We offer a 5-day educational program, designed to provide boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 15 with the opportunity to experience life on the ocean first-hand.
There are days when the ocean seems so vast and empty. Then, from nowhere a huge whale erupts from beneath the surface.
We'll spend a day searching out whales and dolphins for a close-up look at their lifestyles. This is an exciting and memorable day as these gentle giants are awesome to witness in their natural habitat.
Lobster fishing is an intricate part of our New England culture and is one of the nation's largest industries. More than $100 million in lobsters were harvested and sold in New England last year.
Each camper will have his or her very own lobster traps for the week. They will bait, set and haul their traps, learning how to handle and identify their catch, as well as learning conservation measures designed to protect our fisheries and oceans for the future. On the last day of camp, the campers and their parents will enjoy a lobster bake with lobsters caught by the campers themselves!
Despite modern advancements in ocean research, very little has been accomplished with regard to the travels of shark species in the northern waters off New England. Camp Ocean Adventures is engaged in a shark tagging and monitoring program.
Of course we're not going to allow your youngster to stick his or her fingers or other body parts near the business end of a dangerous shark but they'll be right close by with a bird's eye view. Under close supervision, each boy or girl will catch sharks using modern sportfishing techniques. It's sure to be the thrill of a lifetime, and our trained crew will harmlessly insert a monitoring tag and the shark will be released unharmed.
Your boy or girl will be outfitted with modern rod, reel and angling belts to insure safety and comfort and our crew will have one hand on the camper and the other on the gear as he or she tests her strength and angling skills against these toothy giants. Thresher, Porbeagel, Mako, Sand and Blue Sharks measuring from between 4 and 10 feet will be targeted and your youngster is sure to return with stories and memories that will surely last a lifetime.
Deep sea fishing is one of the most popular and fun ways to spend a summer day in New England.
Aboard Island Bound, we'll cruise 10 - 15 miles offshore, then anchor up or drift over some of our favorite underwater ledges, where the campers will not only can catch cod, haddock, pollack and a variety of other fish they probably have never seen or heard of, but gain a deeper understanding of the delicate balance between humans and the ocean life. Your youngster will more than likely come home with a delicious haddock or cod fillet for dinner!
The Isles of Shoals, six miles off the coast, is comprised of nine islands and ledges that are divided between Maine and New Hampshire. Rich in marine resources and natural history, the Isles of Shoals is home to the Shoals Marine Laboratory of Cornell University in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire.
As part of our educational program, we will visit the Laboratory and explore the many natural and historical treasures that abound on the Isles of Shoals, gaining a deeper understanding of the diverse and delicate marine ecosystem that exists in our oceans.
After many years of strict conservation regulations, striped bass and bluefish populations have made an amazing comeback. We will fish for stripers and blues at the Isles of Shoals. These are exciting fish to hook up to, as the fish can range from 6 pounds to 40 pounds.
We will teach the campers some of our best tips and techniques for baiting, hooking, and landing the fish successfully and they will learn how to filet their catch and prepare it for the dinner table! Your youngster will also learn conservation measures designed to insure that the fish stocks will remain for the future, and our own personal motto which is we only keep what we will eat.
The Coast Guard is an integral part of our lives on the ocean, from rescue missions to boater safety courses, and port security.
We will experience the life of a Coast Guardsman as we tour the Portsmouth Coast Guard Station and their lookout tower, and take a ride on their 47 foot rescue vessel. This is sure to be an exciting and memorable trip!
