Splash into Adventure - 2005 Summer Programs as the Sea Lab

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab offers one of the most extensive summer marine science programs in the nation.  With programs for everyone from graduate students to teachers to middle school students, the Sea Lab combines excellence in education with a beautiful location, right on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.  This year, we are offering even more workshops for children ages 9-11 and for teachers.

Children Ages 5-8 - Oceans Alive.  Make exploring the beach with your children a rewarding educational experience. These half-day camps are held from 1:00 pm until 4:30 pm and will be limited to 20 students; admissions are  on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents/guardians are required to attend, must be 18 years of age and may bring no more than 3 children.  Dates: June 2, July 7 and July 29.

Children Ages 9-11  (New Program!)- Treasure Island.  High-tech meets history at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab!  Kids ages 9-11 are invited to join us for a treasure hunt on the sandy beaches of Dauphin Island.  We'll use Global Positioning System technology to hunt for buried treasure while learning about the history and ecology of the Island.  This half-day adventure will take place from 1:00 to 4:30pm; child must be accompanied by an adult. Dates: May 31 and June 3.

Middle School Students - Gulf Island Journey.  Join the Sea Lab team for beach scavenger hunts, ghost crab crawls, marsh mushing and collection trips aboard our research vessel A.E. Verrill.  This fun residential program instills a basic understanding of marine science with lots of hands-on activities.  There are only 30 slots for each one-week program so sign up early.  Designed for rising 7th, 8th & 9th grade students.  Dates:  May 29-June 3; July 18-23; and July 25-30.

High School Students - An intensive summer course introducing the student to the marine environment through classroom lecture, laboratory, and field activities is available to students in grade 9-11.  The length of the course is four weeks, during which time the students live on campus and participate in over 150 hours of supervised academic activities.  The Alabama State Department of Education recommends that local systems grant participating students credit toward either an Advanced or Standard High School Diploma.  Dates: June 5-July 1.

K-12 Educators -

• Exploring the Florida Keys - May 29-June 3

• Beaches, Birds and Barrier Islands - July 3-6

• Coastal Connections - July 18-22

• Exploring the Emerald Coast - July 25-29

Most courses require overnight stays.  Credit hours are available for most courses.

Special for Alabama Educators!
The Sea Lab will be offering several free teacher workshops this summer, especially for Alabama educators, funded by federal agencies.  Availability is limited, so please check on these right away.

• Center for Ocean Science Excellence in Education - June 5-10 (includes $300 stipend for educator.  Applicant should be a science teacher for grades 5-9)
   

• Marine Applications of Science and Technology - June 12-17; June 19-24; and June 26-July 1 (includes stipend and a GPS unit for classroom use.  Applicant should be a math or science teacher for grades 6-12)

College and Graduate Students - University Programs of the Sea Lab offer a wide range of courses for credit for undergraduates and graduate students during the summer, ranging from Dolphins and Whales to Coral Reef Ecology to Hurricanes of the Gulf Coast.  Courses in this intense program will be offered from May to August; individualized directed research opportunities with resident faculty are also available. Sessions will run May 16-27; May 31-July 1; and July 5-August 5.