Special to The Leader

Families can now register online for the Port Townsend Marine Science Center’s summer day camps, which allow young scientists and adventurers to spend a week at a time exploring beaches, playing games, making crafts, uncovering treasures hidden in the Marine Science Center exhibits, and hiking through Fort Worden State Park.

“Junior Explorers” aged 6-7 years can attend three-hour morning or afternoon sessions, with morning sessions available in both July and August, while afternoon sessions are only available in July for $200.This half-day camp allows kids to discover marine and coastal life, animals, plants, and secret spots.

“Coastal Explorers” aged 8-9 years can attend six-hour morning and afternoon sessions in June and August for $350.

This full-day camp allows nature-loving kids to examine the varied coastal environments of beach, glacial bluff, forest, pond, and meadow. Using observation skills, campers discover how these places support life in the coastal ecosystem. Through partnership with the Northwest Maritime Center, a short boating expedition is provided as part of this camp.

“Marine Biology” is open to those aged 10-12 years who can attend six-hour morning and afternoon sessions in July and August for $375. This full-day camp allows kids to engage in classes, labs, field programs, and conservation in the nearshore marine environment as they sieve through sediments looking for brittle stars, study a gray whale skeleton, and use microscopes to observe plankton.

“Marine Biology: Afoot & Afloat” is open to those aged 11-14 years who can attend six-to-seven-hour morning and afternoon sessions in July and August for $495. This full-day camp allows kids to engage in hands-on activities and sail aboard Northwest Maritime Center vessels while doing scientific investigations.

Ashore, students participate in intertidal surveys and labs in the aquarium tanks and exhibits.

“Creatures of the Sea & Shore Art Camp” is open to those aged 7-10 years who can attend six-hour morning and afternoon sessions in August for $400.

This full-day camp allows kids to experience beach adventures and art at Fort Worden, spending the first half of the day at the beach with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center before heading to Northwind Art for crafts, stories, and outdoor games with local youth arts educator Mikal from Wild Child Arts Education.

This program is run by Northwind Art and you can register and find additional course details, the cancellation policy, and more on their website at Northwindart.org online.

To register your child for a Port Townsend Marine Science Center summer camp, click the camp date registration links at https://ptmsc.org/summer-camps online. You will be directed to the online registration form. Payment in full is requested upon completion of the online registration form, but you do have the option to pay by check.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center members receive $10 off each registration.

To help make these summer camps more accessible for your child, you may contact Liesl Slabaugh by emailing lslabaugh@ptmsc.org or calling 360-385-5582, ext. 101, to learn about scholarship options.

Please register for camp before applying for a scholarship, and choose the “pay by check” option, so payment won’t be required.

Any teens who enjoy working outdoors, with youth, and love marine science are welcome to help the summer camps as volunteer camp counselors.

If you have questions about any aspect of camp, email camps@ptmsc.org or call 360-385-5582, ext. 120.