Summer Camp

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2024 Pigeon Key Marine Science Summer Camp 

The Pigeon Key Marine Science Center curriculum gravitates towards hands-on learning and interaction within the Florida Keys ecosystem, providing campers with a fun and pivotal, one-of-a-kind experience.

Our camp offers a variety of marine programs, giving your campers a solid and multi-faceted understanding of the marine world around them. Campers are given a brief background on the subject and then immersed in the field, allowing them to utilize their newly acquired knowledge.

Activities include a variety of games, dissections, invertebrate collections, marine organism scavenger hunts, a Sombrero Reef snorkel trip, and many more.

Contact Jill today to be added to our email blast to receive up-to-date information!

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Have Questions?

Contact our Education Director!

Jill Hayden
570-926-5842
Jill@PigeonKey.net

2024 SUMMER CAMP DATES

DAY CAMPS (Ages 8-16)

June 24th - June 28th
July 8th - July 12th
July 29th - August 2nd

OVERNIGHT CAMPS (Ages 10-16)

July 1st - July 5th
July 15th- July 19th
July 22nd - July 26th

Pigeon Key & Marine Science Center gravitates towards hands-on learning and interaction within the Florida Keys ecosystem, providing campers with a fun and pivotal, one-of-a-kind experience.

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PKFMSC offers a variety of marine programs, giving your campers a solid and multi-faceted understanding of the marine world around them. Campers are given a brief background on the subject and then immersed in the field, allowing them to utilize their newly acquired knowledge. Activities include a variety of games, marine organism scavenger hunts, an underwater obstacle course, a Sombrero Reef snorkel trip and many more.

2024 SUMMER CAMP DATES

DAY CAMPS (Ages 8-16)

June 24th - June 28th
July 8th - July 12th
July 29th - August 2nd

OVERNIGHT CAMPS (Ages 10-16)

July 1st - July 5th
July 15th- July 19th
July 22nd - July 26th

Frequently asked questions

The most commonly asked questions about Pigeon Key Summer Camps.

 

How do I register my camper?

We use an online registration system to help simplify the summer camp sign up process. Please see the link at the top of this page to register.

Please note:

A deposit and all completed registration forms will be will be required in order to save your camper’s spot.

The final payment will be automatically collected via the credit card on file 30 days before the beginning of camp.

What is the cost of camp for the week?

Day Camp Pricing:

5 Days of Fun in the Sun

$500.00 

Required Registration Deposit: $150.00

Overnight Camp Pricing: 

5 Days/4 Nights of Fun in the Sun 

$1,550.00 

Required Registration Deposit: $300.00

How fast does camp fill up?

Typically, our Overnight Camp fills up faster than our Day Camp sessions. Since our transportation to the island is via train over the Old 7 Mile Bridge, we can only accommodate a certain number of campers for each week.

We urge you to register sooner rather than later to secure your camper’s spot once registration is open.

What will my camper be doing while at Pigeon Key Camp?

Pigeon Key Summer Camp focuses on marine science education with a fun, hands-on approach. Our staff all have backgrounds in biology and love to share their knowledge.

Campers will get into the ocean everyday, so every child, no matter swimming experience, gets comfortable and can explore. We swim/ snorkel around the island and Pigeon Key dock, allowing the kids to be immersed in the enviroment they are learning about. Campers will also go out to Sombrero Reef Lighthouse where they get to experience a coral reef and the ecosystem surrounding it.  

Your camper will learn all about various marine science topics including shark biology, reef fish, marine habitats, squid biology, invertebrate biodiversity, and so much more. Each program has a hands on activity and your camper will come home having tidepooled for starfish, fed sharks, dissected squids, and participated in biology- focused games.

And of course, they will be having fun! We will play games throughout the day, including a Fun Field Game Friday. Kids get the opportunity to explore, spend hours in the water and on our dock, and make friends from all over the country. 

Why are cell phones and other electronics not permitted at Pigeon Key Summer Camp?

This decision was not made lightly and after much thought and research, we have found that over 90% of camps accredited through the American Camp Association implement some sort of tech restrictions. Studies have shown that limiting tech use at camp leads to interpersonal communication, friendships and independence. It also aids in the decrease of cyberbullying and homesickness. This also includes campers feeling comfortable to approach their camp counselors about anything that arises in terms of their safety, health and well-being while they are at camp for the week.

The Pigeon Key Camp staff will be posting photos periodically throughout the week to our Instagram account and guardians will get a link of camp photos at the end of the week to see what their campers experienced on Pigeon Key. Guardians are more than welcome to mail their campers letters prior to arrival for them to receive during their week of camp. 

Breakfast will be served at 8am each day. If you know your camper is an early riser, please send them a quiet activity (book, solitaire, etc.) that they can do while letting the other campers sleep until Morning Wake Up Call. Camp counselors will also be providing board games, playing cards and other activities in the bunks in the evenings.

If campers do bring these banned devices, the counselors will confiscate them and they will be handed over to their guardians on Friday at Pick-Up. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Mailing Address: Camper Name, ATTN Summer Camp, PO BOX 500130, Marathon, FL 33050

PKFMSC offers a variety of marine programs, giving your campers a solid and multi-faceted understanding of the marine world around them. Campers are given a brief background on the subject and then immersed in the field, allowing them to utilize their newly acquired knowledge. Activities include a variety of games, marine organism scavenger hunts, an underwater obstacle course, a Sombrero Reef snorkel trip and many more.
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Pigeon Key Summer Camp

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