Ocean Institute’s Summer Camp

Ocean Institute Summer Camps offer week-long sessions where campers take part in activities such as sailing a historic tall ship, whale watching, exploring tide pools, and getting up close with sharks. Camps take place at the Ocean Institute facility, which includes state-of-the-art teaching labs, the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center, a historic tall ship, and an oceanographic research vessel. Some activities, such as sailing, are limited to older campers only.

• Ages: 5–17 years old
• Schedule: Week-long camps, Monday through Friday, with full-day sessions from 9 AM to 4 PM and half-day options for the Sea Squirts camp (ages 5–6)
• Price: $25 off per camp when registering for two or more sessions; $30 off per camp when registering for three or more sessions; Lunch add-on for $11 per day

Ocean Institute Summer Camps are part of a community-based organization that partners with Coffee Importers to offer lunch options for campers and acknowledges individual, corporate, and foundation donors as sponsors. The program offers a Sea Squirts camp for ages 5–6 with half-day options and a Counselor-In-Training Program for high school students in grades 9–12. Campers receive a free summer camp shirt, and the program uses alternating weekly curriculums based on whether the session is an odd or even week. Campers are asked to bring a packed lunch, water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat, or families can pre-purchase lunch from Coffee Importers for $11 a day, which includes a sandwich (turkey, roast beef, or veggie) plus chips and fruit.

Certified staff members with an Administration of Medication Certificate are responsible for administering medication to campers who require it during the day, following specific requirements for original containers, documentation, and physician or guardian notes. For campers prone to motion sickness, medication should be given before arrival or sent with the camper in its original packaging. All medications require a completed Administration of Medication Form submitted on the first day of camp.

The Ocean Institute was founded in 1977 and is a 501(c)(3) organization. It is nationally known for award-winning, hands-on marine science, environmental education, and maritime history programs and has received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Maritime Education. Its mission statement is, “Using the ocean as our classroom, we inspire children to learn,” and it serves approximately 15,000 students annually through over 60 marine science and maritime history programs, including immersion-based field trips ranging from one-hour science labs to multi-day programs at sea. A testimonial from the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Maritime Education states, “Ocean Institute programs have succeeded brilliantly in the most important mission: reaching and actively engaging the imagination of American youth.”

Last updated June 13, 2026.