Sanibel Sea School hosts first camp at Bailey Homestead
The Sanibel Sea School launched summer camp at the Bailey Homestead Preserve on June 21. During “Look it’s a Sea School of Snook” week, the counselors set up their home base under the pavilion.
“Campers are really enjoying the experience at the homestead,” Marine Science Educator Brianna Machuga said. “Setting up our home base at the homestead has a true remote camp feel to it where we are completely immersed in the nature of Sanibel.”
The inaugural week was all about the iconic Southwest Florida fish, the snook. To learn about snook and other fish, campers did lots of seining and cast netting to get an up-close look at different fish adaptations. A few camp activities highlighted the prominent, black, lateral line that snook exhibit and focused on its function to detect movement and vibrations in the water. Each group also took a bus ride over to Bunche Beach, where they donned snorkels to search for snook hiding in the mangrove roots.
Campers visit the beach daily for games, activities related to the theme and surf paddle practice. Located about a mile from the Sanibel Sea School’s flagship campus, the homestead offers a remote location with a shaded pavilion and access to nature trails and it is just a short drive to the beach.
“Our camp at the homestead is just another great example of how joining forces with SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) was a natural fit,” Director Nicole Finnicum said. “Our partnership with SCCF has not only made our administrative operations more efficient, but also has enhanced our summer camp offerings.”
The Sanibel Sea School hosts about 30 campers at the homestead. Split up into smaller groups for COVID safety, each is led by a lifeguard-certified counselor, who is assisted by several counselors in training. Weekly camps at the homestead and flagship campus will continue throughout the summer.
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.