Sanibel Sea School educators are super excited to offer their first ever A Week in the Field teen camp from June 27 to July 1! Designed for campers ages 13 to 15, this week focuses on introducing teens to the scientific method, field research techniques, and a day in the life of a biologist at SCCF. 

Campers will venture to the beach with SCCF Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht to complete a shorebird survey. They’ll learn how to identify each species, why these surveys are important, and how we can protect shorebirds. 

After a day on the beach, campers will head out by boat to focus on mangrove restoration with SCCF Community Conservation Coordinator Kealy McNeal. “Mangroves are incredibly important for the islands of Southwest Florida. Without them, Sanibel and Captiva would be very different places,” says McNeal. “Campers will learn all about the ecosystem services these incredibly resilient trees provide and plant propagules on neighboring islands in the estuary.”

Throughout the week, campers will also spend time with SCCF’s sea turtle biologists and Marine Lab team to study nesting sea turtles, survey oyster reefs, and much more!  

This camp will be led by Marine Science Educator Brianna Machuga, who is excited to share this experience with campers this summer. 

“Throughout college, some of my best days were spent in the field surveying the different flora and fauna of the area. This camp is unique, with opportunities that very few people get to experience at this age. I can’t wait to see how much fun they are going to have while learning!” said Machuga. 

To wrap up the week, campers will think critically about the questions they’ve answered and why research is so important. In small groups, they’ll create presentations on each mini-project focusing on the bigger picture. 

“We really want teens to think about the why. We want campers to not only get excited about data collection but also apply that to conservation and education,” said Machuga. A Week in the Field is sure to be a blast with this all-star staff; don’t miss out! 

To register for A Week in the Field please click here or call 239-472-8585.