WFC Camp

Camp Activity Schedule

Adventure is around the corner in Oyster Bay!

"Education through recreation" is the defining feature of our Marine Explorers program as it presents exciting water-based activities set against the backdrop of Long Island's diverse ecosystems. Only in Oyster Bay can your child explore salt marshes atop kayaks, encounter wildlife in their natural habitat, and conduct experiments on a historic oyster sloop and oyster dredge.

The curriculum for all the programming at The WaterFront Center facilitates our goal of building a community of stewards that will ensure that Oyster Bay, New York, and the surrounding ecosystems remain an available resource for generations to come.

  • Description:
    Bay Buccaneers discover and explore beach habitats and meet marine animals as they develop an awareness of the ecosystem around them. Thematic-based learning, enhanced by stories, crafts, and outdoor exploration highlights marine life and activities including seining, marine scavenger hunts, and STEM-based programs. Bay Bucs enjoy a sailing experience aboard Christeen, our historic Oyster Sloop.

  • Description:
    Sound Swashbucklers explore the estuary on kayaks, engage with marine animals, and participate in fun and educational outdoor activities. STEM-based programs focusing on alternative energies, windmill blade building, and water quality round out a fun-filled week of programming and exploration. Sailing experiences include Oceanography sail on Christeen, our 1883 historic Oyster Sloop.

  • Description:
    First Mates build on their science foundation by participating in immersive STEM-based activities on Beekman Beach, Building Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV’s), and Kayaking to different locations within Oyster Bay. While on Christeen, first mates will learn about the health of the harbor and how we can keep it clean for all organisms. Dredging and use of a plankton tow will showcase two different environments within the harbor. Games and group activities foster an appreciation for the natural world all while having plenty of fun and building new skills.  

  • Description:
    Skippers gain a greater understanding of the marine environment through a variety of hands-on experiments that dive into oceanography, marine chemistry, and wildlife ecology. Students discover new frontiers with underwater ROVs, paddle excursions, and research activities as they develop a comprehensive understanding of the estuary.

  • Mariners explore the estuary on kayaks and SUPs and discover new frontiers with underwater ROVs. Increased responsibility and leadership opportunities help develop a comprehensive understanding of the marine environment through research activities and field studies. Half-day sailing in keelboats focuses on seamanship, teamwork and basic navigation skills in preparation for their High school future.

Summer Camp Programs

The activities for our Marine Explorers Program are themed around the

7 PRINCIPLES OF OCEAN LITERACY

THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES AND FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF OCEAN SCIENCE

Ocean literacy is an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you—and your influence on the Ocean. Our expansive curriculum introduces new topics based on the Seven Principles of Ocean Literacy each week. Developing our students' understanding of the Ocean is essential to protecting our planet and cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards.

Principle #1

The Earth has one big Ocean with many features.

Session 1: June 29 – July 3

Blue Planet

Learn about the different properties of the Ocean: The ocean is Earth’s most defining physical feature, shaping our planet in many different ways. It plays a central role in the water cycle, connecting with other water reservoirs through processes like evaporation, precipitation, and the flow of water into watersheds. Explore the differences between freshwater and saltwater, discover how temperature influences density, and see how these fundamental properties of water impact our daily lives with hands-on STEM activities.

Bay Buccs

• Density of water 

• Glaciers and formations 

• Water cycle 

• Water cycle diorama 

Sound Swash

• Water everywhere 

• Paper clip challenge 

• Water temperature 

• Water cycle

• Water cycle diorama 


First Mates

• Water everywhere 

• Water quality 

• Water cycle and watersheds 

• Density of water 

• Sea level rising 

Skippers

• Water cycle and watersheds 

• Density of water 

• Water quality 

• Long Island formations 

• Sea levels and plate tectonics 

• Physics- Egg drop challenge 

• Ocean currents 

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Principle #2

The Ocean and life in the Ocean shape the features of Earth.

Session 2: July 6 – July 17

Beaches & Coasts

Explore our beaches and coastlines: The Ocean affects our earth in countless ways. Discover how currents, waves, and wind bridge the gap between the land and sea and have changed the way we live. Explore tides, our changing sea levels, and take a step back to learn about the formation of Long Island 20,000 years ago. Explore the beach, collect data, and study sediments with some of the same methods scientists utilize every day!

Bay Buccs

• Permanent sand castle craft

• Beach walk/exploration

• Sand art 

• Create a coastline and Erosion

• Pet Rocks

Sound Swash

• Build a dam

• Coastal erosion

• Long Island formation and glaciers

• Permanent sand castle craft

• Make a volcano

First Mates

• Make a Volcano

• Build a dam

• Long Island formation and glaciers

• Tides and the moon

Skippers

• Earth's layers 

• Design a functional dam

• Coastal erosion

• Long Island formation and glaciers

• Tides and moon

Mariners

• Water quality experiments 

• Plate tectonics 

• Long Island formation 

• Physics

• Ocean currents 

• Data collection 

• Stream table 

Mariners

• Rock type and formation  

• Design a functional dam

• Long Island formation and glaciers

• Structure of sand using microscopes

• Bathymetry Boxes

• Beach profiles

• Plate tectonics demo

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Principle #3

The Ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

Weather & Climate Change

Learn how Oceans, Weather, and Human Activity change the world around us: Human activity has led the world into a climate crisis that we have never seen before. Changes in the composition of our atmosphere, ocean, and its currents have led to abrupt changes in climate for the last 50,000 years. Learn how the Ocean absorbs, stores, and moves elements like heat, carbon, and water to keep the balance. Connect with the water and its natural cycle by creating your own clouds. Take a deep dive to learn about weather events by creating your own hurricanes in a jar. You can even design your own wind turbine blades and generate your own renewable energy!

Bay Buccs

• Puffy cloud craft

• Water cycle diorama

• Cloud in a jar 

• Hurricane in a bottle

• Make your own cloud

Sound Swash

• Hurricane in a bottle 

• Ocean currents and climate trays

• DIY anemometers and wind currents

• Water everywhere

• Recyclable boats and water Current

First Mates

• DIY anemometers and wind currents 

• Ocean currents and climate trays

• Design a wind turbine/renewable energy

• Watersheds and stream Table

• Recyclable boats and water currents

• Natural disasters

Skippers

• Design a wind turbine/renewable energy

• Ocean acidification experiment

• Sail cars and wind currents 

• Recyclable boats and water currents

• El Niño, La nina, and our seasons

• Solar stil

Mariners

• Design your own wind turbine/renewable energy

• Ocean acidification experiment

• Carbon in our oceans experiment

• Ocean currents experiment

• Solar still

• El Niño, La Niña, and our seasons

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Principle #4

The Ocean made the Earth habitable.

Session 3: July 20 – July 31

Shapes Of Life

Learn how the Ocean made the Earth habitable: Explore the habitats within Oyster Bay. Learn about the first lifeforms, animals that are now extinct, and how we have been able to classify them over the years. Collect plankton and other small organisms to see the most essential link in the food web. In celebration of Shark Week, dive deeper into the lives of the ocean's most iconic animals and understand the vital role they play in keeping our oceans healthy. Sharks predate the dinosaurs and trees, with the earliest fossils being found over 400 million years ago, shaping life as we know it, and making their protection essential.

SHARK WEEK ACTIVITIES

  • Learn about different species

  • Osteo (bony) vs Cartilaginous fish 

  • Shark measuring 

  • Shark teeth and fossilization 

  • Shark senses

  • Shark trivia

  • Shark statistics 

  • Crafts and experiments

Bay Buccs

• Animal Kingdom 

• How plants grow 

• Plankton tow & craft

Sound Swash

• Animal Kingdom

• Extinct animals

First Mates

• Animal kingdom 

• Make your own plankton tow 

• Plankton ID 

• Create a field guide 

• Food webs

Skippers

• Ocean acidification 

• Make your own plankton tow 

• Plankton ID & microscopes 

• Food webs

Mariners

• Species ID with iNaturalist 

• Photosynthesis and plant growth experiment

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Principle #5

The Ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

Life Under The Sea

Learn all about marine life and their habitats: Become familiar with a vast array of organisms that inhabit our bays, oceans, and estuaries. Discover how marine animals interact, adapt, and survive under different oceanic conditions. In celebration of Shark Week, dive deeper into the lives of the ocean's most iconic animals and understand the vital role they play in keeping our oceans healthy. 


SHARK WEEK ACTIVITIES

  • Learn about different species

  • Osteo (bony) vs Cartilaginous fish 

  • Shark measuring 

  • Shark teeth and fossilization 

  • Shark senses

  • Shark trivia

  • Shark statistics 

  • Crafts and experiments

Bay Buccs

• Design a fish 

•Animal highlights & crafts

• Exploring estuaries

• Adaptations

• Apex predators 

• Marine mammals 

• Sniggling

Sound Swash

• Animal highlights & crafts 

• Coral reefs 

• Exploring estuaries

• Adaptations 

• Food webs

• Invasive vs non-invasive species

First Mates

• Animal highlights

• Quadrats 

• Coral reefs 

• Exploring our beach 

• Trophic levels

• Invasive vs non-invasive species 


Skippers

• Quadrats 

• Coral beaching 

• Plankton & microscopes 

• Abiotic vs biotic 

• Invasive species data collection

• Trophic levels

Mariners

• Quadrats 

• Animal highlight experiments  

• Dissections 

• ROVs 

• Trophic levels and management 

• Deep-sea sampling 

• Sand and fossils 

• Shoreline science 

• Create your own ecosystem

Principle #6

The Ocean & humans are inextricably interconnected.

Session 4: August 3 – August 14

The Ocean Is Our Friend

Learn about connections between the Ocean and humans: The connection between humans and the ocean is significant. It provides us with oxygen, food, climate regulation, and recreation. However, human activities have severely and negatively impacted the ocean's health. Learn how we can help save our oceans and protect our waterways, and how the Ocean benefits us.


Bay Buccs

• Camouflage

• Oysters & filter feeders

• Dam building 

• Beach cleanups 

• Pollution pond

Sound Swash

• Oysters & filter feeders

• Water, water, everywhere

• Natural disasters 

• Renewable/nonrenewable Resources 

• Food webs

• Beach cleanups

• Recycled jewelry

First Mates

• Water quality

• Oyster measuring

• Horseshoe Crab blood

• Microplastics

• Natural disasters

Skippers

• Fishing & overfishing

• Fisheries & transportation

• Oyster measuring

• Microplastics

• Ocean acidification

• Natural disasters

• Algal blooms

• Renewable resources

• Dissection

Mariners

• Fishing

• Fisheries management

• Water quality

• Ocean acidification

• Build renewable resources

• ROVs

• STEM experiments

• Overfishing

• Recycled jewelry

Principle #7

The Ocean is largely unexplored.

Into The Abyss

The ocean is largely unexplored: Dive deep into the abyss. We think we know so much about the Ocean floor, but in reality, we have only explored and mapped less than ten percent of it! It’s important to learn about the sea floor, not just for our own curiosity, but to learn about and understand animals that live there and the adaptations they have to survive such a vast and empty habitat. Get the full scoop on how we continually explore the Ocean by creating your own remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Challenge your friends with compasses in both the water and on land for navigation and orienteering. Learn about the water-quality differences deep-sea animals must adapt to and overcome.


Bay Buccs

• Mythological sea creatures

• Treasure hunt

• Submarine activity

• Bioluminescence craft

Sound Swash

• ROV building/testing

• Mythological sea creatures

• Compass navigation

• Submarine activity

• Bioluminescence lesson

First Mates

• ROV building/testing

• Water pressure experiment

• Turbidity test

• Treasure hunt

• Bioluminescence lesson

Skippers

• Navigation and orienteering

• ROV building/testing

• Deep sea sampling

• Ocean acidification

• Bioluminescence lesson

Mariners

• Van Dorn tests

• DIY secchi disc

• ROV building/testing

• Hydrothermal vents

• Ocean acidification

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