Introducing Pacific Whale Foundation’s Virtual Ocean Camp for children in grades 1-5! To continue bringing your keiki engaging educational content about the marine environment during summer break while remaining safe, we are taking Ocean Camp online.
You can sign your kieki up for week-long sessions, led by our professional educators, that each have a unique theme, like When You Wish Upon a Sea Star or In the Land of Rainbows, so campers always have fresh learning material about different topics. During the daily 1.5 to 2 hour face-to-face portion of the program, campers get to take part in activities and games that give them a chance to interact with and get to know one another, in-home scavenger hunts, movement activities, such as animal charades, and brief educational video clips. They are also given extension activities to do at home and away from the computer, including daily challenges like a home waste audit or observations of nature, creative crafts, and science activities such as an animal obstacle course that illustrates the threats different marine animals may face. All activities are carefully selected to ensure that they utilize materials that are easy to obtain or already found in the home and avoid waste/are as environmentally friendly as possible.
Take a look at this camper’s awesome video she created of her at-home humpback whale obstacle course!
In addition to learning about and making personal connections to the ocean environment from the safety and comfort of their homes in fun ways, campers also benefit in many other ways. Although physically distant, they are able to make social connections with other children in Hawaii and other states and are learning new social and technological skills that will aid them in the modern world. Education Manager Robyn Ehrlich says, “We hope that the program sparks a love for science and conservation in the campers to continue to learn more and become ocean stewards. I love the quote -From knowing comes caring and from caring comes change- because it is so true.”
During the trial of our new Virtual Ocean Camp program, parents had glowing feedback about their children’s experiences.
It was great and very informative. A great balance of fun, education, and participation.
We hope this continues throughout the summer. This week has been a wonderful experience during a difficult time. Thank you so much. <3
Fun fun fun!!!!
Thank you so much for offering this virtual camp! It was wonderful and a much need during this stay at home time!
Everything was great! Thank you for giving our children this opportunity to grow a love of the ocean and all you do.
Thank you for letting us participate in this program! Becca did a great job in engaging the children and giving them all a fair chance to share.
Virtual Ocean Camp runs M-F from July 6 –July 30. The cost of the program is $45 per week ($36 for PWF members) with all funds going back into the continuation of our Education programs. Need-based financial assistance for Virtual Ocean Camp may be available for individual campers.