About Us

History/Mission/Goals of Touch Tanks For Kids

Touch Tanks for Kids is a federally recognized 501 c 3 nonprofit corporation.  The organization works to advance an environmental grassroots movement that improves education while motivating students to promote sustainability and study science.

The program was established by Joseph A. Zucchero, July 1, 2005, with the idea of helping schools, museums and other interested parties obtain Touch Tanks that would inspire children to learn about the environment and the delicate ecosystems taht support life on our planet.

Touch Tanks for Kids is committed to achieving Joe’s vision of improving the environment in tandem with growing our economy.

Presently, Touch Tanks for Kids offers grants and works with participants to create comprehensive fundraising plans that help reduce environmental impacts, through providing  environmentally focused funding opportunities.

Our Goals at Touch Tanks for Kids are:

*To improve education with better learning tools.

*To improve the environment by increasing awareness.

* To improve the economy through environmental innovations.

What Educators Say About Touch Tanks For Kids

The Best Educational Tool Ever!

“The Touch Tank has been one of the best educational tools I have ever had.” Said Mrs. Jean Giberson, ” If people saw what this tank did and how it inspires the students,  there would be no question about funding it. The students might forget me in ten years, but not the tank.”

Mrs. Jean Giberson, Fourth Grade Teacher, West Harpswell, Maine

A Touch Tank Is Hands-On Learning At It’s Best

Regina Martin, Sixth Grade Teacher, Lincoln Middle School, Maine:

“The Touch Tank brings learning to life as students utilize many hands-on opportunities to learn about the creatures that inhabit the ocean.  The Touch Tank also provides the students with the opportunity to teach younger students from the neighboring elementary schools about the knowledge they have acquired.”

Students Check Out the Action Every Day!

David Vaughan teaches high school science at the Waynflete School in Portland, Maine.  As an educator with an aquarium in his classroom for 20 years he has been teaching science.  Waynflete recently acquired a tank from Touch Tanks for Kids, and he see’s the difference it has made to the education of his students.  ”The Touch Tank is lower and wider so students can lean over it and take organisms out,” he says.  His student check out he Touch Tank every single day, which wasn’t the case with  their previous aquarium.  ”Right now we have two male lobsters jousting with each other.  We read a book about lobster behavior and witnessed it first hand.”