Camps

Inspired by Carl Hiaasen's book Hoot and our own childhoods, we offer a number of week-long camps where kids learn a little biology, a few old school “waterman” skills, and some kid skills. We'll make friends, enjoy the ocean, and have tons of fun!

We keep the size of our camps small and the meaningful experiences big. Typically, the camper to teacher ratio is less than 12 to 1. Most weeks are geared toward campers 6 – 13, although we do have age-specific weeks for students as young as 4 and as old as 17, and expeditions for older campers.

We also offer a Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program at each location for kids 13 and older who would like to explore their leadership potential. Learn more in our camp program descriptions.

Each week of camp has its own theme and activities, but there are some things we do every week. We surf each day, and our famous Surf Paddling Competition is held each Friday. In Sanibel Sea School style, every day includes surfing, friendship, macramé and team bonding. Then there’s always artwork, journaling, beach time, seining and snorkeling. Our "Milk and Cookies Slideshow" takes place every Friday at the end of the day. Bring some delicious baked goodies and join us to experience your child's week of camp.

We hope you'll join us for fun and learning in our island ecosystem at one of our locations.

Winter Camps

This year, we're offering a 3-day week and a 4-day week for campers ages 6-13 and Counselors in Training (CITs) ages 13-17. Registration for camp will open at 10 a.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 4

As the frosty air and holiday cheer settle in, it's that time of year when Sanibel Sea School invites young adventurers for Winter Camp. Campers learn a little biology, how to surf, and more.

The days are filled with artwork, journaling, beach time, seining, and snorkeling. We practice surfing daily in preparation for our famous Surf Paddle Race on Friday morning, followed by our “Milk and Cookies Slideshow” on Friday afternoon. Bring some delicious baked goodies and join us to experience your child’s week of camp.

Read about each week’s theme, pricing, and information on how to register below. We also offer a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program each week for teens ages 13 and older who want to explore their leadership potential.

Islands Skills (Ages 6 – 13)
Counselor in Training Program (Ages 13 – 17)

This year, we're rolling out the red carpet for the largest marine phylum — mollusks! These soft-bodied marvels have made their way into freshwater & terrestrial habitats, mastered the art of shell-making, and mesmerized scientists with their nervous systems. With a staggering selection of around 85,000 species, we've handpicked two of our favorites, and we can't wait for you to fall in love with them!

Week 1: Jingle All the Way Week

Dec. 27 – 29, 2023

*Three-day week. No camp on Monday or Tuesday.

Location: Homestead Campus (1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL)
Camper: $225/week; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CIT: $159/week; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Dashing through the waves, a pearly shell we see, over the dunes we go, laughing all the way! Jingle shells are shimmery, colorful bivalves that sparkle on our beaches during overcast winter days. If you listen carefully, you may even hear the song they make as they’re tossed around in the waves. This week, we will learn all about the mollusks that create these jingling shells and how they live permanently attached to surfaces using byssus threads. Campers come collect all the colors you can find — orange, white, black, and silver! We’ll need them for festive shell art and to start the first-ever Sanibel Sea School Jingle Shell Band. It wouldn’t be an Island Skills camp without macramé or riding our surfboards in the Gulf waves. There will be wetsuits, there will be hot cocoa and plenty of ocean love. Jingle shells, jingle shells, jingle all the way…

Week 2: Chiton Countdown

Jan. 2 - 5, 2024

*Four-day week. No camp on Monday.

Location: Homestead Campus (1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL)
Camper: $300/week; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CIT: $212/week; 8 a.m - 5 p.m.

Come learn about some of the more mysterious mollusks with us this week and kick 2024 off right. Chiton have a shell composed of eight overlapping plates or valves, which allows them to stay permanently attached to hard surfaces or fold and curl when needed for locomotion. Their vision is out of this world; they have up to 1,000 eyes to look out for predators and navigate. This week, we’ll conduct experiments to investigate chiton vision, turn over rocks and shells to find as many as possible, and finish the week showing off our “Chiton Couture.” No Island Skills camp would be complete without surfing, seining, games, and macramé. And because we’re big on traditions here at Sanibel Sea School, this week, we’ll hold our annual “Give Your Worries to the Sea” ceremony on Tuesday. 8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1… Happy New Year!

CIT Program (Ages 13 – 17)

7:30/8 a.m – 5 p.m.

Offered simultaneously to Jingle All the Way Week and Chiton Countdown.

CITs arrive one hour before the start of camp and leave one hour after the camp day ends. CITs arrive at 7:30 a.m. on their first day only.

This program is designed to teach our older campers the skills needed for leadership and future employment. CITs are a vital link between our younger campers and the counselors in our programs. Through theory and practice, we teach our CITs how to be leaders and positive role models to those around them. We assign duties and create and maintain performance expectations for these young leaders. We treat them with gentleness, love, and respect but show them how to carry out the responsibilities they are now capable of and how to use their abilities to become excellent role models. All CITs will complete an online leadership training course prior to camp. On any given day, it is hard to tell who is having more fun, the campers or the CITs.

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Summer Camps

Details, including registration dates, for Summer Camp 2024 will be announced in January.

Don't miss the announcement - sign up for our email list here!

kids and counselor during summer camp on the beach with Sanibel Sea School