Monterey Bay Aquarium is offering free admission

Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito County residents get into the Monterey Bay Aquarium for free this week with just a flash of their I.D.

“No money and none of that, so we just came to visit and have fun,” said Isacc Santos of Salinas.

A family of four is saving at least $150.

“I want to teach them about recycling and not throwing garbage where you’re not supposed to,” said Aquarium visitor Lindsay.

The aquarium said the purpose of the community open house week is twofold. First its about them showing local residents their appreciation.

“As a nonprofit we do a lot of good in the community,” said Hank Armstrong, VP Communications at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “We do it in our research, in our education programs and in our policy, advocacy work. The main reason we can do that is because of support from the community.”

Second, it fits in line with their mission, which is planting seeds of environmental stewardship and conservation.

“A visit to the aquarium changes kids and not only that it changes families because kids learn within the family,” said Armstrong.

Nine-year-old Santos said he’s definitely picked up some knowledge.

“The normal sharks, when they eat something, their eyes turn back,” said Santos.

The aquarium served as real life inspiration for the blockbuster hit Finding Dory, which officials say has grown the aquarium’s popularity and ability to reach young kids.

“They want to know what’s there,” said Armstrong. “That’s an introduction to a much bigger story that we get to tell.”

The free admission is going until December 11 th .