Science camp offers kids close look at environment

The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute (MSI) is offering a unique way for kids to learn about their environment this summer. Field Science summer camp is an exciting educational science camp focused on the Mustang Island marine environment, tailored for kids, and is now open for registration.

Registration forms are available at the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation office, 739 W. Ave. A, or at the offices of H.G. Olsen Elementary School and Brundrett Middle School.

Forms and fees should be brought to the parks and recreation office.

The fee for grades three and four is $20 and for grades five through eight it is $40.

Students entering grades three and four in the fall will attend half-day camps from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.

Students entering grades five through eight in the fall will attend half-day camps from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The topics are scheduled as follows:

June 9-13: Seaweed, Seagrasses & Saltmarshes

environment

June 16-20: Life as an Oceanographer

July 7-11: Bays & Beaches

July 21-25: Sea Creatures, Adaptations & Ecology

The program for the first week session "Seaweed, Seagrasss & Saltmarshes, will include field trips to riparian (freshwater) habitats on the Mission River, the estuarine salt marsh on the Nueces River delta, local marshes and the Port Aransas jetties. Scientists from MSI, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, the Fennessey Ranch, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi and UT-Austin will participate.

The camps are a joint effort of UTMSI, the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department, and the Port Aransas Independent School District.

For more information, contact parks and recreation at 749-4158 or visit http://gk12.utmsi.utexas.edu.