Ocean Explorers Blog 3

Day three was an exciting one for our 10-12 year old Ocean Explorers. Let's see what they learned...

Mat, " I learned that alligators had adaptations."

Savannah, "My favorite activity was touching the alligator because it was cool."

Corbin, "I learned that even if you kill one thing in an environment, it can mess up the whole food chain."

Katelyn, "Today, Ocean Explorers went on a tour of the entire Aquarium. We also met squiggles the alligator."

Cameron, "My favorite activity was going outside and playing games."

Nikolas, "My favorite activity was playing predator and prey games outside because I love sports!"

Sachi, "I liked making the shirts and looking for shark teeth."

Elena, "I learned all about alligators!"

Cassidy, "I learned that alligators have bones that protect them called scutes."

Brendan, "I learned that alligators all have special adaptations."

Check back tomorrow for another update from our campers!

Ocean Explorers Blog 2

Day 2 for our second group of Ocean Explorers found our 10-12 year old campers recycling paper, and going behind the scenes to learn more about the Aquarium and the animals that live there. Let's hear what our campers had to say...

Corbin, "The octopus was my favorite part because it did a whole bunch of tricks."

Sachi, "My favorite activity was going behind the scenes. I liked it because we got to see all the animals."

Brendan, "I learned that a lion fish has a new predator."

Savannah, "I learned that a duck is both predator and prey."

Cameron, "I learned that humpback whales have a predator called a cookie cutter shark."

Cassidy, "My favorite activity was when Miss Jen brought out Wilson the wood duck and we went to the conservatory. I also liked going to the beach."

Elena, "We learned about ducks and how they lose their feathers."

Nikolas, "I liked going to the beach because we all had the most awesome time."

Katelyn, "Today, Ocean Explorers went to the beach and Behind the Scenes. It was very fun! At Behind the Scenes, we saw tiny seahorses and an octopus."

Mat, "My favorite activity was going to the conservatory."

Look back tomorrow for another update!

Ocean Explorers Blog: Week 2

Our second week of summer camps has officially kicked off. Let's see what our second group of 10-12 year old Ocean Explorers had to say about their first day...

Nikolas, "I learned that most animals are predators and prey."

Elena, "My favorite activity was making animals you get to make up."

Corbin,"My favorite activity was going to the beach. We got to see animals on and under the rocks."

Brendan, "I learned that there are many types of predators and prey. I also learned what they eat."

Cameron, "I learned that the corn snake is prey."

Katelyn, "Today Ocean Explorers went to Rocky Outcrop and I found a broken shell. We also got to see and pet a corn snake."

Mat, "I liked making clay animals because we made up our own."

Cassidy, "I learned that herrings eat baby alligators."

Savannah, "I learned that predators eat the fish and prey do not."

Sachi, "My favorite activity was making the clay animals. I liked it because we could be creative."

Check back tomorrow for another update from our campers.

Ocean Explorers Blog 5

Today was the final day of camp for this summer's first group of Ocean Explorers. Let's see how they enjoyed their day...

Sara, "I learned that moray eels are actually blue."

Kay-Kay, "I learned that sharks are very much apex predators."

Ross, "My favorite activity was probably touring the area because I can see all the stuff."

Alex, "I liked catching the large minnows when we were at Rocky Outcrop."

Jack, "I learned that nothing eats eels but us."

Carmen, "I liked going to the Rocky Outcrop. We did not see much but we still had fun."

Ella, "Today I learned that sharks seem like they want to eat me."

Emerson, "I learned that Megalodon's eat whales!"

Charlie, "My favorite activity was the private dive show because it was only for campers."

Anna-Poe, "My favorite activity was the dive show because they told us things we had never heard before."

Bekah, "I liked eating cake and going on the tour."

Check back next week for updates from our second set of Ocean Explorers!

Ocean Explorers Blog 4

Day 4 of summer camp found our 10-12 year old campers exploring Behind the Scenes and making predators and prey out of clay. Let's see what our Ocean Explorers learned...

Charlie, "My favorite activity was viewing the Cape Fear Shoals tank from above, but making the predators and prey out of clay, the fossil pit, squiggles the alligator, and the beach were close."

Sara, "I learned that crocodiles eat caterpillars (when young). We had fun making up predators and prey by making up creatures with clay.

Anna-Poe, "My favorites were looking behind the scenes and the beach because it was fun and cool!!"

Jack, "Fossil finding was my favorite activity because I found shark teeth."

Bekah, "Going behind the scenes for the big tank and making clay animals were my favorite activities."

Emerson, "I liked it when we met squiggles. We even got to touch him. And, by the way, squiggles is an alligator."

Alex, "I liked digging a hole for fish instead of them being in the cooler."

Ella, "My favorite activity today was making clay figures. I enjoyed this because I like making up unique creatures."

Carmen, "Today I learned about animals. They are either prey or predators."

Kay-Kay, "Today I learned that every food chain has an apex or top predator and mosquitoes like to eat us (especially me)."

Ross, "I liked looking at the dive tank because it was cool seeing fish of all kinds together peacefully."

Check back tomorrow for another update from our campers!

Ocean Explorers Blog 3

Day 3 of our Ocean Explorers summer camp was a blast! Our campers were boogie boarding and making book covers from recycled paper as they continued to learn about predators and prey. Let's see what they had to say...

Carmen, "I loved boogie boarding and just playing around on the beach because all my friends were here."

Charlie, "I liked everything today from the Behind the Scenes Tour to the beach, the paper-making to the movie. It's been the greatest day so far."

Emerson, "I learned that baby alligators are a prey to many things."

Anna-Poe, "My favorite activities were the beach and the saltwater tour and Wilson the Duck because they're fun!!!"

Kay-Kay, "I have two favorite activities. 1) Going to the beach and fighting waves. 2) Going to the saltwater Behind the Scenes. I just love sharks."

Ella, "Today I learned that Sandbar sharks stay by the sandbar because the fish swim around that area."

Ross, "Meeting Wilson and Behind the Scenes were my favorite activity because I like seeing things in real life."

Bekah, "My favorite was meeting Wilson the wood duck."

Alex, "I like the boogie boarding because I always hit the big waves."

Sara, "I learned that wood ducks eat acorns . Wilson the wood duck taught us about ducks too."

Jack, "The beach because the big and little waves were fun."

Check back tomorrow for more updates from our campers!

Ocean Explorers Blog 2

Day two found our 10-12 year old Ocean Explorers canoeing and having a blast as they continued to learn about predators and prey. Let's see what our campers had to say...

Ross, "A single animal can eat a lot of things, bad things included!"

Anna-Poe, "The predator is bigger than the prey but can be smaller."

Sara, "My favorite activity was exploring Zeke's Island. We canoed there and went swimming."

Alex, "I like swimming in the hole. (It's hard to swim with shoes!)"

Kay-Kay, "I learned that dead fish attract birds."

Ella, " My favorite activity today was canoeing and playing at Zeke's Island. I enjoyed this because I really enjoy acting crazy and playing in water."

Emerson, " I like canoeing to Zeke's Island and crabbing and catching fish with nets. I caught 6 crabs, 2 hermit crabs, and 3 fish."

Charlie, "My favorite activity was Zeke's Island because the water was so calm and nice and there was so much cool wildlife."

Bekah, "I liked when we went canoeing to Zeke's Island. We crabbed fished and swam."

Jack, "I learned that small crabs can't eat fish."

Carmen, "My favorite activity was swimming and catching crabs at Zeke's Island. I liked that because it was just so fun."

Keep checking back for more updates from our campers!