About
Seafloor Science & ROV Camp centers on hands-on STEM activities that focus on ocean exploration and the science, technology, and operations that make it possible. Students take part in team-oriented challenges that use the scientific method and ocean technologies in a real-world framework of discovery, including designing, building, and driving underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Activities incorporate electronics, rovers, sensors, seafloor geology, marine biology, robotics, programming, ecology, and deep-sea exploration topics such as plankton, sonars, scientific drilling, and marine geology.
• Ages: 8–15 years old
• Schedule: One-week day camps, Monday through Friday, with Level I (entering grades 3–5) meeting 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Level II (entering grades 6–9) meeting 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
• Price: Level I Monterey sessions: $375 tuition with extended hours 8:30 AM–9:00 AM and 3:00 PM–4:30 PM for $125. Level I Los Gatos sessions: $425 tuition with extended hours 8:30 AM–9:00 AM for $25 and 3:00 PM–4:30 PM for $75. Level II Monterey session: $455 tuition. Level II Los Gatos sessions: $490 tuition.
The camp offers one-week-long STEM summer day camps for two age groups: children entering grades 3–5 and children entering grades 6–9, with the Level II camp including programming rovers. Seafloor Science & ROV Camp mimics a research ship mission in a classroom setting and emphasizes purposeful engagement, vision, planning and preparation, teamwork and execution, and discovery and problem solving. Each session includes space for up to 24 students and requires a minimum of 12 students, and participants benefit from a low student-to-instructor ratio.
The program’s mission is to encourage scientific and technological engagement through the development of teamwork skills, STEM capabilities, and understanding of the oceanic environment using hands-on, technology- and phenomenon-based learning activities. SS-ROV Camp was started in 2013, and since 2015 it has provided annual summer day camp sessions in Monterey, Los Gatos, San Jose, Saratoga, Aptos, and Gilroy. As of 2021, the camp has helped 768 children discover new aspects of science and technology, awarded 54 scholarships, and provided paid internship positions to 69 students. SS-ROV Camp and its supporters recognize the importance of making need-based financial aid available, and scholarship recipients are required to write a short essay after camp describing their experiences and the benefits of the scholarship.
The leadership and staff include Dr. C. Geoffrey Wheat, a Research Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, an Adjunct Scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and a visiting Professor at Moss Landing Marine Labs, who is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and the University of Washington. Staff member Claudia Paul holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the College of William and Mary and has worked in laboratories for two decades on a wide range of sea-going projects. Staff member Kellie Ventimilia-Vicent holds a B.S. in Child Development from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo and a teaching credential from CSUMB; she is a kindergarten teacher and is involved with teacher education programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Staff member Jason Nicholson holds a B.S. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and an M.A. in Education from the University of California Santa Cruz, along with a teaching credential, and he is a science teacher at Monterey High School and co-director of the Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science.
SS-ROV Camp was started in 2013 through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Geoff Wheat and his team of program developers with funding from the University of Mississippi, NIUST, NASA, NSF-USC (C-DEBI), and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The program draws on over 30 years of ocean exploration background to provide a hands-on learning experience. Need-based partial scholarships are available.
Participant comments include: “My favorite type of under-water vehicle is an AUV because you control it by programming it!” (Mississippi, 2015), “I didn’t know that I could do it and it turned out to be a whole lot of fun!” (Los Gatos, 2016), and “ROVs are the coolest things you’ve ever seen! You use a joystick, and it’s like an underwater, real-life video game!” (Monterey, 2018).
Last updated March 13, 2026.
• Ages: 8–15 years old
• Schedule: One-week day camps, Monday through Friday, with Level I (entering grades 3–5) meeting 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Level II (entering grades 6–9) meeting 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
• Price: Level I Monterey sessions: $375 tuition with extended hours 8:30 AM–9:00 AM and 3:00 PM–4:30 PM for $125. Level I Los Gatos sessions: $425 tuition with extended hours 8:30 AM–9:00 AM for $25 and 3:00 PM–4:30 PM for $75. Level II Monterey session: $455 tuition. Level II Los Gatos sessions: $490 tuition.
The camp offers one-week-long STEM summer day camps for two age groups: children entering grades 3–5 and children entering grades 6–9, with the Level II camp including programming rovers. Seafloor Science & ROV Camp mimics a research ship mission in a classroom setting and emphasizes purposeful engagement, vision, planning and preparation, teamwork and execution, and discovery and problem solving. Each session includes space for up to 24 students and requires a minimum of 12 students, and participants benefit from a low student-to-instructor ratio.
The program’s mission is to encourage scientific and technological engagement through the development of teamwork skills, STEM capabilities, and understanding of the oceanic environment using hands-on, technology- and phenomenon-based learning activities. SS-ROV Camp was started in 2013, and since 2015 it has provided annual summer day camp sessions in Monterey, Los Gatos, San Jose, Saratoga, Aptos, and Gilroy. As of 2021, the camp has helped 768 children discover new aspects of science and technology, awarded 54 scholarships, and provided paid internship positions to 69 students. SS-ROV Camp and its supporters recognize the importance of making need-based financial aid available, and scholarship recipients are required to write a short essay after camp describing their experiences and the benefits of the scholarship.
The leadership and staff include Dr. C. Geoffrey Wheat, a Research Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, an Adjunct Scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and a visiting Professor at Moss Landing Marine Labs, who is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and the University of Washington. Staff member Claudia Paul holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the College of William and Mary and has worked in laboratories for two decades on a wide range of sea-going projects. Staff member Kellie Ventimilia-Vicent holds a B.S. in Child Development from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo and a teaching credential from CSUMB; she is a kindergarten teacher and is involved with teacher education programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Staff member Jason Nicholson holds a B.S. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and an M.A. in Education from the University of California Santa Cruz, along with a teaching credential, and he is a science teacher at Monterey High School and co-director of the Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science.
SS-ROV Camp was started in 2013 through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Geoff Wheat and his team of program developers with funding from the University of Mississippi, NIUST, NASA, NSF-USC (C-DEBI), and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The program draws on over 30 years of ocean exploration background to provide a hands-on learning experience. Need-based partial scholarships are available.
Participant comments include: “My favorite type of under-water vehicle is an AUV because you control it by programming it!” (Mississippi, 2015), “I didn’t know that I could do it and it turned out to be a whole lot of fun!” (Los Gatos, 2016), and “ROVs are the coolest things you’ve ever seen! You use a joystick, and it’s like an underwater, real-life video game!” (Monterey, 2018).
Last updated March 13, 2026.
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