About
Seafloor Science & ROV Camp is a hands-on, STEM-oriented day camp that centers on underwater robotics, seafloor habitats, sensors, and related topics. Camp activities include work with underwater ROVs, rovers, sensor technology, programming, sonars, scientific drilling, plankton, and marine geology and ecology, using hands-on, technology- and phenomenon-based learning activities that mimic a research ship mission in a classroom setting. Campers also take part in activities that involve presentation skills, teamwork and collaboration, formulating questions, and creative problem-solving.
• Ages: 8–14 years old
• Schedule: Each camp runs for one week.
Seafloor Science & ROV Camp offers one-week-long STEM summer day camps for two age groups: children ages 8–10 (entering grades 3–5) and children ages 11–14 (entering grades 6–9). Campers are challenged from the start with activities that employ teamwork and creative problem solving and engage in teamwork activities that develop leadership skills and cultivate creative solutions to technical challenges. 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. The camp emphasizes purposeful engagement and vision, planning and preparation, teamwork and execution, and discovery and problem solving, with a premise of providing a hands-on STEM summer learning opportunity that mimics a research ship mission held in a classroom setting.
Seafloor Science & ROV Camp is a product of Oceans and Robotics Inc. and is made possible with support from funders. The vision is to create a sustainable, nationwide program that sparks excitement for learning about marine environments and helps young people, especially those who might not otherwise experience these types of activities, to see themselves in the role of the explorer, scientist, and engineer. 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. SS-ROV Camp was started in 2013, with the first SS-ROV Summer Camp held in Mississippi in 2014, and since 2015 they have provided annual SS-ROV summer day camp sessions in multiple California communities. As of 2021 they helped 768 children discover new aspects of science and technology, awarded 54 scholarships, and provided paid internship positions to 69 students.
The leadership team includes 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 has participated in over 75 oceanographic expeditions, 47 of which included a submersible or ROV component. Staff also include Claudia Paul, who 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; Kellie Ventimilia-Vicent, who holds a B.S. in Child Development from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo and a teaching credential from CSUMB and is a kindergarten teacher involved with teacher education programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium; and Jason Nicholson, who 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 is a science teacher at Monterey High School and co-director of the Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science. Participants benefit from a low student-to-instructor ratio and from over 30 years of ocean exploration background that inform the hands-on learning experience.
Testimonials from past participants include comments such as, “My favorite type of under-water vehicle is an AUV because you control it by programming it!” from a Mississippi camper in 2015, “I didn’t know that I could do it and it turned out to be a whole lot of fun!” from a Los Gatos camper in 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!” from a Monterey camper in 2018.
Last updated March 14, 2026.
• Ages: 8–14 years old
• Schedule: Each camp runs for one week.
Seafloor Science & ROV Camp offers one-week-long STEM summer day camps for two age groups: children ages 8–10 (entering grades 3–5) and children ages 11–14 (entering grades 6–9). Campers are challenged from the start with activities that employ teamwork and creative problem solving and engage in teamwork activities that develop leadership skills and cultivate creative solutions to technical challenges. 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. The camp emphasizes purposeful engagement and vision, planning and preparation, teamwork and execution, and discovery and problem solving, with a premise of providing a hands-on STEM summer learning opportunity that mimics a research ship mission held in a classroom setting.
Seafloor Science & ROV Camp is a product of Oceans and Robotics Inc. and is made possible with support from funders. The vision is to create a sustainable, nationwide program that sparks excitement for learning about marine environments and helps young people, especially those who might not otherwise experience these types of activities, to see themselves in the role of the explorer, scientist, and engineer. 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. SS-ROV Camp was started in 2013, with the first SS-ROV Summer Camp held in Mississippi in 2014, and since 2015 they have provided annual SS-ROV summer day camp sessions in multiple California communities. As of 2021 they helped 768 children discover new aspects of science and technology, awarded 54 scholarships, and provided paid internship positions to 69 students.
The leadership team includes 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 has participated in over 75 oceanographic expeditions, 47 of which included a submersible or ROV component. Staff also include Claudia Paul, who 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; Kellie Ventimilia-Vicent, who holds a B.S. in Child Development from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo and a teaching credential from CSUMB and is a kindergarten teacher involved with teacher education programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium; and Jason Nicholson, who 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 is a science teacher at Monterey High School and co-director of the Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science. Participants benefit from a low student-to-instructor ratio and from over 30 years of ocean exploration background that inform the hands-on learning experience.
Testimonials from past participants include comments such as, “My favorite type of under-water vehicle is an AUV because you control it by programming it!” from a Mississippi camper in 2015, “I didn’t know that I could do it and it turned out to be a whole lot of fun!” from a Los Gatos camper in 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!” from a Monterey camper in 2018.
Last updated March 14, 2026.
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