Identifying different fish species and conducting sea grass surveys might seem like a job for scientists, but kids at MacArthur Beach State Park’s Marine Biology Camp get to play scientist every day.
During the weeklong camp, kids learn about environmental preservation and different marine plants and animals. They discover what marine biologist go through to conduct observations and they get to kaya, sim and snorkel to conduct observations of their own.
“We want to get them really excited about science,” says Cheryl Houghtelin, “Science is not boring.”
The camp, which is for kids from fifth grade through age 15, has been running each summer since the early 1990s, Houghtelin said.
Since then, the program has grown to three summer sessions that take 20 campers each week. Park rangers, college interns and some of the older kids who are training to be counselors all help run the camp. While it caters to a wide age range, because the camp is so hands-on, everyone takes away something different, Houghtelin said. “If it was an indoor, sit-down type of camp, that would not work, Houghtelin said.
The curriculum for the summer camp is based off what the park uses for its year-round education program, which ahs been approved by the school district and meetings Common Core state standards.
“After the camp ends, we often see kid come back with their parents,” said Scott Duncan, park ranger. “They’re always excited to show their parents everything they’ve learned.”