Seaside Safari Summer Vacation Camp 2016

Grade 1: Sea Stars

Seaside Safari is a fun-filled learning adventure that takes advantage of the natural classroom just outside our doors in historic, 135-acre Odiorne Point State Park. The Center’s hands-on exhibits, scientific instruments, and teaching technology of the Gregg Interactive Learning Studio, help to reinforce what campers learn outdoors. Lessons, activities, art projects, games, and stories combine for a full day of learning, excitement and fun!

Seaside Safari counselors have, or are working towards, a degree in environmental education, marine biology or a related science. They all have experience working with children. The maximum camper to staff ratio is 7:1.

Campers are grouped by grade (currently in) and sessions are defined by date. Each session focuses on a different theme. Although all ages join together for introductions and end-of-camp festivities, campers in K-5 use the Sugden House as home base.

Sessions run from 9am-3pm. Pre-care is available 7:30am-8:30am, After-care is available until 5:30pm.

Weekly Cost: $290 members, $320 non-members
Daily Cost (available for session 1 and 10 only): $58 members, $64 non-members
Pre-care: $10 per day
After-care: $12 per day
You must have a family membership valid through June 2016 to take advantage of the member rate.

Weekly Themes

SESSION 1: June 20-24 (by the day or week)
Ship’s Ahoy!
Big boats, small boats, sailboats, speedboats—so many kinds of boats! Join us as we learn about awesome ocean-faring vessels that ply the seven seas. How deep can a submarine go? What is the biggest boat in the world, and how does it stay afloat? Come find out, and create your own replica boat to take home!

SESSION 2: June 27-July 1
Living the Life on the Rocky Shore
To the tide pools we go, searching for sea stars, urchins, crabs and more! We’ll find out how life begins for these amazing creatures and learn how they develop and survive as they get older. Do you know young barnacles float around before finding the perfect rock to call home?

SESSION 3: July 5-8 (4 day only) 
Super Science Experiments! 
4-day Cost: $232 members, $256 non-members
Join us as we learn how scientists conduct experiments with special tools and how their discoveries can make the world a better place.  We’ll get hands on and conduct some of our own experiments, using some of the cool scientific tools at the Center to investigate the ocean just outside our door.

SESSION 4: July 11-15
Have to Have a Habitat
Every living thing has a special place to call home. We’ll explore the different habitats of Odiorne Point State Park, from the rocky shore to the seaside forest. Come design your own micro-habitat in a tide pool and build a shelter out of natural materials in the woods. What kinds of things are needed to make a good home? Join us and find out!

SESSION 5: July 18-22
Something Fishy, Something Blubbery
Through exciting activities and games, we’ll discover what makes a shark a fish, and a whale a marine mammal. Dive into amazing facts about these two distinct groups of ocean animals and hear what SSC is doing to help protect them. As a fun project, you’ll create your own imaginary fish or marine mammal, perfectly adapted for life at sea.

SESSION 6: July 25-29
Rocky Shore, Sandy Beach
Let’s investigate life on the rocky shore vs. the sandy beach. Why is it easier to find animals and seaweeds among the rocks? What kind of animals make holes in the sand? Dig in with us and find out! We’ll break out our nets and see what creatures we can catch, before returning them safely back to their home.

SESSION 7: August 1-5
Our Changing Planet
The earth is warming up, faster now than in the past.  We’ll take a close look at why this is happening and hear how people from around the globe are putting on their thinking caps to create more environmentally-friendly ways of doing things, like making electricity from tidal motion.  Put on your own thinking cap and build a model that uses wind, solar or water energy! 

SESSION 8: August 8-12
Animal Facts Club: Artist in Residency Program
Join artists and naturalists from the Animal Facts Club to create marine animal puppets and props to be featured in a series of creative videos to be produced at the Center. Bring your imagination and be part of the fun! Final video shorts that teach about Gulf of Maine ecology will be shown at a special VIP screening.  It’s a perfect blend of art and science! 

SESSION 9: August 15-19
Lighthouses, Legends, Pirates and More!
Through fun hands-on activities, we will discover the fascinating history of our seacoast. From the Native Americans who gathered food along the coast long ago, to the lobsterman hauling traps today, we’ll take a salty trip through time. On Friday, we’ll dedicate the day to all things PIRATE!

SESSION 10: August 22-26 (by the day or week)
Tide Pool Extravaganza!
Odiorne’s shore has dozens of tide pools waiting to be explored.  Get up close and personal with crabs, sea stars, periwinkles and more! We’ll discover some of the amazing adaptations that these animals use to survive in an ever-changing environment. Design your own imaginary tide pool creature, complete with its own special adaptations

Members of the Center are entitled to reduced camp prices and early summer camp registration. Membership must be active as of June 2016 to receive the discount for camp. Click here to learn more about all the great member benefits, join, or renew your membership. 

Cost

The weekly rate is $290 for members, $320 non-members, plus pre- and after-care, if applicable. Session 1 and 10 are available by the day to accommodate your child's school schedule at a rate of $58 for members, $64 non-members, per day. Session 3 is a 4-day session at the rate of $232 for members, $256 non-members. All session rates are listed on the form.

Camp Hours

Seaside Safari meets Monday through Friday, 9am–3pm. Drop off begins at 8:30am. For an additional fee, pre-care is available from 7:30–8:30am and after-care from 3-5:30pm. Neither are extensions of camp activities; they are supervised free time. When you register you can sign-up by the day or by the week.

Camp Groups

Campers are grouped by the grade that they are in currently or will complete in June 2016.
Ages 3.5-5: Treks 4 Tots
K: Periwinkles
Gr. 1: Sea Stars
Gr. 2-3: Green Crabs
Gr. 4-5: Seafarers
Gr. 6-8: Stewards
Each age group has it's own registration page. At the end of your registration, you will have the opportunity to register for other sessions.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations that are made prior to two weeks before your child’s first day of camp begins will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be given after that time.

Camp Fund

The Center has created a Camp Fund to offer financial assistance to those otherwise unable to attend. We encourage your support of this fund; please make a donation. Your contributions are tax deductible.

Confirmation

You will receive a confirmation packet by email. You can also print the confirmation packet, which contains guidelines and required forms, as well as the required medical health forms here. The health form requires your physician’s signature. We must have a current, signed, completed health form two weeks prior to your child’s first day of camp or your child cannot attend. Information pages and forms are available on the Programs, Environmental Day Camps page of the Center’s website. If the session you requested is full, you will be contacted and may opt for another session or be wait-listed.

Questions?

Contact Henry Burke at 603-436-8043, ext. 16 or h.burke@seacentr.org.