The A-Maze-Ing Water exhibit is a giant maze housed in the outdoor Seaside Pavilion at the far end of the New York Aquarium in Coney Island. Upon entering, kids are told they're going to become a drop of water working its way through the water cycle to the ocean. The start of the maze introduces kids to facts and sobering statistics about the water on our planet through puzzles and other hands-on stations.

To navigate the maze, kids spin a water-themed roulette wheel. Depending on chance, families continue one way as a clean drop of water or in the opposite direction as a dirty one. Either way, kids learn what happens to these droplets and how they impact the environment in a fun and entertaining way. Throughout the maze, there are stations with factoids about water pollution, conservation efforts, recycling and important bodies of water, and kids need to answer questions in order to move forward. The absolute highlight for my seven-year-old son was the 24-foot zip line at the front of the maze—it really starts off the experience with a thrill.

In addition to the maze, there is a contemporary art exhibit celebrating the importance, vitality and beauty of water in the aquarium’s Ocean View Room on the upper level of the main building.

While the maze and the art gallery are open daily, there are special weekend only activities that will enhance your experience and help drive the exhibit’s message home:

• Draw a picture or write a letter to government officials at the Take Action Mailbox Station asking for their support in clean water initiatives
   
• Add a tile to the nature-themed Giant Community Mosaic
   
• See a Model of a Local Watershed that illustrates how pollutants affect drinking water and impact the oceans
   
• Learn about the New York Bight Watershed through an interactive game that highlights the 330 species of marine fish, 26 species of sharks and four species of sea turtles that call the area home

Although children of all ages should enjoy traveling through the maze, the message will be easier for older kids and adults to understand. A lot of it went over my seven-year-old's head—he just wanted to get lost in the maze. But it gave me a chance to talk to him about some of the information and what we can do as a family to make a difference.

A-Maze-Ing Water is on view through Sunday, September 9 at the New York Aquarium located at Surf Avenue at West 8th Street. Admission is $14.95 for adults, $10.95 for children ages 3-12, free for kids under 3. Visit the website to save 10% on Total Experience Tickets throughout the summer.

This post is sponsored by the New York Aquarium's A-Maze-Ing Water exhibit running through September 9.