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CAMP DESCRIPTIONS
Learn more about the fun and excitement of CMA's Summer Camps.
CMA offers a variety of different camp types. Campers can choose to snorkel, kayak, interact with our animals, travel to nearby animal attractions, or enjoy arts and crafts at CMA. Customize your camps by choosing multiple types for a full day of fun!
Snorkeling camps offer a unique opportunity to explore marine life both inside the aquarium and out in their natural environment. Campers will spend the first hour visiting CMA's rescued animals and participating in themed classroom activities based upon camp choice. After gathering their snorkel gear, campers will head out into beautiful Clearwater Bay aboard our Coast Guard certified pontoon boats. We'll wade and snorkel as we search for abundant sea creatures and discover the thrill of life beneath the waves. All snorkeling is in standing-depth water among the sand bars and sea grass bed habitats of Clearwater's local estuary.
CRITTER CAMP (Graduates of K-1st)
Critter Camp is one of our youngest boating camps. Each day, campers learn about a new
sea creature through fun activities, crafts, and games. Then, campers venture out on the
boats to our standing-depth snorkel sites for marine life fun and beginner snorkel
instruction.
HATCHLING CAMP (Graduates of K-1st)
Hatchling Camp focuses on the lives of our threatened Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings.
Campers learn about how mother sea turtles build their nests and what CMA does to protect
the babies both in the nest and on their way to the water. Campers also venture out on
the boats each day to our standing-depth snorkel sites for marine life fun and beginner
snorkel instruction.
WINTER CAMP (Graduates of 1st – 3rd)
A popular camp choice for young Winter the dolphin fans! Learn all about Winter and her
amazing rescue and rehabilitation. Visit the dolphin movie star and watch her perform in
presentations. Get a chance to touch and hold Winter's prosthetic tail. See actual footage
of her real-life rescue and make Winter-related arts and crafts, while learning ways you can
help to prevent marine animal emergencies like Winter's. Campers also venture out on the boats
each day to our standing-depth snorkel sites for marine life fun and beginner snorkel instruction.
OTTER CAMP (Graduates of 2nd – 4th)
Learn all about our furriest residents and their wild cousins. Campers will learn about otter
anatomy, food preparation, and how CMA takes care of our rescued and resident otters. Watch
otter training presentations and enrichment sessions, make ice toys, and see footage from
recent otter pup rescues. Campers also venture out on the boats each day to our standing-
depth snorkel sites for marine life fun and beginner snorkel instruction.
SHARK CAMP (Graduates of 2nd – 4th)
This camp focuses on the ocean's most feared and misunderstood creatures – sharks and stingrays.
Get acquainted with CMA's resident sharks and pet our friendly rays in the touch tank. Separate
shark fact from myth with classroom activities, games, and videos. Make shark tooth necklaces
to show off to family and friends. Campers also venture out on the boats each day to our
standing-depth snorkel sites for marine life fun and beginner snorkel instruction.
ANIMAL CARE CAMP (Graduates of 3rd – 6th)
Animal Care Camp focuses on CMA's resident species, retelling each individual's rescue and
rehabilitation story and discovering what goes into their daily care. Campers will explore
food preparation, veterinary procedures, enrichment items, and training methods for each resident
at CMA. Campers also venture out on the boats each day to our standing-depth snorkel sites for
marine life fun and beginner snorkel instruction.
TURTLE NESTING CAMP (Graduates of 3rd – 6th)
This unique and exciting camp gives campers the chance to visit an actual sea turtle nest.
During the week, campers learn all about sea turtles and the struggle of our local Loggerhead
hatchlings, as well as CMA's role in protecting them. One night of the week, campers and
chaperones are invited to sit in on CMA's sea turtle nest monitoring program, venturing out
to the beach in the hopes of seeing hatchlings. Campers also venture out on the boats each
day to our standing-depth snorkel sites for marine life fun and beginner snorkel instruction.
DOLPHIN CAMP (Graduates of 4th – 7th)
Dolphin Camp focuses on our amazing resident bottlenoses, as well as wild dolphin species worldwide.
learn what it takes to care for our rescued and resident dolphins, explore food preparation and
training methods, and watch presentations. They also learn how researchers study wild dolphins
and whales, as well as facts about species that frequent our local waters. This camp includes
daily snorkel trips to standing-depth snorkel sites for marine life exploration.
ECO EXPLORERS CAMP (Graduates of 4th – 7th)
Learn all about conservation and preservation of our local marine habitats through Eco Explorers
Camp. Helping the environment becomes fun and easy through instructional activities and games
that teach campers how to protect our planet. Explore our local ecosystems, including estuaries,
sea grass beds, and mangrove swamps, while learning how humans can have a positive impact.
This camp includes daily snorkel trips to standing-depth snorkel sites for marine life exploration.
JR SCIENTIST CAMP (Graduates of 6th – 9th)
Learn about the in's and out's of some of your favorite marine species – literally! This camp
involves daily dissections of smaller marine life creatures, such as crabs, clams, and even sharks!
Campers learn by doing in this scientific course. This camp includes daily snorkel trips to
standing-depth snorkel sites for marine life exploration.
INDOOR CAMPS remain at Clearwater Marine Aquarium and focus primarily on CMA's rescued and rehabilitated marine life. Indoor camps may visit other local rehabilitation facilities sometime during the week as well.
INDOOR ACTIVITY CAMP (Graduates of K – 6th)
Indoor Activity Camp combines educational games with marine-based arts and crafts. Campers get
the chance to tour CMA, view all animal and theater presentations, and spend time at our two
touch tanks. Playtime at nearby Sunset Sam Park is also a highlight. This camp does not
include any animal interactions or boating time.
ANIMAL ENCOUNTER CAMP (Graduates of 2nd – 5th)
This camp is an amazing opportunity for younger campers to learn about each of CMA's resident
animals and how they are cared for on a daily basis. Campers go in depth about each animal's
care – what they eat, how they play, how our animal care team keeps them healthy, and what
special needs each animal has. Campers spend each day learning about a different animal, and
even visit neighboring rescue facilities, as well as have the chance at the end of the week to
touch and feed one of our resident dolphins. During field trip days, campers may have the
opportunity to swim so pack a swimsuit and snack, and get ready for fun!
VIDEO CAMP (Graduates of 3rd – 6th)
Have an aspiring nature photographer or videographer? Learn more about CMA's resident animals
as we create our own nature video, filmed and hosted by campers. Experience the fun of film
production throughout the week. At the very end of the week, we'll put all of the hard work
together on a DVD to take home! This camp does not include any animal interactions or boating
time.
TRAINER CAMP (Graduates of 6th – 9th)
This unique experience provides campers with a hands-on perspective of the training facet of
CMA's animal care work. Learn how we care for and train our resident dolphins and river otters
as we discuss our work based on positive reinforcement. Experience the behind-the-scenes hard
work of our animal care staff as we learn more about animal husbandry, medical management,
food preparation, exhibit care, and animal enrichment. After getting the opportunity to
participate in enrichment, observations, and question and answer time with a real CMA trainer,
campers will have the chance to give a training command to one of our resident dolphins and
feed them a fish for an end-of-the-week photo opportunity!
KAYAK CAMPS offer older campers a new way to explore our local marine environments while getting the unique opportunity to kayak through Clearwater's local estuary. Campers may also have the ability to snorkel at individual kayak locations as well. Some of these camps run an extra hour to allow travel time to our various launch sites. Bring a bag lunch for the van ride back to CMA.
3 HOUR JR. KAYAK CAMP (Graduates of 5th – 8th)
This younger kayak camp lets campers explore our local estuaries from our sit-on-top kayaks.
Kayaking instruction is provided as we travel off-site to local parks and estuaries. Send your
campers with lots of sunscreen and a swimsuit as we plan to be on the water each day, learning
about our ecosystems. Snorkeling is allowed at each of our kayak sites so prepare for fun both
above and below the surface! No prior experience is required.
4 HOUR KAYAK CAMP (Graduates of 6th – 9th)
Our longer kayak camp is for older camps looking for more kayaking adventures. We travel by
van and even launch straight from CMA, exploring sea grass beds, mangrove tunnels, and other
estuary features. When we arrive at each site, we'll snorkel to explore below the surface at
some of the area's most pristine parks. No prior experience is required – kayaking
instruction is provided.
TRAVELING AND SPECIAL ACTIVITY CAMPS include visits to local beaches and neighboring animal rescue facilities as well as the chance to try SCUBA diving in an open water environment. Some need a full day to fit in all the fun and may be priced different from our standard camps.
CMA MOVIE MAGIC CAMP (Graduates of 2nd – 4th)
This brand new addition to the summer camp line-up is sure to please! Campers will learn all
about the behind-the-scenes work that went into the making of the hit movie, Dolphin Tale.
Rewatch your favorite scenes from a producer's point of view, learn about Winter's preparation
for her starring role, work together with our video production team to reenact and shoot scenes
from the movie against a real green screen, visit sets built at CMA for the filming, and travel
off-site to Winter's movie rescue beach, the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary to learn more about her
feathery co-stars, and the new Harborview Center exhibit, all about the movie. This camp does
not have any boating time, but some days will be spent away from CMA, so pack a snack and get
ready to experience Dolphin Tale like never before!
FULL DAY TRAVELING CAMP (Graduates of 3rd – 6th)
Join us as we visit some of our neighboring animal attractions, such as Lowry Park Zoo, the Florida
Aquarium, and the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, among others. We'll spend the days taking a look at
other animal facilities and their work with marine and terrestrial species. This camp does travel
off-site each day and lasts from 9am – 4pm, so be sure to send your camper with a bag lunch and drink.
Some days, we will have the opportunity to swim at local beaches so make sure to bring your swimsuit!
DISCOVER SCUBA CAMP (Graduates of 6th – 9th)
This specialty snorkeling camp is a great way to try out SCUBA diving for the first time! Campers
learn all about the history and science of diving, while still spending each day on the water snorkeling.
For one session out of each week, a certified SCUBA instructor from Ocean Sports gives students the
chance to try on real SCUBA gear and dive at our deeper snorkel sites. Campers will be required to have
all the gear needed for a snorkeling camp.
