SUMMER FUN FOR EVERYONE IN 2002 Educational Offerings for All Ages and Interests at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab

March 13, 2002

Media Contact: Lisa Young
251/861-7509


ThereΉs a world of learning and ocean fun for everyone at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab this summer. Whether youΉre a kindergarten student, a high school teacher or a graduate student, the Sea Lab is offering a variety of marine science courses that will both entice and educate.

Ages 5-8 ­ Explore the beach with your children and learn about marine life, too! Make a shell collection, design sand castings and learn about the animals living on our beaches and in our oceans. One-day classes are held from 8:30 am until 12pm and will be limited to 20 students. Available dates are June 21, 27, July 2, 2002. Admissions are taken on a first come first serve basis. Parents / guardians are required to attend. Must be 18 years of age and may bring no more than 3 children. Contact: 251/861-7515 or e-mail dkeaton@disl.org.

Class cost: $35.00 non-refundable tuition fee per student. Includes T-shirt, sand casting, Estuarium pass, snack and certificate.

High School Students ­ An intensive summer course introducing the student to the marine environment through classroom lecture, laboratory, and field activities is available to 9-11 grade students. The length of the course is four weeks, during which time the students live on campus and participate in over 150 hours of supervised academic activities. Classes are taught in an academic setting and are designed to give the student a better understanding and appreciation of the various fields in marine science. The Alabama State Department of Education approves the Discovery Hall Summer Programs and recommends that local systems grant participating students credit toward either an Advanced or Standard High School Diploma.

Topics covered include:
… Barrier Island formation and Ecology
… Beach and Dune Ecology
… Estuarine Ecology
… Principles of Oceanography
… Human Interactions with the Marine Environment
-more-

… Marine Invertebrates
… Marine Vertebrates
… Salt Marsh Ecology
… Taxonomy and Identification of Marine Organisms

Two sessions are available ­ June 2-June 28 and July 7-August 2. Contact:
251/861-7515 or e-mail dkeaton@disl.org.


K-12 Educators ­ A variety of exciting courses are available to teachers throughout the
summer. Whether the topic is Grasses, Groupers and Gastropods, or comparing
ecosystems in the Florida Keys, teachers will be able to bring the oceans back into the
classrooms. Educators will be able to collect specimens for their classes, as well as
formulate and receive a teaching curriculum.

… Exploring the Florida Keys - May 25 - June 1
… Coastal Connections - June 16 - June 20
… Alien Species of the Gulf of Mexico - June 23 - June 25
… Beaches, Birds and Barrier Islands - July 14 - July 17
… Grasses, Groupers and Gastropods - July 21 - July 25

Most courses require overnight stays. Credit hours are available for most courses.
Contact: 251/861-7515 or e-mail dkeaton@disl.org.


College and Graduate Students - University Programs of the Sea Lab offer a wide
range of courses for credit for undergraduates and graduate students during the summer,
ranging from Coastal Birds of Alabama to Coral Reef Ecology to Coastal Zone
Management. Courses in this intense program will be offered from May to August;
individualized directed research opportunities with resident faculty are also available.
Sessions will run May 13-June 7; June 10-July 12; and July 15-August 9. Contact:
251/861-7502 or e-mail sbrennan2disl.org.

General Public ­ Be sure to visit the Estuarium, the aquarium of the Dauphin Island Sea
Lab, for an up close look at the animals and habitats of the Mobile Bay estuary. The
Estuarium is a cool place to be on a hot summer day! Open seven days a week. For
more information: 251/861-7500 or check out http://estuarium.disl.org.

For more information on any of these programs, go to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab web
site at www.disl.org.

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News Editors: For an electronic version of this press release, please
contact lyoung@disl.org.
 

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Last Date Updated: 06/18/06
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