Ocean Camp, a certified marine/environmental education program hosted 147 children ages 5-13 years during summer camp.

The campers were from local communities, across Alabama and outside the state.

The mission of Ocean Camp is to give priority to marine/ environmental education as an opportunity to build marine science career interests, respect for our natural world and increase learning venues for our visitors.

“We were especially excited to have 14 of the participants choose camp while visiting the Gulf Coast and even several that traveled here just for camp. So many children love the ocean, we know this program needs to be available year round for schools and camps,” Belinda Ringpfeil, Director/Educator, said.

Ocean Camp is now scheduling field trips for grades K-12 at Gulf Shores Beach Retreat for the 2012-13 school year. Plans are made for an after-school enrichment program at Faulkner State as well as a steering committee to create a Gulf Shores Marine Learning Center as ‘edutainment’ for our visitors on a full-time basis.

Ocean Camp was hosted at the Orange Beach Elementary nature center, Sea, Sand, & Stars, during the first three weeks of June 2012.

Each weekly four-day session offered a variety of themes to learn of ocean animals, scientists, and exploration.

The fourth session; coral reefs-cities of the sea took place at Faulkner State Community College Gulf Shores campus where campers 11-13 year olds designed coral and ocean animals from plastics headed for the recycling center.

Their sculptures were arranged as a coral reef mural for the college lobby entitled, ‘Amazing but Sad’ to bring awareness of human’s plastics overuse that has resulted in a garbage patch close to double the size of Texas in our oceans.

More information can be obtained at www.washedashore.org or search www.Youtube.com for ‘Pacific Garbage Patch‘. Ask an Ocean Camper how we can help reduce this problem.

Ocean Camp has received positive comments from parents and the local business community.

The program would not be possible without community supporters: LuLu’s Homeport, Orange Beach Elementary School, Sea, Sand & Stars Nature Center, Stephanie at Office Depot #2154 Foley, Alabama Marine Resources, Orange Beach Garden Club, Gulf Shores Beach Retreat, Dr. Lee, Superintendent of Baldwin County Board Schools, Ann Strickland of Faulkner State. To those who shared moral support and encouragement, it was very needed and appreciated.