USM Marine Education Center Back on Full Schedule for 2022 Summer Camps

Thu, 04/07/2022 - 02:37pm | By: Van Arnold

Summer camps at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Marine Education Center (MEC) offer an adventure in learning on the Mississippi Gulf Coast each year for students in grades 1-12.

These five-day camps are rich in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities. During the camps, children enjoy hands-on, immersive learning activities in a unique coastal setting. The center is located at the University’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Miss.

Last year, COVID-19 precautions forced the MEC to offer only three weeks of the traditional camp sessions for a limited number of campers (24 per session). Yet, the experience still proved worthwhile, according to MEC Director Dr. Jessie Kastler.

“We were so excited to be able to offer even the abbreviated selection after having to cancel in 2020 and with COVID still a concern last year,” she said. “It was so successful. We filled all the camper spots, and one-quarter of the campers attended on need-based scholarships. Our campers had a great time.”

Kastler notes that all camps benefited immensely from the collaboration with USM’s Center for Fisheries Research and Development (CFRD), with campers having numerous opportunities to interact with scientists in identifying different kinds of sharks from the CFRD research collection and learning different techniques for catching fish.

As registration gets into full swing for the 2022 camps, COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. Kastler points out that camp preparation is back operating at traditional capacity. “It feels very normal. In a word – hectic,” she said.

Sea Camp for 1st - 6th graders returns for its 35th year with the "Ultimate Sea-vivor" theme. Other popular camps include Shark Fest and Angler Camp for students in grades 7-12. New this year is the four-day Adventure Camp for students entering grades 4-12.

Spending time outdoors – especially during the summer months – is nothing new for most children. However, the MEC summer camp experience provides many students with their first opportunity to spend significant time on the Gulf Coast near bayous, beaches, marshes, and islands.

“For even more kids, it is their first opportunity to spend time on boats and in kayaks actively learning about our coastal environment,” said Kastler. “This is the only opportunity most have had, and the only opportunity many will ever have, of interacting with scientists, collecting data, and exploring how science works.”

MEC 2022 Summer Camps include:

Shaggy’s Angler Camp (Grades 7-12: June 27-July 1 and July 11-15)

Fishing, fishing, fishing and even more fishing at the week-long. Young anglers fish every day with expert saltwater fishing educational team. Participants explore fish biology and behavior and how weather, wind, moon and tides affect fishing. During the week, anglers will learn how to throw a net to catch bait and how to target speckled trout, redfish and flounder. Participants will fish a variety of saltwater habitats aboard vessels and at the islands.

Sharkheads Shark Fest (Grades 7-12: June 6-10 and June 13-17)

Spend a week learning all about one of the ocean’s apex predators. Shark Fest participants may encounter Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, blacktip, spinner, hammerhead and bull sharks. Board vessels to long line for sharks and participate in shark research with our USM scientists by catching, tagging and releasing sharks.

Sea Camp (Grades 1-6: June 6-10, 13-17, 27-July 1, July 11-15, 18-22, 25-29)

Marine educators provide students with a rich educational experience wrapped up in lots of fun, games and hands-on activities. Participants explore coastal salt marshes with educators aboard the university research vessel, the Miss Peetsy B. Activities include live animal encounters with coastal wildlife and opportunities to fish, crab, seine and sieve. Students will participate in field trips appropriate for their ages, such as exploring beach habitats. 

Island Adventure Camp (Grades 4-12: June 21-14 and July 5-8)

This new camp will take campers to explore the sandy beaches of some of the Northern Gulf of Mexico's most important islands. Campers will learn about island ecology and the geography of Mississippi's islands. The adventure embarks on beach days and marsh tours before setting out later in the week to explore Deer Island and learn about Coastal Preserves. 

The MEC works across USM’s Coastal Operations to engage members of the public in ocean sciences, promoting careers and fostering community involvement through formal and informal education programs that provide participants with a better understanding of the Gulf.

“The activities are designed to be both good fun and good learning experiences, which motivates kids to keep learning about their natural environment and some of the ways humans modify the environment,” said Kastler. “With global environmental changes happening that these kids will have to address as adults, it is important that they get a chance to learn the excitement of being outside and ways they can become active stewards without becoming pessimistic.”

To learn more about the Marine Education Center, and to register for camps and workshops, call 228.818.8095 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/marine-education-center/index.php