Applications for the Mobile Bay Estuary Corps summer program are now open until April 29 for sixth and seventh grade students.

The program, held in collaboration between the Alabama Coastal Foundation and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, engages middle school students in activities that explore and improve the Mobile Bay Estuarine system. The program is to take place June 11-14, and registration must be completed by 4:30 p.m. on April 29. Applications can be filled out at www.joinACF.org.

The three-day program is geared toward students who are interested in biological and environmental sciences, providing opportunities for students to work with professionals from different businesses and organizations throughout the area with hands-on activities that explore and improve our estuarine systems.

Activities are set to include touring Gulf State Park, a fish hatchery and the new Gulf Coast Eco Center, learning about Alabama's Underwater Forest, oyster restoration, seagrass, sea turtles, native wildlife and Mobile Bay Watershed, exploring Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Alabama Discovery vessel and general team building exercises.

The program is for students who are currently in sixth or seventh grade. The camp will last from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. The program costs $90 per student.