Career Camp at Seaworld

[Olaf]

I've signed my 13-year-old DS up for Career Camp at Seaworld this August. He's extremely excited. We did Discovery Cove when he was in Kindergarten and he's thrilled to be going back.

Has anyone done this camp? Would love some feedback. Many thanks.

 

[bairdbeth]

Would love some info too! DD(12) is doing the career camp during the wwek of July 14. That is all she is talking about!

 

[sbplayer2410]

I did the advanced career camp for the past two years, so it was a little different but not too much.
It was a really great camp and i wish i could go back this year.
Some of the really exciting things are the dolphin/discovery cove day.
The penguin encounter: you get to go behind in the actual penguin exhibit and shovel a little snow and pet the penguins
-Throw on a wetsuit and swim in the shamu tank (no whales are present)
-you get to go to all the shows (or just about all of them) and ride the rides.
-and learn about all the areas of the park, like animal training, husbandry etc.
If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me

 

[sbplayer2410]

Here is the link to a previous post that i made about the camp
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1545537

 

[DixieDolphin]

I did CareerCamp about ten years ago at Sea World's San Antonio park. Now, they may have changed the program some since then, but I thought it was a very valuable experience!

When I did it, we spent a lot of time working with the animal training & care staff. Each day, we'd work with a different department. Most of the days, we got to help with fish breakout and food prep (which I'm sure was nice for the folks who do it daily to have twelve or thirteen students helping out!). Then we'd get to help feed in most areas as well.

In Texas, they had dorms on site where we stayed. It may be different at the Orlando park (I know that when I was in elementary school, I did a lot of day camps and sleepover camps in Orlando... on those, we sacked out in the exhibits).

There were lots of opportunities to interact with the animals, but most were at the surface (aka: no swim). That may not be the case here and now, though (this WAS a ten years ago!)

All in all, I think it was the best week I'd ever spent. Learned quite a lot! If they offered it for adults, I'd surely do it again!

Oddly enough, I was just going through my old photo albums last night and scanning some of the photos from that trip. Weird timing!

=)

 

[DixieDolphin]

Okay.. now that I can link to photos... here's a little sampling of my CareerCamp experience in 1998...

Let's just say, it was the most amazing week I ever had! I saved up for two years to pay for the camp & the plane ticket to San Antonio (which was quite an accomplishment for a high schooler, considering the expense!). No regrets what so ever!

And, oddly enough, I still maintain a friendship with a couple of the people from across the country I met at that camp.. ten years later. Now that's a good experience!

=)

 

[Ann Giles]

Thanks for posting the great pictures!

Should I plan on sending his wet suit with him then? I'm not sure if they'll swim in the whale tank or not. There's absolutely NOTHING mentioned of what they'll do day to day. Makes packing VERY hard!

Do they provide a wet suit? 50 degrees is COLD!!!

What about rain boots for while he's in the penguin exhibit or other wet/cold areas?

Thanks!

 

[sbplayer2410]

seaworld provides all of the wetsuits needed and boots for the swimming encounters and penguin exhibit.
basically for packing, pack his bathing suit, shorts and t-shirts, things that will be comfortable in the heat, and some comfortable shoes or sandals, you do a ton of walking around the park but the staff make sure all of the campers have enough water and dont get overheated. seaworld also provides water bottles and there are always opportunities to fill them throughout the day.
make sure he has a sleeping bag and pillow, you do stay overnight in either the dolphin viewing section, the manatee exhibit or the beluga exhibit, and it actually does get cold at night.
if you have any questions as time for his camp draws near dont hesitate to message me, i did do it for two years and hope to go back as a counselor maybe next year, so i have a good idea about the program and should be able to answer most of your questions.

 

[Dolphina]

are there actually camps for adults? since I'm already 25... but I'd so love to take part in such a camp, too!