Summer Camp For Budding Scientists

Children seem to be attracted to the ocean because of all the amazing animals it contains. From whales to the smallest fish, the world's oceans are full of marine life just waiting to be explored and investigated. Dolphins are marine mammals that seem to evoke happy emotions for children and adults. With the summer sun just around the corner, people are beginning to flock to the ocean shore to catch a glimpse of these fascinating creatures. In fact, there are internship camps designed to bring teenagers and young adults closer to the ocean to excite them for a successful scientific career in the future. A dolphin encounter is just the start of their journey.

Although there are many water parks with dolphin encounter programs, they are mainly used to drive business to the site. People may just want a close view of the dolphin, but nothing more on an intellectual level. Several education programs, however, are available as internship camps. Although high school and college students are their main customers, almost anyone within the camps' age range is welcome to attend. The camps' goals are to guide visitors into a career in nature conservation, marine biology or any of the other sciences. The scientific world can always use a fresh and educated mind to take a new look at the world's oceans.

An internship camp is dramatically different from a standard day camp. Although you aren't paid, interns perform some of the same jobs as normal staff. Interns are typically older than 14 years, allowing them to work directly with guests in an aquarium setting, for example. They'll prepare food for the dolphins and care for the tanks, including pH readings, to keep all the animals safe and healthy. Interns may even take part in lectures and basic maintenance. All aspects of a marine biology position are explored, allowing interns to see all the facets necessary to study and care for marine mammals. The job isn't glamorous all the time, but the combined parts are crucial for healthy oceans.

All camps differ in their registration process, but some facilities offer free tuition based on need and application. Contact your desired camp to see about their enrollment process. There is often an essay and application to attend for free. If there is space, interns may also pay a fee for the privilege to learn under highly trained scientists. The fee doesn't usually include meals, but often covers materials and t-shirt costs. Camps need to have an easy way to identify their interns so a bright shirt is typically the strategy to keep everyone organized. For the more popular camps, a letter of recommendation may be necessary. You'll know that you have a good chance at a scientific career if you excel at an internship camp.

Anyone interested in internship camps is welcome to contact the facility to learn more about registration and itineraries. The ocean is one place on Earth that is still relatively unknown to scientists. Camps give teens and young adults a view of what they can contribute to the world as they move onto their respective careers.