Junior, Senior High Students Take Part in Shark Fest Summer Camp

For any youngster dreaming of one day studying sharks and shark behavior, the Shark Fest Summer Camp offers a real-life glimpse.

Sponsored by the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Marine Education Center in Oceans Springs, the five-day camp gives junior and senior high students a chance to visit the top shark fishing hotspots around the Barrier Islands aboard a research vessel. Participants also have an opportunity to catch and tag sharks while contributing to ongoing scientific research.

A total of 101 students participated in the three Shark Fest camps held this summer.

To see a special FOX News report on the students' adventure visit: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/08/15/young-kids-have-plenty-close-encounters-during-real-life-shark-week/

For more information about Shark Fest, contact the Marine Education Center by email or call 228.818.8833 or visit: http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/mec/shark.fest.php.