
Doherty Campus Changing Hands, Staying a School
May 2, 2025
140 Pounds of Plastic Becomes Large-Scale Sea Turtle at Newport Aquarium
Cincinnati Students Create One-of-a-Kind Art Installation to Celebrate Start of NEW Seas the Summer Festival
Newport, Ky. (July 8, 2026) – Newport Aquarium today unveiled "SEAS the Change: Lending Denver a Helping Hand," a striking 8-foot by 9.5-foot sea turtle sculpture built entirely from 140 pounds of recycled plastic and materials destined for landfills. The unveiling marks the ceremonial launch of Seas the Summer, the aquarium's brand-new summer festival.
The sculpture was handcrafted by students with dyslexia, ADHD, or executive functioning challenges from Springer School and Center, in partnership with the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub. Designed to capture the likeness of Denver, the beloved sea turtle at Newport Aquarium, the piece is unlike anything the region has seen in both concept and execution. It's a living, tangible answer to the simple question of what happens when we redirect plastic waste instead of letting it reach our oceans.
"What's powerful about this project is that three very different organizations saw the exact same opportunity," said Rebecca Foster, Executive Director of Newport Aquarium. "Springer saw a chance to engage their students in something meaningful. Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub saw a way to show what their work actually enables. And we saw a way to bring that mission to life for every guest who walks through the doors of Newport Aquarium. That's the heart of conservation, when we stop working in silos and start working together."
The sculpture was constructed from an unlikely but striking combination of recycled materials, including metal scraps, CDs, egg cartons, pool noodles, and plastic waste sourced directly from the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub. Each material was carefully selected and hand-placed by students, creating a texture-rich, one-of-a-kind piece that shifts and shimmers as light moves across it.
"The coolest thing about this project is the creativity and vision we’ve had together to bring the turtle to life using trash,” said Orion, a Springer Lower School student. “Everyone has worked together.”
The materials included: Metal scraps and structural elements, sourced through the Hub, created the sculpture's framework. Recycled CDs layered across the bottom catch the light and create a shimmering, iridescent effect. Plastic waste such as milk jugs, bottles, and packaging materials, cleaned and repurposed as surface texture. Egg cartons and paper products were compressed and molded to create dimension and detail.
“This collaboration makes our team at the Hub incredibly proud and it beautifully illustrates the work that we do,” said Brittany Gray, Outreach & Corporate Service Manager at Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub. “This student-led art piece blends together the pillars of our mission at the Hub: sustainability, reuse, creativity, innovation and education. Newport Aquarium and the Springer School were wonderful partners in this project. We are so excited to play a part in this installation and push forward our common goal of education and a healthier environment.”
The sculpture joins Newport Aquarium as an installation through Seas the Summer, displayed in the aquarium's lobby. Visitors will encounter it as they enter, a visual reminder of collaboration, creativity, and what conservation looks like when communities work together.
The all-new Seas the Summer event is now open to the public and runs daily through August 30. The immersive experience transforms Newport Aquarium into a one-stop shop to check everything off guests’ summer bucket list. Seas the Summer features 10 themed galleries throughout the aquarium that bring summer experiences to life, where guests can visit a tropical island, go camping, build a sandcastle, and more.
Admission to Seas the Summer is included free with all daily admission tickets and annual memberships. Right now, kids can visit Newport Aquarium for free any time after 3 p.m. when tickets are pre-purchased online.
About Newport Aquarium
Newport Aquarium, founded in 1999, is located across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee. It is home to a vast collection of aquatic species and unparalleled interactive experiences like a shark bridge, touch exhibits, and up-close animal encounters. As a proud fully accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for more than 22 years, Newport Aquarium is held to the highest standards in animal care and exhibition.
To plan a visit, go to www.newportaquairum.com.
About Herschend
Newport Aquarium is part of Herschend’s family of brands. Herschend is the world’s largest family-held themed attractions company, with a portfolio of over 40 family entertainment brands across North America, including destinations, resorts, theme parks, water parks, immersive experiences, and content enjoyed by audiences worldwide.
For more information, visit www.Herschend.com.
About Springer School and Center
Springer School and Center empowers students diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and challenges with executive functioning. Springer serves the community through four distinct pillars: Springer Lower School & Middle School, Springer High School, Springer Diagnostic Center and Springer Learning Center. Springer is located at 2121 Madison Road in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park neighborhood.
Learn more at www.Springer-LD.org.
About Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub
Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub is an independent, nonprofit organization filling gaps in our region for recycling and reuse. Established in 2021, the Hub is a growing community of recyclers, upcyclers, tinkerers, artists and doers. Serving both residential and corporate customers through their residential drop off days at the Lower Price Hill facility and satellite mini-Hub, the Hub Shop, offsite collections, education and outreach. The Hub has diverted nearly 2 million pounds of materials from going to the landfill.
To learn more, please visit www.cintirrh.org.
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