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Get up close to a Screech Owl at Spring Break Day Camps!
Mar 13, 2016
When going to the beach or taking a family vacation are not easy options for spring break, GulfQuest Spring Break Day Camps may be the perfect alternative for parents and their children.
From studying hurricanes and building lighthouses, to becoming junior meteorologists, campers can choose one, two or all three maritime adventures. Each camp day will have a different maritime theme, and campers will be divided into grade levels for age-appropriate activities. Camps will takes place in the museum’s classrooms and in the museum galleries where they will interact with exhibits related to the day’s theme.
To accommodate spring break weeks in both Mobile and Baldwin counties, there are two Spring Break Day Camps—March 29, 30 & 31, and April 12, 13 & 14.
On Tuesday, March 29 or April 12, the theme is “Down by the Bay” where campers will become expert bird watchers. Each grade level will study a different bird species, learning about the bird’s nests and eggs. Joining campers for “Down by the Bay” will be Mark Wetzel with 5 Rivers. Wetzel will bring live birds--a Screech Owl, an American Kestral and a Red-Tailed Hawk--so the campers can seem them up close. He will also bring the wings and feet of an Osprey and a Barred Owl.Campers will also make their own binoculars so they can continue the bird watching at home.
On Wednesday, March 30 or April 13, the theme is “Meteorology Academy” in which campers will leave as “junior meteorologists.” Campers will make barometers to learn about hurricanes, build weather vanes, study clouds, and compare and contrast El Nino and La Nina. WKRG metorologist Alan Sealls will be the guest speaker March 30!
“Nautical Navigation” is the theme for Thursday, March 31 or April 14. “From stars to lighthouses, mariners need help finding their way,” Ilka Porter, GulfQuest Education Director said. “During this camp, campers will become mariners for the day as they learn about local lighthouses and how they work, then campers will build their own lighthouses.” Campers will also study constellations and make a navigational tool to use while viewing Polaris at home at night.
In the museum’s galleries, campers will interact with America’s Sea, Seaside Scenes, Ocean Planet, Crow’s Nest, Extreme Storms, Charting a Course, The Sextant, and more.
The day camps begin at 8:45 a.m. each day and dismiss at 3 p.m. GulfQuest will provide a snack, and campers will bring their own lunches.
For more information, click here. To register, call 251-436-8901, ext. 822.