Sanibel Sea School Kicks off Summer Camp with Shark Week
In its first summer camp since 2019, the Sanibel Sea School was thrilled to kick off the summer on June 7 with “Bonnethead Week — Swimmin’ with the Sharks,” a weeklong camp for ages 6-13.
With COVID safety protocols in place, staff welcomed 24 campers to the campus on Sanibel’s east end.
“We’re holding a smaller camp this year in order to maintain smaller group sizes and to ease back into the swing of things in our new normal,” Director Nicole Finnicum said.
Throughout the week, campers got back to traditional activities like canoeing, seining in the seagrass and snorkeling. They also played shark-themed games and made bonnethead-inspired crafts using shells collected from the beach.
“I think campers are just excited to be back to doing what they love, exploring nature and having fun with friends,” Finnicum said.
Campers also spent time learning about bonnethead sharks, including more about their uniquely shaped cephalofoils — or heads — their seven senses and the shallow-water estuaries where they thrive.
The highlight of the week was the surf paddle race on June 11. The campers spent the week honing their paddling skills, then put them to the test in a surf paddle competition among the two groups.
The Sanibel Sea School will offer camp at its flagship campus through August and began offering a secondary camp at the Bailey Homestead on June 21.
“By having camp at two locations, we’ll be able to accommodate more campers and still maintain small safe groups,” Finnicum said. “We are so excited to launch our first camp at the Homestead, it will be a unique and fun experience for campers and still be right down the road from our flagship campus.”
Part of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation family, the Sanibel Sea School’s mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time.