Marine Biology Camp

Our classrooms are the dynamic, thriving marine environments of the southern New England coast. Summer Marine Program students will learn about coastal ecosystems, food webs, productivity of the sea, plants and animals in the coastal zone, current events in marine biology and much more.

Program Highlights

The program includes lodging, meals, instruction, materials, use of laboratories, equipment and field trips.
Field excursions unlock the excitement and fun of marine biology:

Learn oceanographic sampling techniques
Explore bay ecosystems by sea kayak
Snorkel along barrier beaches and tidal pools
View whales during a boat trip off Cape Cod
Identify marine organisms
Daily opportunity to be in or on the water

Field trips are complemented by challenging laboratory demonstrations and experiments. Typical topics include:

Plankton sampling
Shellfish and finfish biology
Productivity studies

Recognized experts will present guest seminars on current topics in marine biology. Previous presentations have included:

Marine mammal protection
Invasive species
Overfishing
Toxic plankton blooms
Aquaculture

Eligibility and Application Procedures

High school students aged 15-17 with an interest in the aquatic sciences are welcome to apply to the program. Each session is led by one Faculty Director, two Camp Directors, and three Resident Assistants that reside in the dorms with the participants. Lectures and other activities are led by our excellent Faculty. The cost of the program is $1,400, which includes lodging, meals, instruction, materials, use of laboratories, equipment and field trips.

A $200 deposit is due with the application; full payment is due by June 1, 2024.

REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.
Add your name to the waitlist

Please note that we recommend Covid-19 vaccination for camp participation. Health forms are currently being updated and will be emailed to registrants once they are available.

2024 Dates

Session I: Sunday, 14 July to Saturday, 20 July
Session II: Sunday, 21 July to Saturday, 27 July
Session II: Sunday, 28 July to Saturday, 3 August

Facilities

The Rhode Island coast is an outstanding location for marine science education. Within a short boat ride or drive are perhaps the best examples of rocky intertidal, tidal pool, salt pond and barrier beach habitats on the US east coast.

The Summer Marine Biology Field Studies Program uses the state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities of the Marine and Natural Sciences Building. Students will conduct laboratory studies in a modern 3000 sq. ft. wet lab with flowing seawater. A Learning Platform that extends 200 ft. into Mt. Hope Bay supports many other program activities. Research vessels are available for field explorations and sampling.

Summer Field Program students reside, double occupancy, in a contemporary, waterside residence hall. Meals are served in our modern, campus dining center. Recreation facilities are available for after-hours relaxation.

Faculty and Staff

Individual attention from RWU faculty and staff are a hallmark of our program. Enrollment is limited to 18 per session, ensuring each student is fully challenged.

Outstanding current Roger Williams University marine biology students serve as Resident Staff. Students are supervised 24 hours per day.

About Roger Williams University

The scenic, 140 acre waterfront campus is located in the historic seaport town of Bristol, Rhode Island. Roger Williams University offers a wide range of liberal arts majors including an exceptional program in Marine Biology and professional programs in architecture, business, education, engineering, historic preservation, justice studies and law.

Athletic options, numerous clubs and organizations, and community-enrichment opportunities enhance the experiences of students who come to the University from across the country and throughout the world to explore, learn and to succeed.

For questions, please contact Dr. Timothy Scott: tscott@rwu.edu; (401) 254-3563.

FAQs

i. Who SHOULD apply to Marine Biology Camp?
This camp is an excellent fit for curious students that enjoy science, those who may be interested in studying marine science in college, and students who enjoy being in and on the water and discovering what’s in it. Marine Biology camp at RWU is an engaging experience designed to expose high school students to the bounty and variety of marine life in and around RI, by learning standard sampling and observation methods in oceanography and marine biology. Students will participate in field and laboratory activities that are similar in scope to learning activities of first year college students majoring in Marine Biology at RWU. On most days, there are field and/or laboratory activities in the morning and afternoon (with breaks for meals), which are followed by guest lectures from RWU's expert marine scientists.

ii. Who SHOULD NOT apply to Marine Biology Camp?
This camp is not a good fit for students that are uneasy around the water or that do not have a genuine interest in science, or marine biology more specifically.

Please note campers sometimes report that, “My parents made me do this.” and for those students, Marine Biology camp rarely resonates in the ways that parents might be hoping. Please consider the interest of your child before signing them up for this camp; if they are not interested, please refrain from taking the space of another camper with genuine interest, and for creating an avoidably challenging situation that impacts the experience of other campers.

If you have questions or your child is uncertain, please talk to Brian Wysor, Faculty Director and Chair of the Department of Biology, Marine Biology & Environmental Science @ RWU (bwysor@rwu.edu; 401-254-3014) because this camp is a great way to evaluate interests in the field of marine biology, and of course we hope it inspires students to pursue their passions and curiosities.

iii. Can you help my camper get to RWU from the airport?
No. RWU does not provide support for travel to/from the airport and cannot house students outside of the specific dates of the camp for which they are registered. Note, most parents/guardians drop off their camper themselves.

iv. Are international students eligible to participate?
RWU does not restrict this experience to American Citizens, but we recognize that the coordination of travel for international participants is more complicated than that of participants arriving by car. RWU does not provide support for travel to/from the airport and cannot house students outside of the specific dates of the camp for which they are registered. With the understanding that the RWU Marine Biology program supports campers only for the duration of the camp and not at any time leading up to the start or any time after the official end of the camp, your application is welcomed.

v. What happens if a camper tests positive for COVID?
We are realistic about the possibility that COVID could impact camp experiences and while we are confident that we can offer a safe and fulfilling experience, we will be transparent about changes that are driven by COVID or other health and safety concerns. RWU COVID policies