Sanibel Sea School Winter Camp slots still open
This year the Sanibel Sea School is offering three weeks of fun during their winter camp, all with the theme of ocean traditions.
“They all love learning about other cultures,” Nicole Finnicum, Sanibel Sea School director of education, said about the youngsters.
The first week, Dec. 19, through Dec. 23, has a theme of “Polynesian Ocean Traditions.” The second week, “Ocean Tribe Traditions” will be held from Dec. 26, through Dec. 30 and the final week Jan. 2, through Jan. 6, will feature “Japanese Ocean Traditions. All of the camps are held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $310.
Finnicum said the theme of this year’s winter camps revolves around the traditions the Sanibel Sea School have developed since the doors opened 10 years ago. Everyone who participates in the camps, classes, or programs, all become a member of the “Ocean Tribe.”
The Polynesian Ocean Traditions week will explore the cultures living in the Polynesian triangle, as well as the Hawaiian traditions. The week will focus on navigating without a compass, write songs, dancing the Hulu and seeking creatures in Hawaiian folklore. The camp will also include surfing, macrame-tying and ocean caroling.
The second week will feature one of the Sanibel Sea School’s most special traditions, “Give Your Troubles to the Sea.” Finnicum said all of the attendees will write their 2016 troubles on a piece of paper, which will then be thrown into a bonfire. The ashes from the bonfire are then thrown into the ocean, Finnicum said, allowing the campers troubles to be washed away.
Once the troubles are washed away, she said they play in the ocean all morning.
“We then serve hot chocolate after a cold morning in the water,” Finnicum said.
The campers and counselors also write their own carols and sing them around the island, with one of the destinations being Bailey’s.
Art projects, surfing and jumping out of canoes in the San Carlos Bay will also highlight the week.
The final week will dig into the coastal Japanese way of life. Finnicum said they will explore the culture and how they utilize the ocean with resources.
Some of the activities will include sampling edible seaweed, plunging into the cold water, as well as experiencing Gyotaku, art of fish printing. “Give Your Troubles to the Sea” will also be held this week.
She said she’s glad they are able to offer a few weeks of camp during the winter for the youth.
To register for the camp, visit www.sanibelseaschool.org.