Registration open at Ostego Bay Marine Science Center for summer camp
Registration is now open for the popular Ostego Bay Marine Science Center summer camp, which will be held in June and July this year.
The camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday from June 3-7 – Sea Stars & Loggerheads; June 17-21 – Tiger Sharks; June 24-28 – Sea Stars & Loggerheads; July 8-12 – Sea Stars; July 15-19 – Sea Stars & Loggerheads and July 22-26 – Loggerheads.
The summer day camps are geared towards children ages 6 through 15. Registration, which is $275 per child a week, can be done at www.ostegobay.org/marine-science-summer-camp/, or by calling the center at (239) 765-8101.
The campers are dropped off and picked up at the Marine Science Center, 718 Fisherman’s Wharf, San Carlos Island.
“We are finding the parents that participated as children in our summer camps of the past are now bringing their own children to learn about nature,” Ostego Bay Foundation President Joanne Semmer said.
The summer camp, which has been held for more than 25 years, is taught by Golden Apple teachers Cherie Sukovich and Joe Mallon
“They are absolutely fantastic Golden Apple science teachers,” Semmer said.
The campers go out on boats and visit the beach every day before heading back to the center for lunch and labs in the afternoon.
“The kids come back year after year. That is our testimony that they like us so much that they come back,” Semmer said.
Each week the summer camp accommodates 20 children, so the kids receive individual attention. She said depending on the age it ranges seven to 10 children per one science teacher. In addition to the teachers, there are interns there to provide assistance.
“A lot of these children learn college level marine biology,” Semmer said. “It’s such a wonderful camp. It’s a wonderful experience. I can’t say enough about it.”
The camp uses local resources to teach the topics by visiting such places as Bowditch Point, Newton Beach Park and Lovers Key State Park. The campers arrive at these locations by public trolley.
“People come from all over the world to visit us, so why not use those resources to teach our children,” she said.
Due to the nature of the camp, campers are asked to wear their bathing suit, as well as long sleeved sun shirts. They should also bring a towel, change of clothes, comfortable shoes, water shoes and lunch. A reusable water bottle, drinks, snacks and lunch are provided on Friday.
The summer camp is made possible through community partnerships.
“It’s one of the wonderful things that we are able to do. We are so grateful to the Fort Myers Beach community that supports us,” Semmer said.
They are seeking funds for scholarships for the summer camp for deserving children.
“We have never turned a child away. If I need a scholarship I usually go out and find one. It’s a good opportunity for them (the children) and it opens their eyes to the possibility of what they can do in science,” Semmer said.
Some of the campers have gone on to finish their education and now have careers in marine science.
“If we can teach them about the local marine environment… learn to understand it and love it, they then want to protect it,” she said. “As the kids grow up they are going to be boaters and making decisions about the local environment, so it’s really important they become informed of what is there and how to protect it. Once we teach the children, they teach the adults in their families too. It’s conservation through education.”