Stocking the Pond: NOAA Living Marine Resource Cooperative Science Center's Coast Camp Engages Diverse Youth

The SSU Coast Camp was developed through the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center as a tuition-free camp meant to make marine science education available to urban youth in the city of Savannah, Georgia. It was developed placing particular emphasis on engaging groups traditionally under-represented in the marine sciences and on teaching marine science in a culturally relevant context at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). A major objective of the camp was to offer a longer exposure to marine and oceanic curricula.  The curriculum was developed using the seven ocean literacy principles as an outline for activities that occurred within a 7:30am-12:00pm daily schedule.  The camp structure was organized to group youth in age classes that would challenge younger students without boring older students, simulating a lower elementary (7-8 year old), higher elementary (9-10 year old), middle (11-13 year old) and high school (14-18 year old) organizational structure. Students were exposed to NOAA modules on marine issues and other topics relevant to basic literacy and that expressed particular concerns that the youth face as residents of a coastal city. Students were evaluated using pretests, post tests, and daily assessments.  Parent completed exit evaluations on the last day of the camp. This presentation will provide an evaluative update on the 30 day camp, now in its 4th year. Trends across gender and within ethnic groups will be explored further in this talk, as will strategies for engaging diverse youth.