All about the pinnipeds

Suzie Harrison

An experience, learning, while having fun and enjoying an array of

activities, games and crafts in the company of California sea lions,

harbor seals and elephant seals is what the Friends of the Sea Lion’s

Camp Pinniped offers children ages 8 to 12.

In Laguna Beach, Camp Pinniped is the only one of its kind in

Orange County. The camp is set up weekly, Monday through Thursday

from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Friday is an open house with the

campers arriving at 8:30 a.m. -- with their families invited from

12:30 p.m. on to enjoy the experience with their child. The camp runs

weekly through Aug. 8. Education director Beate Litz and education

coordinator Kirsten Sedlick have been with the camp since its start

six years ago.

Campers learn about marine mammal rehabilitation by witnessing

first-hand the process of the center in action. Emphasizing a

hands-on approach, Litz said the children perform mock duties that

the animal care team does such as feeding, weighing, rescuing and

cleaning their pens.

“They are learning the workings by seeing and doing,” Litz said.

“Even though they’re mock activities they’re just as impactful --

overall [we’re] trying to personalize the experience for them to

appreciate the marine environment.”

They learn to care for the marine environment and additionally

Litz said they try and expand it to other eco-systems. Tuesday they

learned of other habitats that are in danger like the rain forests.

“We had a special visitor, an outreach company, bring exotic

animals,” Litz said.

They got to experience a hissing coach roach, capuchin monkey, a

red-footed tortoise, a python and millipedes. Getting to touch these

animals and learn their job in the eco-system, helped them learn that

if one animal became extinct how everyone else is affected.

Jared Nelson, 12, said he liked the games and he thinks it’s cool

that he learned what pinniped means.

“It means fin or feather footed,” Jared said. “I’ve learned what

whales have teeth which have baleen, and how humpback whales get

their food.”

The main selling point, Litz said, is of course animals.

“I like learning about the gray whales, about barnacles and the

difference between a seal and a sea lion,” Corey Fiacco, 8, said. “We

learned about skulls.”

Camper Ryan Khosh, 11, said that “Hank” the elephant seal is his

favorite pinniped at the marine mammal center because he is lazy and

just lies around.

“Each day has a different theme,” Litz said. “All the arts and

crafts, games and activities have to do with a theme for that day.”

The first day, which is pinniped day, they played the rookery game

and learned how sea lion mothers live in the wild and feed their

pups.

“The arts and crafts really cater to any kind of interest a child

would have,” Litz said. “Some are more science oriented and others

artsy, we cater to meet everyone’s interests.”

Ilani Douthat, 10, enjoyed learning about the ocean and some of

the animals in it.

“My favorite pinniped is the elephant seal, I think they’re the

cutest,” Ilani said. “I also learned that sharks don’t really harm

people and the other animals.”

Her favorite time at camp is called downstairs time where the kids

get to mock making food for the pinnipeds and learn how to tube feed

and capture them with the animal care team.

“How hard it is to capture them depends on if the sea lion is not

that hurt and is still running around or something,” Ilani said.

Camp costs $225 per camper for non-members, $203 for members and

the cost goes toward the medical treatment of the animals. To find

out more, call Litz at 494-3050 or go online to www.fslmmc.org.