Ollie the Otter is extra excited to invite OCA families to a special Virtual Family Engagement Activity in partnership with the South Carolina Aquarium—and it’s all about river otters (aka Ollie’s friends)!

River Otter Adventure!
Students will journey to the mountains to “meet” resident river otters Charlie and Beau and learn about the amazing adaptations that help them thrive in cooler waters. It’s a fun, interactive way to learn—Ollie-approved, of course.

Friday, January 30
Grades K–2: 10:00 AM
Grades 3–5: 11:30 AM

Important reminder: The event link will appear in students’ planners closer to the event, so be sure to check as the date approaches.

Ollie can’t wait for OCA students to dive in, learn something new, and meet his river otter pals—learning is always better when it’s shared with friends!

📌 Link coming soon in your student planners!

OCA middle school students (Grades 6–8) are in for an out-of-this-world experience with NASA at 12 PM on Wednesday, January 28!

Moon to Mars: Why is NASA going back to the Moon—and what’s left to discover?

Students will explore:
🌙 Why NASA is returning to the Moon
🔎 What’s still left to discover
🧑‍🚀 How the Moon helps astronauts prepare for Mars
🔴 Why we want to land astronauts on Mars

This is real science, real space exploration, and real inspiration—otterly awesome.

📌 Link coming soon in your student planners!

OCA high school students (Grades 9–12), space is calling you might want to answer!

Don’t miss this Virtual FEA with @NASA on Wednesday, January 28 at 2:00 PM - Tour of the Solar System

Buckle up. We’re taking a fast-paced journey from the blazing Sun to the icy edges of our solar system—stopping at all eight planets along the way.

What you’ll experience:
🔥 The Sun’s insane power
🔴 Mars’ iconic red landscapes
🪐 Saturn’s legendary rings
🌍 What makes each planet unique—from rocky worlds to massive gas giants

Expect stunning visuals, mind-blowing facts, and a whole new appreciation for the cosmic neighborhood we live in. This isn’t a textbook lesson—it’s space, upgraded.

📌 Link coming soon in your student planners!

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=c7d121c5fbcb4ca4a08350dd96fe0116

Hello OCA Families,

We are thrilled to announce that OCA is organizing its second in-person Grades 6-12 Art Showcase at Columbus Museum of Art! The deadline to RSVP is Friday, February 20th.

Use this form to register and get ready to embark on an inspiring journey to discover our students' extraordinary artistic talents in Photography, Digital Art, and Fine Arts (traditional methods). You'll also have the opportunity to experience the captivating exhibits with some of our staff members.  Detailed information about the Art Showcase and participation can be found here.

WHO

This is an all-school event. Everyone is invited to a day of touring our grades 6-12 students’ exceptional art showcase and explore the many exhibits of the Columbus Museum of Art. **When you arrive, our National Junior Honor Society will collect canned goods to benefit local shelters near the blue and teal sign-in tables; please consider donating. 

WHEN
Friday, February 27th, 11 AM - 2 PM. The Grades 6-12 OCA Art Showcase will close at 1:30 PM. You may stay and enjoy The Columbus Museum of Art until it closes at 5 PM.

WHERE The Columbus Museum of Art 480 E Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215

COST 

Admission is free.

PARKING

Parking at the Columbus Museum of Art is very limited due to construction. Please only plan to park at the museum if you require accessible/handicap parking or have limited mobility. If you park in the museum lot, remember to validate your parking ticket at the front desk before leaving.

Additional parking is available in the surface lot at the corner of E. Long Street and N. Washington Street, just a short two-block walk from the museum. OCA will provide a Text-to-Park code to cover parking costs for families who use this lot. Parking instructions will be shared with those who register to attend.

Have questions? Please send our FEA committee an email by clicking here.

Thank you for all that you do to move OCA positively forward.

~OCA FEA Committee

Hello OCA Families,

We are thrilled to announce that OCA is organizing its second in-person Grades 6-12 Art Showcase at Columbus Museum of Art! The deadline to RSVP is Friday, February 20th.

Use this form to register and get ready to embark on an inspiring journey to discover our students' extraordinary artistic talents in Photography, Digital Art, and Fine Arts (traditional methods). You'll also have the opportunity to experience the captivating exhibits with some of our staff members.  Detailed information about the Art Showcase and participation can be found here.

WHO

This is an all-school event. Everyone is invited to a day of touring our grades 6-12 students’ exceptional art showcase and exploring the many exhibits of the Columbus Museum of Art.

WHEN
Friday, February 27th, 11 AM - 2 PM. The Grades 6-12 OCA Art Showcase will close at 1:30 PM. You may stay and enjoy The Columbus Museum of Art until it closes at 5 PM.

WHERE The Columbus Museum of Art 480 E Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215

COST 

Admission is free.

PARKING

Parking at the Columbus Museum of Art is very limited due to construction. Please only plan to park at the museum if you require accessible/handicap parking or have limited mobility. If you park in the museum lot, remember to validate your parking ticket at the front desk before leaving.

Additional parking is available in the surface lot at the corner of E. Long Street and N. Washington Street, just a short two-block walk from the museum. OCA will provide a Text-to-Park code to cover parking costs for families who use this lot. Parking instructions will be shared with those who register to attend.

Have questions? Please send our FEA committee a webmail by clicking here.

Thank you for all that you do to move OCA positively forward.

~OCA FEA Committee

To help protect the art and ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Look, but don’t touch. Please stay at least three feet away from all works of art and never touch.

• Backpacks and large items aren’t allowed in the galleries. This includes backpacks, large purses, luggage, and child carriers worn on the back. Complimentary lockers and bag check are available for your convenience.

• No food or drink in the galleries. You’re welcome to enjoy refreshments in Schokko Café, the Patricia M. Jurgensen Sculpture Garden, Huntington Atrium, Talmage Meeting Room, and Edwards Court.

• Pencils only, please. Other art materials can cause permanent damage. If you’d like to paint in the galleries, you may request special permission by emailing info@cmaohio.org for a “Permission to Paint” form.

• Photography for personal use is encouraged. To help preserve the art, please avoid using flash, tripods, monopods, or selfie sticks. For information regarding professional photography sessions, please refer to our full photography policy.