By: Katelynn "Katie" Ness
This year I was assigned to help two labs: Art & Science and Toxicology. Neither of these labs were around when I was a camper in 2023, and it is awesome to see the opportunities available to campers continue to evolve and expand.
The Art & Science lab explored the relationship between art and science, and how art can be used to represent, communicate, and educate about science. Citing existing examples like sculptures made of trash and paintings inspired by data, the campers were challenged with coming up with their own way of representing science through art. My job as a Peer was to discuss strategies with campers, encourage their creativity, and help them realize their artistic visions. The campers used a variety of materials and methods to create their art, including clay, painting, and colored pencils. As someone who believes in the importance of marine science and the power of art, it was very fulfilling to see these campers so enthusiastic about communicating science through their projects. I hope this lab continues to be offered in subsequent years of camp, because this lab is an incredible opportunity to showcase campers' creative talent and the power of communication and education via art.
IMAGE ABOVE: Toxicology lab campers and leaders showing off their bioaccumulation beaded bracelets.
The Toxicology lab discussed biomagnification, bioaccumulation, and how scientists track pollutants in the environment. On the first day, we began with an activity that used colored beads to display how biomagnification and bioaccumulation happen in an easily visible and digestible format. The campers then got the opportunity to cut open and inspect otoliths, or fish ear bones, and use them to determine the age of the fish they came from. On the second day, the campers took a tour of different labs around the campus university. They learned about the equipment and methods used by researchers to determine the amount of pollutants in the environment. They even got the opportunity to use actual lab equipment like fume hoods, the ASE, and the GCE. My role as a Peer was to photograph the campers while they worked, help them understand the concepts presented in the lab, and supervise them while they used the lab equipment. I was originally afraid the campers wouldn't enjoy the lab, as a lot of the activities revolved around recording data, which can be tedious. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find the campers really enjoyed all of the activities, especially working with the lab equipment.
IMAGE ABOVE: Campers (left to right) Fatima, Morgan, Cayla and Halo learning about the ASE machine in the toxicology lab.
While both of the labs I assisted in were very different, both of them serve equally important purposes. While raw data is critical to observing the state of the environment, that data won't have an impact unless the wider public absorbs it and understands what it means, and art is one of the most widely accessible ways of communicating that meaning. Additionally, not everyone is suited to lab work, and art gives those people the opportunity to contribute to public education and awareness, which is just as, if not more, critical to environmental efforts as data in a lab. I hope both of these labs continue to be offered in future camp years, as they both represent very different, but equally excellent ways to contribute to environmental efforts. I also enjoyed learning about these topics alongside the campers as I helped them with the activities, as neither of these labs covered topics I had experience with.
By: Haleigh Downes
Shell Key, Day 1
Shell Key is such a fun day for everybody, it allows campers to learn about shells
but also about teamwork and each other. 911爆料网 start the day off by unloading the kayaks
which makes the campers work in teams and communicate with each other. After we unload
the kayaks, we took about a 30 minute kayak to the island which allowed campers to
get to know each other better. During the ride we were accompanied by beautiful views
and many species of birds. One of them being the cormorants which were some of the
girls' favorite birds of the day they even named one of them Coconut. Once we got
to the island, we learned all about shells such as the difference between bivalves
and gastropods, what a shell egg sack looks like, and some names of shells. While
learning the different names of shells the girls partnered in twos and were given
a species of shells to find. After the race everyone shared their favorite shell and
posed for a picture. before we headed back the girls took a quick swim break. Everyone
had a great time learning about shells and each other.
IMAGE ABOVE: Campers, peers, and staff begin their kayak back from Shell Key while learning the OCG camp song!
Fort De Soto, Day 2
At Fort de Soto there were three locations and three different stations. Sediment,
nutrients, and fishing. At the nutrients section the girls were able to become scientists
for the day by collecting water samples for data. They worked in teams collecting
data from the YSI and tested for different nutrients. Some of the nutrients included
dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, and nitrates. They collected this data from all three
stations and compared the results. This field trip allowed girls to be hands on and
see how different environments influence the water conditions. It was truly an amazing
experience as a peer to watch the girls try new things and having some girls say this
is what they want to do in the future. Even if they were nervous, each station always
ended with all campers being engaged and having a great time making memories that
will last a lifetime.
IMAGE ABOVE: Campers (left to right) Zoe, Sawyer, and Maia waiting for their nutrient tests to finish while at Arrowhead Park at Ft. De Soto.
Toxicology lab, week one
During the toxicology lab, campers were able to learn about bioaccumulation and biomagnification
and how to age fish. The campers did various activities on the first day to help learn
what bioaccumulation and biomagnification is and how toxins like pollution and oil
affect the whole food web. The campers also were able to look under microscopes and
look at otoliths (fish ear bones) and try and age them. On the second day the campers
were given the opportunity to work in the lab and use some equipment like the ASE
and GCE machines. They were also able to work under the fume hoods and get hands-on
lab experience. The campers got to experience learning new things and stepping out
of their comfort zone.
IMAGE ABOVE: Camper Jolie looking at a sample of a fish otolith under the microscope during the toxicology lab.
By: Alana Samson
Coming back to OCG as a peer mentor was not only an exciting experience, but a great learning opportunity as well. One of the places that I grew the most was in assisting with the labs during week three. It was not only amazing to see campers light up when building working ROV鈥檚, but the way I was able to focus more closely on a small group and really see their personalities shine through was a valuable experience. The opportunity to participate on the other side of this activity also was able to show me the hard work that is put into each and every day at OCG. Specifically, in the ROV lab, I was able to teach kids new skills that I myself had learned just a few years prior.
During the lab, I was able to see the campers open up to one another, form creative solutions for any challenges that came their way, and help each other throughout the whole process. Even though some challenges arose with soldering, the perseverance and drive of the campers made the difficult parts a memorable experience. Coming back and being able to apply my previous experience to the same lab was also quite fun, as I could relate to what the campers were doing and could remember how I was making some of those same choices as a camper. This lab really allowed campers to make decisions on their own with little influence from staff, find creative solutions, and discover real-world applications from their experiments. They were also able to go through the design process of brainstorming, building, testing, revising, and more.
IMAGE ABOVE: Camper Andie learns how to solder wires for the ROV lab.
Throughout OCG, I was able to watch the campers grow, experience new things, and open up to one another. This was especially evident during lab rotations. Throughout my experience as a camper and now as a peer, the Oceanography camp for girls has been a wonderful experience for learning, connecting, and discovering new interests. Throughout the field trips, and especially the labs, campers are able to shine, put their abilities to use, and most importantly, have fun!
By: Maggie Ford
This was my first year serving as a peer for OCG, and I was thrilled to return to the wonders of camp. I鈥檝e always loved learning and discovering new things, and this summer I was excited to share that passion with the campers. My first day was during Ocean Concepts, where I helped in the estuary station. I assisted with setting up the station and, after a few rotations, began explaining topics to the campers such as average depth, pressure, and nutrients. The next two days I was scheduled to be at Fort DeSoto and Shell Key.
At Fort DeSoto, I helped with the seine net. I talked with campers about the different fish we caught and even helped them scoop some up. At our second station, fishing was especially thrilling, we managed to catch some larger fish, and we were even visited by a few feisty crabs! During our third station, I had the chance to bond with other peers as we swam in the ocean together. At Shell Key, I kayaked with a camper and had a great conversation getting to know her better. Once on the island, our group searched for rock oysters. I also swam and looked for shells while some campers painted with watercolors nearby. It was a peaceful and memorable day.
IMAGE ABOVE: Campers learn how to pull a seine net at Ft De Soto.
In the second week, I helped with the Sharky Shenanigans lab. On the first day, we dissected sharks, one of them was pregnant with three pups! I also spent time chatting with campers during snack breaks, learning more about them and their interests. On the second day, we tagged 3D-printed sharks and graphed their data, finding patterns in their locations and hormone levels. During the third week, I helped with the Fish Banks game. I supported a team, helping them understand the rules and strategies. It was so exciting to watch the group work together, create skits, and make smart decisions based on data from the game. I was especially proud when we finished in 3rd place鈥攚hen I played as a camper, I think I placed 5th or 6th!
On the final day, I helped another peer draw thank-you cards for the people who supported camp. Later, I assisted the Shark Lab group with finishing their poster and practicing their presentation. Back on campus, we ended the day with a compliment circle, an emotional and heartwarming moment that brought a few of us (myself included) to happy tears. That evening at dinner, the campers presented their final posters and projects, wrapping up our three amazing weeks together.
Overall, I couldn鈥檛 have asked for a better experience. Watching the campers grow over three weeks was inspiring, and I can鈥檛 wait to see what they go on to accomplish. I鈥檝e always loved OCG, and getting to experience it from a new perspective was truly special. This camp has helped shape me into a better person, and I鈥檒l remember every minute of it.
IMAGE ABOVE: Campers learn about the differences between bivalves and gastropods while on swim call at Skell Key.