Seacamp Association, Inc.

Founded in 1966, Seacamp is the first program dedicated to the education of youth in marine sciences.

Seacamp shows the way to the sense of wonder within you that will last a lifetime. Through its marine science program, underwater exploration and study beckon you to a world apart. Seacamp is minutes from the only living coral reef in all America at Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.

Marine Science Programs
Seacamp's tropical marine location in the lower Florida Keys enables it to offer a truly unique marine science program. This program is the heart of Seacamp and makes available to campers and young scientists a variety of coordinated activities under the guidance of academically-trained marine science instructors.

Campers are able to discover for themselves the fascinating, little-known world beneath the ocean surface and the delicate relationships which unite all marine organisms in endless cycles of life and survival. Students can work at their own level of interest, learning basic ecological principles and concepts that are pertinent to the future of our natural resources as well as the study of marine science.

SCUBA Programs
Seacamp offers several courses in safe SCUBA diving and Marine Science to qualified campers. The courses are designed to give the diver training in SCUBA techniques so that he/she will be able to safely use SCUBA as a tool for underwater research. Satisfactory completion of our Basic or Master Diver certification course will earn the camper their certification through NAUI. Campers already certified can participate in one of our many marine science/SCUBA courses.

Aquatics and Creative Expressions
Seacamp teaches the fun and skills of sailing. It's an excellent way for future marine scientists to become familiar with the winds, tides and currents that are of primary concern in oceanography. Seacamp maintains a fleet of Pelican sail boats and twelve Windsurfers. US Sail certification is offered to beginners in sailing.

The Red Cross course in lifeguarding including First Aid and CPR is taught at Seacamp. The course is designed to increase the campers' ability to recognize and avoid hazardous water conditions and practices.

Seacamp also offers traditional camp activities such as Arts and Crafts, camp newspaper, Music and Photography.

Camp Facilities

With its beautiful location at Newfound Harbor on Big Pine Key, SEACAMP offers teenage boys and girls an opportunity to explore some of the most exciting waters in the Florida Keys, both in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. They will move among coral reefs, sandy and grassy areas, mud flats and natural tide pools, all of them rich in sea plants and animals basic to the study of marine science.

Campers and staff members are housed by age in dormitories. Seacamp honors cabinmate requests, if possible, when both families are in agreement.

Seacamp's lab facilities include a running seawater circulation system that serves two 250 gallon display tanks, two 50 gallon aquaria, twenty 20 gallon aquaria and two 600 gallon tanks, which campers and science staff members use for research and observation.  A preparation room is stocked with charts, illustrations, stereo and compound microscopes, preserving jars and solutions, water analysis kits, seines, and oceanographic equipment.  A man-made lagoon serves as a temporary habitat for larger live specimens.

Other camp facilities include a dining hall, a kitchen, a recreation hall, an arts & crafts building, a health center, a sailing shelter, several teaching shelters, a staff lounge, and administration offices.

Camp Staff

Seacamp receives more than 1,000 requests for applications, from all over the world, for 55 program staff positions. Staff members are chosen for their expertise as program directors, marine science instructors, nationally certified scuba instructors, and American Red Cross certified water safety instructors and their overall ability.

Before campers arrive, program staff members go through an intensive three-week training session in which they are certified in American Red Cross lifeguarding, first aid, CPR, and NAUI skin diving instructor. If arriving staff members are scuba certified, Seacamp also certifies them as NAUI rescue divers.  In addition to all of these certifications, staff members are also trained extensively in boat handling skiils through Seacamp's Captain's Workshop and in consistent leadership skills.

Most staff members come from across the U.S., however, there have been staff members from places as far away as New Zealand, England, South Aftrica, Scotland, & Russia. The overall resident camper to staff member ratio is 3:1. The close relationships developed between staff and campers because of this small ratio encourage individuality and provide for small-group instruction.

Camp FAQs

What are the session dates?
We offer three 18-day sessions every summer. Session 1: June 24-July 11 Session 2: July 14-July 31 Session 3: August 3-August 20

How old do you have to be to attend Seacamp?
Teens 12-17 from all over the world to attend Seacamp.

What is the cost?
Please contact us for more information regarding rates. Our number is 1.877.SEACAMP. Call us, we love talking about camp!

Camp Sessions

Camp Season: June 24, 2011 to August 20, 2011

• SessionDates# CampersTuition
• Session 16/24/2011 to 7/11/2011160 CampersContact Camp
• Session 27/14/2011 to 7/31/2011160 CampersContact Camp
• Session 38/3/2011 to 8/20/2011160 CampersContact Camp