SeaWorld Adventure Camps

[addicted2dizney]

Hi All,
For many years I have considered sending my kids DD 15 and DS 13 to the SeaWorld Adventure Camps for one session. Time is flying by and I am really considering it for Summer 09. Has anyone gone to this themselves or sent their children? My DS loves animals, are there many boys his age that go or we he be the only one with a group of girls? I would love any info or insight into the program. Was there enough to keep the kids busy? Did you feel they were supervised enough? I am not sure if I will send them down on their own or fly down with them and "hang out" at a local hotel and do things on my own. Then when they are done with camp we can do a family trip in Disney. Any info or opinions would be much appreciated!

 

[onenightonly]

The older kids camp is structured for teens who have a strong interest in working with animals especially marine mammals. They learn a lot and get unique opportunities like to take the actual SeaWorld swim test IN whales and dolphin stadium. There's also fun activities like trips to Busch Gardens etc.

The supervision is always there. I believe there are two counselors per group. All of them are certified lifeguards, etc. The educators are the top educators working at SeaWorld.

I wish I did it as a kid. I know about the program because I applied to be a counselor last summer. Did not get the job though.

 

[addicted2dizney]

Thanks for the info! Sorry you didn't get the job. Has anyone out there sent their kids or attended? Both my kids are interested in careers with animals my son is especially interested in penguins. Was there much interaction with penguins?

 

[eeyoreforever]

My dd did this last summer when she was 13. She attended a one week session at Sea World in San Antonio. She seemed to really enjoy it. They did both educational things as well as run (riding rides). On the last day of the camp, they spend the night in Sea World. They slept in the Penguin Encounter. As far as interaction with the animals, they touched a baby shark and dissected a squid. They brought some penguins out and let them walk around them but they were not allowed to touch them. This was a fairly expensive week, but I figured it was a one time thing and would probably be something she would always remember. If you decide to let your kids go, I'm sure they will have a good time.

 

[Janet Hill]

My kids 8 and 10 went the past two summers to the day camp. They enjoy it and they seem to keep them busy. I'm sure it will be much different for the older groups though. They get plenty of supervision.

I know in the younger groups there are a lot more girls than boys.

 

[addicted2dizney]

Thank you Janet and eeyore for your replies! Keep em coming people!

 

[vallamen]

I was a counselor for education department for a summer when I was in college - keep in mind it has been almost 10 yrs since I was there. I did not go on the adventure camps that went to the keys, but did the in house week long camps, overnights, as well as helped with pick ups and drop offs at the airport. The SW staff was very well organized - kids were very well supervised and were kept very busy. They get to do a ton of behind the scenes activities and had a ton of fun. As far as the airport goes, every arrival day - we would have a team of counselors there to meet them, help with baggage and get them to SW safely. Drop off day was the same way. It was actually a really smooth process. When I was there, it was probably 60/40 girls to boys. You may want to call the education department - they are very helpful and knowledgeable - would probably be able to give a better sense of the curriculum, age/gender breakdown of groups, and current policys/procedures. When I was there, the counselors were all college students majoring in education or a relevant science degree and then there was at least one staff member (sleep away camps had more) who was either full time SW education staff or a local teacher that worked at SW during the summer.

My two kiddos are too little at this point for camp, but if they are interested when they get older, I would definately send them. Frankly, I enjoyed the summer immensely. Such a cool program and fantastic atmosphere.

Good Luck!
Val.

 

[addicted2dizney]

I was a counselor for education department for a summer when I was in college - keep in mind it has been almost 10 yrs since I was there. I did not go on the adventure camps that went to the keys, but did the in house week long camps, overnights, as well as helped with pick ups and drop offs at the airport. The SW staff was very well organized - kids were very well supervised and were kept very busy. They get to do a ton of behind the scenes activities and had a ton of fun. As far as the airport goes, every arrival day - we would have a team of counselors there to meet them, help with baggage and get them to SW safely. Drop off day was the same way. It was actually a really smooth process. When I was there, it was probably 60/40 girls to boys. You may want to call the education department - they are very helpful and knowledgeable - would probably be able to give a better sense of the curriculum, age/gender breakdown of groups, and current policys/procedures. When I was there, the counselors were all college students majoring in education or a relevant science degree and then there was at least one staff member (sleep away camps had more) who was either full time SW education staff or a local teacher that worked at SW during the summer.

My two kiddos are too little at this point for camp, but if they are interested when they get older, I would definately send them. Frankly, I enjoyed the summer immensely. Such a cool program and fantastic atmosphere.

Good Luck!
Val.

Wow, thank you for sharing your experience! It does sound wonderful! We are working on a very busy and expensive summer 2009! DD will be going to a $1K for a week gymnastics camp and I would love to send them both to SW for the week. I would love, love, love to stay in a local hotel and do my own thing for the week, including shopping and Disney by myself! Then grab them from the camp and do the "official family" Dis trip. Plus we are working on a week in Hilton head with the inlaws and possibly a family trip to Hawaii. I know it's a lot for one summer but it just seems like it's all going to have to fit into next summer! I am going to get my other dates set and then contact SW by early December to nail down weeks to send the kids. I really want to use this as a Christmas gift and I can surprise them on Christmas with the news. Thanks again!

 

[Janet Hill]

http://www.seaworld.org/adventure-camps/swf/index.htm

Dates are out for 2009. The week my kids are in camp is my vacation week. We ususally stay at Horizons Marriott and I just relax for an entire week. Get the nails done lay by the pool or watch trash tv all day (Lifetime). Next summer I will have two week of this decadance as they will be doing Sea World one wee and Space Camp the next.

 

[slk08c]

Hi! I went to adventure camp for two summers when I was 15 and 16 and absolutely loved it! It's a great experience and everyone there is wonderful! The programs I got to participate in we're unbelievable, shark dives, penguin encounter, and dolphin swims! I would most definitely recommend adventure camp! I'm not a freshman in college and am hoping to be a counselor in two years!