Sharks, Stingrays, and Crabs- Discover the diversity of crabs and cartilaginous fishes (sharks, rays, and skates) and design your own species and its habitat. Seine in the surf and search for sharks’ teeth at the beach. Try to catch cantankerous blue crabs. Compare bony fish anatomy to the anatomy of a shark during dissections, a slimy hands-on experience. Beach field trips. Fish dissections.

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Aqua-Marines...to the Rescue! - Aqua-Marine Rescuers are called to duty to get their feet wet and protect their marine friends. Junior scientists work to understand and protect the marine habitats of Galveston by participating in a wetland restoration project, exploring water chemistry, learning about ways to protect sea turtles and investigating methods for cleaning up oil spills. Join a competition for sand castle durability to demonstrate causes and possible prevention of sand erosion. Beach and salt marsh field trips.

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Marine Mammals - Enter the wonderful world of marine mammals, our hairy ocean friends & learn about flukes & flippers, baleen & blowholes, spy hopping & breaching. Compare dolphins & porpoises, seals & sea lions. Take a “close” look at the largest mammal on Earth, study the only aquatic bear, and get to know the clever sea otter. Marine mammal explorers will also learn how echolocation works and how to rescue a stranded animal. Beach trips and dolphin watching expedition. Appropriate for beginners and advanced explorers!

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Somethin’ Fishy’s Goin’ On- Advanced Workshop for ages 9 to 11 Catch cold-blooded creatures in a seine net and at the end of a pole. Set up aquariums with different habitats. Learn about fish, the most numerous vertebrates on the planet, while studying ichthyology on a grand scale. Learn to catch, clean, and cook fish. Beach and salt marsh field trips.

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Ancient Oceans - Megalodon, Ichthyosaurs and Dunkleosteus...oh my! No really, OH MY!! Before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, marine reptiles ruled the seas. Enter the world of the paleontologist as you excavate a "dig" site, assemble the skeleton and attempt to recreate an image of a prehistoric marine reptile. Find out what the Earth looked like 65 - 100- and 250 million years ago. Investigate ancient food chains, learn how scientists classify this amazing group of creatures and find out what dinosaur breath and chalk have in common. This workshop includes a field trip to beach "dig" site and a feisty game of 'Cretaceous Seas Bingo'.

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It's a Pirate's Life! - Ahoy me haarrty! Take a look back at the lives and times of pirates. Learn how they lived and how they navigated the ocean blue. Find out about Galveston's own legendary pirate, Jean Lafitte. Use a map and compass to discover the location of buried 'treasure' and how to create a map to your own hidden booty. Discover how scientists recover artifacts from sunken ships. Nautical archaeology and nautical science are major topics. This workshop includes a field trip to the Texas Seaport Museum and to the beach in search of buried treasure.

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Sharks, Sharks, and More Sharks - Advanced workshop for shark fans ages 9-11Encounter myth and fact in this in-depth examination of the most fascinating and misunderstood fish in the ocean. The study will look at the anatomy, habitat, and eating habits of lots and lots of sharks: big sharks, little sharks, blue sharks, megamouth sharks and Ornate Wobbegones, Prehistoric sharks and sharks living in our very own bay. Pick your favorite shark and use our campus resources to do a comprehensive study. Beach field trip and shark dissection.

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Into the Abyss  - There are so many things to see beneath the ocean blue. Come take a journey to explore a multitude or two. Stargazer, oar, and lumpfish just to name a few; we'll learn about why and how creatures live just where they do. What lives so near the surface it sees the sunlight shine and what lives in the midnight zone with an amazing glowing spine? With a beach trip to explore, a dissection and much, much more...a voyage into the abyss is surely not one to miss!

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Marine Biologist Boot Camp (MBBC) - Fall in and join the ranks of scientists who investigate the inhabitants of the oceans. Step in line as you learn how to use a microscope and prepare slides, study the art of dissecting, and conduct scientific investigations. Enlistees will work in technical squads to conduct experiments, record data, and report findings. The MBBC will include: field trips to science labs and local marine habitats, a presentation by a local marine biologist, and fish and mollusk dissections.

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Ocean Artists- Link science and the arts while you sing songs and tell tales of oceangoing people, from whalers and pirates to whale scientists and nautical archaeologists. Practice marlinespike seamanship (tie knots with a sailor). Learn the Japanese art of Gyotaku, fish printing, with real fish. Enjoy this creative workshop of musical, theatrical, and visual art. Beach trip.

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Take a Dive - Submerge into the rainforest of the ocean. Discover the amazing diversity of marine flora and fauna and the extraordinary relationships that make life possible on the coral reef. Explore how coral reefs form, the types of coral reefs found around the world and environmental issues which are threatening them. Beach trip and mollusk dissection.

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No Bones About It - Join fellow future ichthyologists in this detailed study of elasmobranchs - cartilaginous fish. In a recent survey conducted by Fish Bowl Polling Service, this boneless group was overwhelmingly voted: "Most Intriguing Fish" in the sea. This star studded group includes sharks, skates and rays and will be the focus of our inquiry. Investigations will uncover the amazing diversity and extraordinary adaptations found in these marvelous fish. Beach trips and fish dissection.

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MSI: Marine Scene Investigation NEW!! - Clarence the Crab and some of his fishy friends are missing!! Scores of clues are left and scientific investigators are needed to insure their safe return. This mystery will require a team of science investigators to conduct an extensive field study. On the job forensics training will bring you up to date on chromatography, fingerprinting, track casting and handwriting analysis. Sift through the clues and determine how the evidence will lead to the suspects and to the safe return of our beloved marine friends. Field trip to the beach.

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Wild About Engineering NEW!! - Investigate, imagine, design...oh yeah! Jump into the design arena and join the Sea Campus Kids (SCK) engineering team. Design process, team building and a prototype product will define this venture as we explore a variety of engineering fields through activities and projects. Discover the what and why of slime, the power of the wind and waves and the ups and downs of roller coasters. Accept the challenge of the final project design and create a PowerPoint presentation of your teams' work. Field trips to the beach and campus engineering facilities.

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Contact us: Sea Campus Kids, P.O. Box 1675, Galveston, TX 77553 

 (409) 740-4525  seacamp@tamug.edu