Mystic — Along with watching the resident beluga whales and penguins dive and swim, visitors to the Mystic Aquarium can now learn lessons they can apply directly to local aquatic environments.

A newly enhanced safe boating exhibit opens at the aquarium Thursday, timed for the start of National Safe Boating Week from Saturday through Friday. 

On Thursday morning, state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert Klee is scheduled to visit the exhibit, created as a joint project between his agency and the aquarium.

The exhibit includes educational signs and a video about safe boating displayed on a screen built into a model lighthouse set up beside a small pond.

Along the pond’s edge, visitors can operate steering wheel modules that drive eight remotely operated miniature yachts in the pond, maneuvering them between red and green navigational buoys and safety signs set up in the water.

The token-operated activity is designed to provide a hands-on lesson in boating safety, Dale Wolbrink, spokeswoman for the aquarium, said Wednesday.

“Kids will have fun learning from this what a buoy is,” she said.

Along with boating safety, the educational signs display messages about being environmentally responsible while boating by using pump-out facilities and by cleaning vessels off so invasive species aren’t carried from one water body to another.

“Part of safe boating is the safety of animals and the environment as well as people,” Wolbrink said.

She said the exhibit was installed late last year, but enhanced for the start of Safe Boating Week, which takes place annually before Memorial Day weekend to encourage boaters to be safe during the coming boating season.

As part of Safe Boating Week this year, DEEP is partnering with the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadrons at an open house at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound headquarters, 120 Woodward Ave., New Haven.

In a news release this week, DEEP encouraged all boaters to take a boating safety class, which is required to operate a registered boat, and to follow safety guidelines.

Those guidelines include dressing properly for the water temperature, wearing a life jacket, properly maintaining your boat and not drinking alcohol while boating.

Nationally, alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, and was the leading factor in 21 percent of recreational boating fatalities in 2014, DEEP said.

In Connecticut, penalties for boating under the influence include fines, jail and loss of boating privileges.

There were 10 boating under the influence arrests in 2015, DEEP said.

A safe boating certificate is required to operate any boat with a motor or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer.

Boating certificates can be purchased after taking an eight-hour safety course. For more information, visit www.ct.gov/deep/boating.

DEEP also reminded those paddling, riding personal watercraft or using small craft that are typically less stable, including small sailboats, that the best way to increase survival time is to wear a life jacket and either a dry suit or wetsuit.

For all other boaters on the water this time of year, DEEP recommends that they:

• avoid wearing cotton

• wear a hat (fleece-lined is recommended)

• dress in layers using synthetic fabrics such as polyester fleece

• wear a life jacket

• bring a waterproof jacket and spare dry clothing in a sealed dry bag.

DEEP also reminded residents about a new law pertaining to water skiing.

Under the law that took effect Oct. 1, the driver of a vessel towing a water skier or tuber must designate a person on board, who is at least 12 years old, as an observer.

The operator also is required to hold a safe waterskiing endorsement as well as a boating certificate.

For more information and to take the online course to obtain the safe waterskiing endorsement, visit www.ct.gov/deep/waterskiendorsement.

j.benson@theday.com