Ostego Bay summer camp heads to homestretch
The Ostego Bay Marine Science Center Foundation’s summer children’s camp of exploring the Gulf and the outdoors while learning about science, is entering the final weeks of weekday camp on Fort Myers Beach.
The children’s day camp runs through Aug. 1 and there is still another full two weeks for campers to sign up.
A recent visit to the camp found campers who had recently completed an oyster garden science project, who were enjoying icies and looking forward to a boat trip. Campers were set to go on a pontoon boat to seek out dolphins and manatees.
Steven Wilkie, camp director for Ostego Bay Summer Camp, was holding court at the Estero Island Historic Society passing out icies to the campers. Earlier in the day they had gone swimming on the beach as campers do each day.
Wilkie, a science teacher at South Fort Myers High School, led the middle school students in the camp on a dissection of oyster clutches. The program was meant to teach the campers about the importance of oysters in the diversity of the estuary and the salinity turbulation for healthy Gulf waters and protecting marine life.
All of the campers took part in constructing an oyster garden, using oyster shells donated from restaurants. “We drilled holes in them and created vertical oyster gardens,” Wilkie said. The oyster shells were then attached to a chain to be hung on a dock at Bonita Fish Company partly submerged into the water to attract baby oysters, crabs and other critters to help benefit the local ecosystem.
Other activities at the camp include arts and crafts. There is a beach swim each day for an hour or two. On a recent swim, Wilkie said the campers observed a group of cow-nosed rays.
The campers also take part in a science project on the beach using a net to identify marine life. On a recent catch, campers observed and learned about dwarf seahorses and sargassum shrimp.
The camps runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, with all instructional materials provided. The cost is $275 per child.
Transportation must be provided to and from camp including lunch and plenty to drink. A graduation luncheon will be provided by the center on the last day. The camp is temporarily located at 700 Fisherman’s Wharf, on San Carlos Island.
Field and beach trips will introduce campers to sea grass communities, plankton populations, mangrove tangles and bird nesting areas. The camp’s staff includes state-certified science teachers.
For registration, visit www.ostegobay.org, click on summer camp and then click on the registration application page. For further questions, contact camp director Becky Hill at ostegobaysummercamp@gmail.com or Ostego Bay Foundation President Joanne Semmer at 239-470-4993 or e-mail jj37a@yahoo.com.
The full Ostego Bay Marine Science Center Foundation Summer Camp Schedule is as follows:
July 14 – 18 Sea Stars & Loggerheads
July 21 – 25 Sea Stars & Loggerheads
July 28 – August 1 Sea Stars & Loggerheads