The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) offers a variety of summer programs for kids and educators.
The Alabama Aquarium, which is through DISL, regularly hosts activities like boardwalk talks, marine …
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The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) offers a variety of summer programs for kids and educators.
The Alabama Aquarium, which is through DISL, regularly hosts activities like boardwalk talks, marine science excursions and guided tours of the research lab during the academic year.
During the summer DISL has programs for university students, K-12 students and additional programs. Many of these programs last a few weeks and require registration in advance.
Registration for some of the more long-term programs has already closed for 2025 and has not yet opened for 2026. However, based on their website, the sea lab has several weekend or day camps open for registration or with a waitlist.
More details and programs can be found at www.disl.edu.
Bio Blitz is a day-long camp where students will discover the habitats of Dauphin Island and become "Barrier Island Observers." Students will study the ecology of the area, document what they find and should be "prepared to get wet, sandy and muddy."
The cost of the camp is $60 per student. Lunch is not provided but refrigeration is available for students to bring lunches. Students are also to bring a refillable water bottle, sunscreen and a towel. Application forms and details for payment are on the DISL website.
In an all-day fishing challenge, students learn about fish in Alabama's waters while pier fishing. "Survival skills" such as which fishes are edible and how to cast a net, bait a crab trap, drag a seine and "bring in the catch of the day" to teach campers of the different species.
The cost of the camp is $60 per student. There will be a swim time so be sure to pack a bathing suit and a towel. Students are to bring sunscreen, a hat, a refillable water bottle and lunch, although an afternoon snack will be provided. Application forms and details for payment are on the DISL website.
The Calamar workshop program is for high school marine science teachers to "improve or develop" a curriculum in an immersive marine environment. This is aimed at teachers who would like to add more "hands-on activities" or marine science topics. The weekend event will host expert-led seminars, discussion on "curricular needs and problems" and a collaboration on developing classroom activities.
A $100 deposit is required to confirm attendance; however, the workshop is free through the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and a refund will be granted upon completion of the workshop. Room and board at DISL, as well as the cost of supplies and field trips, is covered.
The Ocean STEM event is suggested for educators who work with middle or high school students, an afterschool group or informal learning center and cover topics such as marine science, earth science, biology, physical science and engineering. This workshop offers a hands-on experience in "short classroom-suitable STEM activities" such as building tools and sensors and "exploring common equipment" used in studying the physics and biology of the ocean.
Like Calamar, a $100 refundable (once workshop is completed) deposit is required for registration with support from the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Registration is currently full for the Ocean STEM event, but the waitlist is still open as of the press deadline.
