2025 Junior Marine Scientist Camp

Do you have a little aspiring marine scientist in your household? 

TWM's Junior Marine Scientist Camp might be the perfect fit! Geared towards youngsters aged 7 to 14 years old (2nd to 8th grades), this multi-day camp will help your youngster learn about whales, seals, sea lions, and salmon and is filled with interactive and hands-on  activities such as building skeletons, games, PowerPoint presentations, crafts, specimens to touch and see, stories, & will end in a fun sleepover (Pod Nod) at the museum. Youth can be registered for each camp day and the Pod Nod separately or there is a package discount if they do the full program. We promise a high adult to child ratio and a whale of a good time for the children!

Dates & Times:

Thursday, August 7: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Pinnipeds (Seals & Sea Lions)

Friday, August 8: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins, & Porpoises)

Saturday, August 9, 6:30 pm to 8:00 am Sunday, August 10: Pod Nod 

What is included: 

Pinnipeds Day: 

-Talk about local pinniped species 

-Build a Steller Sea Lion skeleton 

-Pinniped themed activities and games

-Pinniped specimens to see & touch (fur, whiskers, teeth, bones, skulls, etc.)

-Pinniped themed story and craft 

Cetaceans Day:

-Talk about local cetacean species 

-Build a Gray Whale skeleton 

-Whale themed activities and games

-Cetacean specimens to see & touch (teeth, baleen, bones, skulls, etc.)

-Whale themed story and craft 

Pod Nod (theme: Fish Tales!):

-Talk about salmon and connection to Southern Resident killer whales

-Salmon themed activities and games (including Japanese fish printing)

-Salmon specimens to see & touch (Chinook skull, otoliths (ear bones), vertebrae, microscope slides of fish scales, life cycle stages, salmon scale leather hide, etc.)

-Flashlight tour of TWM

-Salmon themed story and craft

-Movie 

-Snacks and breakfast

What to bring:

Nothing special is needed for the Cetaceans and Pinnipeds camp days. However, we may have air conditioning on inside the museum, so layered clothing is suggested. For the Pod Nod, children should bring their own sleeping bag, pad, pillow, pajamas, toothbrush, and maybe a favorite stuffed animal. Don’t forget a flashlight for the Exhibit Hall tour! The museum floor is hard, so padding is very important! 

Price: 

For either the pinnipeds or cetaceans camp days: 

• $30 per youth per day Member Rate (if household members are Museum Members/Orca Adopters)
• $50 per youth per day Non-Member Rate (if no household members are Museum Members/Orca Adopters)

For the Pod Nod:

• $125 per youth Member Rate (if household members are Museum Members/Orca Adopters)
• $150 per youth Non-Member Rate (if no household members are Museum Members/Orca Adopters)

If doing full program (both camp days plus pod nod), discounted rates of:

• $150 per youth Member Rate (if household members are Museum Members/Orca Adopters)
• $200 per youth Non-Member Rate (if no household members are Museum Members/Orca Adopters)

Registration applications are processed in the order they are received. Please register no later than July 31. To register, please make payment and complete and return the registration form for your child (which you can download here). The registration form must be received by August 5.  Registration forms can be returned to tracie@whalemuseum.org

Refund Policy

All fees will be paid at the time of registration to ensure the participant’s place in the program.  Programs are offered on a first come, first served basis. The Whale Museum reserves the right to cancel any program. There is a minimum number of participants (ten) required to proceed with the camp. Maximum number of participants is 25. In the event the program is cancelled, you will be issued a full refund. If you cancel, tuition is fully refundable up until a week before the camp starts (July 31). If you cancel after this date, no refund will be issued. 

Feel free to contact Tracie Merrill with any questions.