2026 Camp Dates coming soon!
Rising 9th-12th Graders
The School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, The Fisheries Learning Center and Dauphin Island Discovery Hall Programs have partnered and are offering Coastal Fisheries Camp. This camp will be held on the Dauphin Island Sea Lab campus at Dauphin Island, Alabama. Dauphin Island is a barrier island a short distance off the Alabama gulf coast, south of Mobile, AL.
There will be no transportation from Auburn University. Camp begins and ends at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
The Coastal Fisheries Camp is a fun and intense 5-day academic camp that introduces high school students to the marine environment. The camp is designed to give students a better understanding and appreciation of the various fields in marine science.
Students will stay in the dorms on the Dauphin Island Sea Lab campus and participate in a variety of activities academic activities. Students will have the opportunity to observe and work with plankton nets, seine nets, water sampling bottles, refractometers and water quality test kits and other equipment. They will also collect and identify marine species from various habitats, participate in lab and field discussions, all under the guidance of award winning marine and aquatic educators from Auburn University and Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
Topics covered will include Barrier Island Formation and Ecology, Beach and Dune Ecology, Human Interactions with the Marine Environment, Estuarine Ecology, Marine Invertebrates, Plankton Communities, Principles of Oceanography, Salt Marsh Ecology, Marine Botany and Marine Vertebrates.
A great deal of time will be spent in the field, exploring and examining different marine communities. Field activities include the exploration of a salt marsh community, beach profiling, and trawling aboard the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's 65-foot research vessel, the R/V Alabama Discovery.
The camp is open to rising 9th-12th grade students.
HOUSING:
Campers will reside in the Dauphin Island Sea Lab dorms, located on the eastern end of Daulphin Island, Alabama. Dorms are double occupancy with a community bathroom on each hall. Boys and girls will be on different halls.
MEALS:
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab has a full-service cafeteria that will provide three hot meals per day. Special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
FACILITIES:
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is located on the eastern end of Dauphin Island, a 17-mile long barrier island approximately three miles from the mainland and thirty-five miles south of Mobile, Alabama. It is surrounded by Mobile Bay, Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. The 35-acre campus is bordered by Mobile Bay to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south.
Registration
Registration is now closed.
Camp Fees are $950 and include the following items:
- On campus housing
- All meals, snacks and drinks while at camp
- Program instruction, materials and equipment
- Transportation to and from off-campus field-trip sites
- Recreational activities
Cancellation:
All cancellation requests must be submitted via email. Please send your request to opce@auburn.edu.
Cancellation Procedure:
- Cancellation request received at least 6 weeks prior to the start date of the program: Full refund, less $100.
- Cancellation request received less than 6 weeks but at least 3 weeks prior to the program start date: Refund of 50%
- Cancellation request received less than 3 weeks prior to the program start date or “no show”: No refund.
Note: Refunds will be issued to the individual/organization who made the original payment.
What to Bring to Camp:
Campers should refrain from bringing no more than one (1) suitcase and one (1) personal sized bag to camp.
Dorm Room:
- XL twin sheets/thick blanket or sleeping bag and pillow
- Phone Charger
Toiletries:
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Body Wash
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Soap
- Bath Towel
- Hairbrush
Clothing & Shoes:
Please note: Bring clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting extremely dirty/wet. Please also provide a large plastic trash bag for repacking purposes.
- T-shirts: Loose fitting, tank tops must have straps three fingers wide and cover all undergarments
- Shorts: At least 3.5” inseam
- One (1) pair of jeans/long pants
- Underwear
- Socks
- Pajamas
- Tennis Shoes
- Closed toed shoes
- Swimsuit: For girls, a modest one piece swimsuit. For boys, no speedos or jammers.
- Flip-flops or Water Shoes: For the community showers
- Sweatshirt or Jacket
- Dress up Outfit: Dressy casual (modest) outfit (e.g.: modest sundress, polo & khakis, pants & blouse)
- Rain Jacket or Poncho
Miscellaneous:
- Laundry Bag
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Beach Towel
- Bug spray/Sunscreen
- $50 key deposit: Make check payable to Auburn University
Optional:
- Seasickness medication (please include in medical form upon registering)
- Spending Money
For your awareness, some camps may be held during weeks of federal holidays also observed as official university holidays. Campus partners are asked to consider and plan camp activities according to the availability of services on such days. For a list of official university-wide holidays and observance dates visit the AU HR site.
For camp programming tips that recognize the federal holidays, please contact AYP at auyouth@auburn.edu or (334) 844-5100.
