Because I am considering a career in marine biology, my mother recently sent me to a youth camp known as Sea Camp San Diego. This week-long camp is designed to help students learn more about the ocean and the marine animals that reside in Southern California. This summer camp turned out to be one of the most fascinating and fun experiences that I have ever had. In fact, the week that I spent learning from marine biologists reinforced my desire to pursue the same career path and enabled me to make life-long friends with other teenagers from nine different states.
Sea Camp is located on Fiesta Island at the edge of Mission Bay in San Diego, California. As I boarded my flight to San Diego, I was a little scared at the thought of traveling to a different state by myself. However, the thing that made me the most nervous was the fact that I didn’t know anyone else attending the camp. Fortunately, my fears disappeared soon after I arrived at Sea Camp. The counselors assigned to our group were very friendly and they made everyone feel comfortable as they showed us around and explained what we would be doing during our visit.
The first night, we participated in activities designed to get to know the other teenagers; particularly, those with whom we would share a dormitory. I was assigned to bunk with six other girls who all live in the eastern part of the United States. These girls turned out to be some of the most amazing teenagers I have ever met and I will never forget the week that we spent together.
The activities that I enjoyed the most at Sea Camp were the snorkeling trips. Our first trip was to Mission Bay where we learned about the fish and animals that live among the rocks. For our second excursion, we swam with horned and spotted sharks at La Jolla Beach. This experience was exhilarating and a great way to learn about how sharks and people interact in the wild. On our final outing, we took a two-hour boat ride to the Coronado Islands, which are located 13 miles off the San Diego coast in Mexican waters. During our boat ride, we saw numerous common dolphins and three blue whales. The Coronado Islands were my favorite excursion because I saw the urchin forests, studied brittle sea stars, held a baby octopus, and swam with sea lions. As a result of these experiences, I have discovered a love for snorkeling and a desire to learn how to scuba dive.
Over the course of the week, our counselors conducted several labs based on the animals we would encounter on our trips. This was a great educational experience that enabled me to expand my knowledge about these amazing creatures. The labs that intrigued me the most were the marine mammal labs. One of the most interesting things that I learned from the lab based on whales is how all species of whales differ from each other.
The time that I spent at Sea Camp strengthened my desire to pursue a career in marine biology. It also allowed me to interact with others who share my love of the ocean and its amazing inhabitants. Finally, the experience enabled me to befriend girls and boys from all over the country. I will never forget the places I was fortunate enough to visit and the amazing things I experienced. I truly believe that Sea Camp is an unforgettable adventure that any teenager would enjoy.
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