Summer fun becomes summer learning at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and our 2012 summer programs are now open for registration.  Dauphin Island offers sunny beaches, a beautiful bay, fascinating marshes and the best educational staff around.  There are day camp opportunities for K-8th graders, overnight programs for 5th-graders to classroom teachers and field trips for the public.

For more information on any of these programs, visit www.disl.org and click on K-12 and Teacher Education; e-mail sejohnson@disl.org; or call 251-861-2141 x7515.  Programs fill quickly, so make your reservations today.

Residential Student Programs:

Barrier Island Explorer, for rising 5th - 6th grade students. Dates: June 10-13, June 24-27, & July 29 - August 1.  Go trawling aboard the Sea Lab's research vessel the Alabama Discovery, get wet at the beaches and marshes of Dauphin Island, go swimming, tie-dye the camp Tshirt and participate in fun group activities.  This 3-night camp is limited to 15 participants.  Cost, including meals and housing: $360.

Gulf Island Journey, for rising 7th - 9th grade students. Dates: June 3-8, June 10-15, July 8-13, July 22-27. Activities include a trawling expedition aboard the Sea Lab's research vessel Alabama Discovery; exploring the salt marshes of Dauphin Island; beach-combing and bird-watching on nearby Sand Island; setting up your own saltwater aquarium; and much more. Enrollment is limited to 30 participants in this 5-night program. Cost, including meals and housing: $550.

High School Summer Course, for rising 10th - 12th grade students. Dates: June 17-July 13. (Deadline for application: April 13, 2012).  This intensive month-long exploration of marine science introduces the student to the marine environment through classroom lecture, laboratory and field activities, and includes boat trips and an overnight snorkeling trip to seagrass beds. Students live on campus and participate in over 150 hours of supervised academic activities.  This class is approved by the Alabama State Department of Education, which recommends that local systems grant participating students credit toward either an Advanced or Standard High School Diploma.  Cost, including meals and housing: $2050.  Visit our website to check out scholarship availability.

Day Camps:

Oceans Alive, 5-8 yrs old.  Dates: June 8, 29, July 6, 20.  A half-day adventure for young children and their parents/grandparents that combines a beach walk adventure with an exploration of marine animals to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Alabama coast. Cost, including snack: $35.

Treasure Hunters, 9-11 yrs old. Dates: June 15, July 13.  High tech meets history! Kids use GPS technology to hunt for buried treasure as they explore historically and ecologically important sites on Dauphin Island.  Bring a lunch and water bottle.  Cost, including snacks: $50.

Art-Sea Discovery, 8-13 yrs old. Dates: June 22, July 27.  Learn about the wonders of the marine world through artistic discovery.  Campers spend the morning exploring the beaches and maritime forests of Dauphin Island creating a nature journal.   After lunch, campers express their visions of barrier island life using a variety of media. Bring a lunch and water bottle.  Cost, including snacks and art supplies: $50.

Teacher Programs:
Please note that all teacher programs are sponsored this year, meaning there is NO COST to the teacher except for the registration fee; some fees are refundable upon program completion. All workshop tuition, meals and housing are FREE. Graduate credit is also available upon request through the University of West Alabama for an additional fee.

Mouth of the South: The Mobile-Tensaw Delta,  Dates: June 3-7, 2012. Deadline for Registration: May 11, 2012. Restricted to Alabama educators only. Registration fee: Legacy partner - $25 non-refundable; non-Legacy partner - $40 non-refundable.  Funded and organized by Legacy.

Immerse yourself in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta as you explore the bays, coastal forests, estuaries, , wetlands, and diverse wildlife that that make up this national treasure.  Activities include boat trips to the upper and lower Delta regions, and visits to the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center and Meaher State Park.  We will also spend a day at the Environmental Studies Center, where we will participate in a Legacy-funded curriculum and hear from a native plants expert.

Reefs, Rhizomes and Restoration,  Dates: June 17-21, 2012. Registration open until program filled.  Registration fee: $100, refundable upon program completion. Preference given to Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant region educators until April 30.  Funded by the MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium.
Come to Dauphin Island and learn what habitat restoration is all about. Gain first-hand experience with oyster reefs, sea grass beds and salt marshes by visiting restoration sites in these habitats locally. Hear from scientists working in these habitats and explore classroom activities based on the concepts discussed.

Fins, Fishes and Fisheries,  Dates: July 15-19, 2012. Registration open until program filled.  Registration fee: $100, refundable upon program completion. Preference given to Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant region educators until April 30. Funded by the MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium.
The seafood business is a time-honored tradition with vital economic impact in our area, but how is it all handled? In this workshop you’ll learn firsthand about fish biology, Gulf fishes and fisheries management. Learn from scientists about current fisheries research, sample fish populations using the gear scientists use, visit local aquaculture facilities and using role play, experience some of the challenges of being a fisheries manager.

Climate Change in the Gulf of Mexico  Dates: July 17-20, 2012. Registration open until program filled.  Registration fee: $100, refundable upon program completion. Preference given to Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant region educators until April 30. Funded by the MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium.

Why is global climate change controversial?  What role does the ocean play? Join us to explore the scientific concepts behind global warming, ocean acidification, sea level rise and changing patterns of hurricanes.   Hear from scientists studying climate change. Learn how climate change fits in the Alabama course of study, and conduct hands-on activities suitable for varied grade levels.

Summer Excursions – Field Trips for the Public:

Take a morning visit to either the salt marshes or maritime forests and sandy beaches of Dauphin Island with a marine science educator.  Learn to appreciate the importance of our local wetlands or understand the dynamic environment of our sandy coastline.  Cost: not including Estuarium admission, $10.