Camp for learning

Suzie Harrison

Pacific Marine Mammal Center invites children ages 8 to 12 to

experience a one-of-a-kind camp experience, Camp Pinniped. Now in its

fifth season, the five-day summer camp gives youngsters an up-close

opportunity to learn about California sea lions, harbor seals and

Northern elephant seals, up-close and personal.

Each day has a different theme with related games, arts and crafts

and activities. Education director Meg Jones said many campers return

each year. “It’s been totally revamped with a new curriculum,” Jones

said.

Monday the campers will delve into the life of pinniped care, as

junior animal-care supervisors.

“Each camper will get an animal, observe and identify different

types of behavior, learn about a type of species at close range,”

Jones said. “They’ll learn all about that animal, watch it progress

and get healthier day by day.” She said it helps the child develop a

close connection.

“They’ll learn all aspects of animal care,” education

coordinator/animal care supervisor Kirsten Sedlick said. “They’ll

come down to areas where visitors can’t go, talk to and interview the

animal care volunteers and get to know the backbone [of the marine

mammal] center at close range.”

Kelp day is another theme.

“We’ll talk about seaweed and uses,” Jones said. “All the animals

here live in a kelp forest habitat.”

Watershed is a topic campers will explore.

“We’ll talk about Laguna Canyon watershed; Laguna Creek right here

basically empties right down to Main Beach,” Jones said. ‘We’ll talk

about ocean pollution and all that, do water testing and a bunch of

watershed games.”

Sedlick gets excited about the crafts children get to create,

including soft foil animals, mobiles, which are a camp tradition, key

chains and fish painting.

“It’s art therapy; we’ve been getting a lot of positive response

from the community,” Sedlick said. “It’s nice to hear from parents

and children as well. We’re thrilled.”

Island of the Pinniped is a new game where three teams compete,

going from start to finish, on a specially created larger-than-life

board game. It includes a little bit of trivia, challenge and action.

Picking the wrong card can make you lose a turn, due to a shark alert

or to getting caught in a gill net. Landing in toxic waste or in an

oil spill makes the player have to return to the rehabilitation

center.

Other games include Pin the Blade on the Stipe, Isle G, the

center’s version of Supermarket Sweep, Beach Trash Bingo and a Water

Relay race.

Every year the children get a picture CD of their adventures. And

on Friday, children experience the treasure hunt, a camp tradition.

Parents are invited to an open house that day.

Camp Pinniped has three sessions -- June 27 through July 1, July

18 through 22 and Aug. 8 through 12. Camp meets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday. Camp is $203

for members and $228 for nonmembers, which includes a membership. A

Rookery after-camp program is available and goes to 5:15 p.m. Monday

through Thursday for an additional $150. Camp admission goes to fund

the center’s animal care and education programs.

Each session is limited to 15 and spaces are filling fast. Call

(949) 494-3050 or go to https://www.pacificmmc.org. Pacific Marine

Mammal Center is at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road.