Come and join us for a fun-filled Saturday outdoors on Dauphin Island. Discovery Hall Programs is now offering its popular summer camps during the school year, too. On the chosen Saturdays of each month, we are offering an ocean-themed program full of science, activities, and fun.
Each program is approximately six hours long and is focused on a specific ocean theme. For the Fall, campers can choose a Saturday focused on ocean biodiversity, fishes and fisheries, or ocean technology, or participate in all three. While these programs are open to all ages, some of the activities are best enjoyed by younger ocean enthusiasts if they are accompanied by a participating adult.
Upcoming Dates:
- February 6 - Ocean Tech
- February 13 - Biodiversity of a Barrier Island
- March 13 - Catch of the Day
- March 27 - Ocean Tech
- May 8 - Catch of the Day
- May 22 - Biodiversity of a Barrier Island
Barrier Island Biodiversity
Don’t spend your Saturday cooped up inside when you could be discovering the beauty and biodiversity of Dauphin Island’s habitats. Learn how to collect and identify the animals and plants that inhabit our coastal ecosystems by visiting the beach, the salt marsh, and forested areas. We’ll talk about our native flora and fauna, invasive species, look for fossils, learn to use an identification app, and even do a bit of nature journaling.
Camp time: 9:45 am - 4 pm
We love for families to enjoy the fun as a group, but children 8 and older may attend without an accompanying adult.
Preparation: Please bring your own water bottle and lunch for our scheduled lunch break (refrigerator is available). Dress to be outside (hat, suntan lotion), bring a towel and change of clothing (if desired), and wear shoes that can get wet and muddy.
Catch of the Day
You may love fishing but not every interesting animal takes a bait and hook. From rods to nets, scoops and pumps, join us and try out several different fishing methods and see who else lives in the waters around Dauphin Island. Play a sustainability game and see if aquaculture may be in your future. Participants are not required to have a current Alabama fishing permit for our catch and release experience.
Camp time: 9:45 am - 4 pm
We love for families to enjoy the fun as a group, but children 8 and older may attend without an accompanying adult.
Preparation: Please bring your own water bottle and lunch for our scheduled lunch break (refrigerator is available). Dress to be outside (hat, suntan lotion) and wear clothing and shoes that can get wet.
Ocean Tech
While you may have had your fill of virtual learning, there are many technologies that allow us to learn more about our outdoor environment. Join us on a GPS-based scavenger hunt around the Sea Lab campus, explore the power of hydraulics, and build your own underwater robot. We’ll end the day with a bit of friendly pool competition among ROVs, so work on your team name now!
Camp time: 9:45 am - 4 pm
We love for families to enjoy the fun as a group, but children 8 and older may attend without an accompanying adult.
Preparation: Please bring your own water bottle and lunch for our scheduled lunch break (refrigerator is available). Dress to be outside (hat, suntan lotion) and wear clothing and shoes that can get wet.
We ask that you pre-register here for these programs so we know to expect you, but we also recognize that plans change. If you are interested in participating just the day before, give us a call to make sure there is space available. Please note that the weather on Dauphin Island can be different from that in Mobile or areas farther north: only severe weather conditions result in cancellation. Cancellations due to weather will be posted on our Facebook page. Many of your other questions will likely be answered in the registration form, but feel free to contact us at DHPSummer@disl.org or (251) 861-2141, x 7515 with additional questions.
If you have trouble registering at the link above, please go to http://bit.ly/OceanExplorerSaturdays.
DISL has implemented a number of procedures and precautions to minimize the risk of COVID19 transmission during visits to the Sea Lab. Activities will take place primarily outdoors, groups will be limited in size to facilitate social distancing, and masks will be required for indoor activities, and when social distancing is not possible. Please feel free to contact us for additional information.
