learn about the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the local fishing industry it supports. The center contains a refrigerated aquarium with invertebrates from the coast and deep-ocean, while also providing hands-on touch tanks. In addition, a visit includes a tour with a biologist and unlimited time with the exhibits and touch tanks.
Plan Your Visit
We open for the 2024 season on Saturday, May 25th for Memorial Day weekend – Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Admission to the Oceanarium is $10 for Adults and $8 for children under 10 years old. We will be open on Saturdays and Sundays throughout June and fully open for the season on Sat June 29th.
We are closed on Wednesdays throughout the summer. Please arrive by 4:30 PM if you plan to attend in the afternoon. Please understand that this is a small, hands-on educational facility with limited staff and resources and not a full scale aquarium. We appreciate your understanding.
Our Mission
The mission of our facility is to educate visitors about the importance of the estuarine and oceanic ecosystems of the New Hampshire coast, while providing a unique opportunity to view and touch sea animals that they may never otherwise encounter. Our intent is to improve public awareness of the Gulf of Maine’s natural wonders, help visitors to fully appreciate New Hampshire’s remarkable natural resources, and to foster a stewardship for seacoast and its environment.
About the Facility
The center contains multiple exhibits focusing on the Gulf of Maine and the precarious balance between human use and healthy ecosystems. Visitors learn about the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the local fishing industry it supports. The center contains a refrigerated aquarium with invertebrates from the coast and deep-ocean, while also providing hands-on touch tanks. In addition, a visit includes a tour with a biologist and unlimited time with the exhibits and touch tanks.
We open for the 2024 season on Saturday, May 25th for Memorial Day weekend – Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Admission to the Oceanarium is $10 for Adults and $8 for children under 10 years old. We will be open on Saturdays and Sundays throughout June and fully open for the season on Sat June 29th.
We are closed on Wednesdays throughout the summer. Please arrive by 4:30 PM if you plan to attend in the afternoon. Please understand that this is a small, hands-on educational facility with limited staff and resources and not a full scale aquarium. We appreciate your understanding.
Summertime Oceanarium Group Programs
The Explore the Ocean World, LLC Oceanarium is open to summer camps and groups July through August. Your trip to the oceanarium includes a guided tour and a half hour of free time to explore. Total time at the facility is about an hour for each group. Special programs available upon request, including beach walks and tide pooling across the street on Hampton Beach. The facility can accommodate about 20 people at a time. For larger groups, we will provide activities for the chaperones to lead on the beach while waiting their turn at the oceanarium facility. This will include a fish printing activity for the students to take home. Contact us for fees, dates and available times.
Visits Include:
Biologist-Led Tours
Take a tour with the biologist then unlimited exploration on your own in our expanded 2 room space! Same address, more space, more exhibits! Admission to the Oceanarium is $10 for adults, per person. Children under 10 years are $8.
New! Live Video Presentations
For the school year we are offering virtual field trips and live video presentations to classrooms. For availability and fees please email us at
exploretheoceanworld@hotmail.com
Expanded Space
We will open for the season on Memorial Day Weekend. Weekends only through June. Opening Daily for the summer on June 29th, 2024. We are closed on Wednesdays. Follow us on Facebook for news on our expanded space. We are still at 367 Ocean Blvd. Hampton Beach but will be occupying 2 storefronts this year!
Hands-On Education
We have touch tanks that are open continuously throughout the day. Hands-on learning is the best way of learning.
Supplementary Programs
Supplementary programs will be given as time and interest permits, which will include beach nature walks, tidepool explorations, and visits to the local fishing industry.
Special Events
Birthday parties, after-hour events, and small functions are available by appointment. Contact us for more details.
Who We Are
Ellen Goethel, Owner/Curator
Ellen has a zoology degree from the University of New Hampshire and worked at the New England Aquarium in their education department and as a biologist for Normandeau Associates as an undergraduate. Ellen was instrumental in drafting the Town of Hampton’s original wetlands ordinance and was a member of the Town’s Conservation Commission for over 20 years sitting as chair and vice chair. Ellen and her husband, David, were owners of a 44-foot stern trawler, the Ellen Diane until his retirement in 2021. She has been involved in the fishing industry since 1976 and has worked with the New Hampshire Congressional delegation on fisheries related issues since 1978. Ellen has worked with the Northeast Seafood coalition since its inception and was recognized by the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association for her “Outstanding contribution in protecting the future of the New England Fishing Industry”. In 2009 she was named “Conservationist of the year” by the NH Coastal Conservation Association. She is on the board of directors of the NH Coastal Conservation Association and the Advisory Committee on Marine Fisheries and past board member of NH Fishing Sectors XI and XII and the non-profit Granite Fish. She served a 4-year term on the Marine Protected Area Federal Advisory Committee along with a term on the New England Fishery Management Council. Ellen developed a marine science 4H program with over 60 children where she oversaw the students while they ran and maintained a small marine lab for the Rockingham County 4H. For this work she was awarded the 1994 National Fisheries and Wildlife Volunteer Award. In 2014 Ellen and her husband were awarded the Industry Award by the Gulf of Maine Council for their years of work together to conserve and protect the Gulf of Maine.
Since 1984 she has been taking her travelling museum into schools throughout New England. In 2013 Skip and Deb Windemiller provided the space for Ellen to realize her dream of a hands-on museum on Hampton Beach. Most days during the summer you will find her enthusiastically giving talks at the Oceanarium.
“Watching the eyes of children light up as they see the animals and connect the dots is breathtaking. “
“Watching the eyes of children light up as they see the animals and connect the dots is breathtaking. “
Calico, Blue and Orange Lobsters
Photo Galleries
School Visits
A limited number of in-school field trips will be available in the spring and fall.
Your students will have a chance to experience, hands on, creatures from the Gulf of Maine salt marsh, rocky shore, and the deep sea.
Each presentation is unique. The animals differ daily depending on what new and exotic things the commercial fishermen bring in. The animals range from the common sea star to the deep water sun star, spiny crab or horseshoe crab.
The talk can cover a range of information from salt marsh ecology, conservation, commercial fishing and detailed information on all sorts of sea creatures. At the end of each talk the students get their hands wet and are encouraged to handle everything.
I will be bringing in live sea animals with salt water and some frozen animals. (Things may get a little wet.) You will need to provide a space for me to set up with access to an electrical outlet, two medium-sized tables and someone to help me set up. Because of the salt water and the animals, it is impossible to move the program during the day.
Each presentation lasts about 45 minutes, which includes a half-hour talk and approximately 15 minutes of hands-on time. It is imperative that the group size is kept under 30 students. This way all the students will get a chance to “touch, feel and smell” everything without being crowded.
Virtual Zoom or Google Meet programs are also available. The cost is $100 per for zoom programs. Please contact us at exploretheoceanworld@hotmail.com for more information.
Pricing Information:
$1000 for a full day (up to 6 presentations)
$600 for a half day (up to 3 presentations in the AM)
$0.75/mile mileage charge from Hampton NH
Virtual Offering
$100 for Zoom/Virtual Programs
Our Mailing Address:
Explore the Ocean World, LLC
23 Ridgeview Terrace
Hampton, NH 03842
exploretheoceanworld@hotmail.com
Oceanarium Adress:
Explore the Ocean World, LLC
367 Ocean Boulevard #3
Hampton Beach, NH 03842
Summer Phone:
603-758-7998
Business Hours:
We open Saturday, May 25th for Memorial Day weekend – Saturday, Sunday and Monday. We will be open on Saturdays and Sundays throughout June and fully open for the season on Sat June 29. We are closed on Wednesdays throughout the summer.
Business hours are 10:00am-5:00pm until Labor Day
Please arrive by 4:30
We are closed on Wednesdays throughout the summer.