Exploring the Ocean: Highlights from Savannah State University's 16th Annual Coast Camp
- lrosier3
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Savannah State University just completed its 16th year of its marine science summer camp, Coast Camp. The camp ran from June 2 - June 27 and included two field trips, lots of marine science fun, and many guest speakers. Campers spent the month learning how the ocean impacts humans, and how humans impact the ocean through hands-on activities, games and immersive experiences. Camp lessons focused on coastal Georgia's ecosystems, marine debris, environmental monitoring, Gullah Geechee language and local ecological knowledge, ocean acidification, and many more topics.
The camp included visits to the Pin Point Heritage Museum where campers built upon the knowledge they had learned about Gullah Geechee culture and traditions during camp, as well as Cumberland Island National Seashore to experience the preserved beauty of an undeveloped Georgia barrier Island.
Camp ended with a celebration at our Family Open House where campers presented projects on what they had learned throughout the month to their friends and families.
Coast Camp would not have been possible without our many community partners, like Lesa Hagins, Educational Outreach Manager with the Georgia Tech's CEAR Hub and Dr. Russell Clark from Georgia Tech who incorporated coding activities to create environmental sensors and weather apps to bring awareness to the campers of the various elements of marine science that we can use in our everyday lives. We also partnered with ACES World, The University of Georgia Marine Extension Trawl to Trash program, and many on campus partners such as the Virtual Reality Lab sponsored by iApply, the In Search of Earth's Secrets Exhibit at the Asa H. Gordon Library, and the on campus TV station in the Journalism and Mass Communication department.
Special thank you to Georgia Tech's CEAR Hub and the Open Outdoor for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation for making this summer possible!
