Gulf Island Journey
Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. CST February 9, 2026.
- For rising 7th-9th graders
- 2026 Dates: May 31-June 5 (FULL), June 14-19 (FULL), July 12-17 (FULL), and July 19-24 (FULL)
- Program Cost: $650
Camp registrations are processed in the order in which they are received.
This week-long overnight camp is designed for rising 7th-9th graders. Led by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s full time educators, campers explore areas of Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, Mississippi Sound, and the northern Gulf of Mexico learning about the animals, habitats, and science of the region. Activities include seining and sieving for nearshore and underwater species, collecting and studying plankton, trawling aboard the Sea Lab’s research vessel, the Alabama Discovery; dissecting a shark, and spending the day on Sand Island to explore birds, fish, invertebrates and swim a bit. In the evening, campers may explore nocturnal inhabitants of the beach and enjoy the island’s famous snow cones! Throughout the week, campers make friends, learn a bit about Alabama’s coastal environments, and grow in confidence.
Program Cost: The total cost of this program is $650 and includes tuition, room, meals, and lab fees.
The $100 registration fee is part of the program cost and is non-refundable. The next payment of $100 is due when the camp release forms are returned. A balance of $450 is due two weeks prior to check-in.
Tuition (but not registration) payments are refundable if notice of withdrawal is communicated to the DHP Registrar (in writing) at least two weeks prior to the first day of camp AND we are able to fill your camper’s spot from our waitlist.
We have a limited amount of financial assistance available. Please call our office to learn more.
Registration Information: Space is limited. Please complete the online registration form (link above). Once your registration has been processed and it is determined there is space in the session, you will receive a follow-up email from the DHP registrar with payment instructions. Space will be held for one week to allow payment of the $100 non-refundable registration fee to secure your camper’s space in this program.
Camper handbooks will be e-mailed to parents after May 1, 2026. ALL required forms found in the handbook should be mailed in with your initial $100 tuition payment by the date indicated in the handbook email.
Email dhpsummer@disl.edu for questions.
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab reserves the right to cancel the program in the event enrollment is inadequate. Noncompliance with the rules of the program results in expulsion and forfeiture of the program cost.
If mailing application materials, please mail to:
Gulf Island Journey
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
101 Bienville Blvd.
Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Email: DHPsummer@disl.edu
Fax to: (251)861-7421