USCB Hosts 3rd Mad Scientists Summer Camp for Beaufort YMCA Kids
The kids created their plankton nets for a Sands Beach trip to catch and observe plankton under a microscope.
The Lowcountry is a great place to learn about science, and it’s never too early to start! Campers aged 7-11 from the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA spent a week (July 10-14) immersed in nature, learning from USCB faculty who are experts in the fields of ecology, biochemistry, zoology and more.
Guided by members of the University of South Carolina’s Biology department, the campers used hydrogen peroxide to make “elephant toothpaste,” cultivated bacteria, tested water and observed animals commonly found in coastal environments. The camp staff included USCB instructor Anna Merriweather, director of the science camp, along with professors Dr. Mercer R. Brugler, Dr. Joe Staton, Dr. Butch Alvarez, and USCB student Ryan Allbrandt.
The campers were quick to make connections between organisms they observed in nature and human life.
“Kayaking and lava lamps were my favorite part of this camp. I got to go out on the water, and Dr. B was my kayak partner!” Justin, age 8, said. “The lava lamps were cool and they were rising slowly. I made mine blue because blue is my favorite color. I like mad scientists a lot. I want to take classes at this school when I’m bigger.”
A highlight of the week came when Jim and Teri Pohorsky of Beaufort Kayak Tours took the group paddling on the Beaufort River, where they saw bottlenose dolphins and sea birds including oystercatchers and ospreys. After the excursion, USCB biologist Dr. Mercer R. Brugler led the kids in making plankton nets out of water bottles and then gathering water samples and filtering them.
The campers made lava lamps with colored water, glitter and oil while learning about the density of the liquids they used.
Inspiration for the camp came four years ago when USCB administrators invited teachers, principals and guidance counselors from local schools to the Bluffton campus.
Alaya, a first-time counselor with the YMCA group said, “I used to be a camper here, too, when I was a kid so it’s fun to be a counselor now. This camp is really fun, we didn’t have anything like this when we were kids, so it’s cool.”
USCB chemistry instructor Anna Merriweather said, “These Mad Scientist campers blow me away each day! They are so smart! Any question posed to them by our naturalist, Annie, was answered with amazing answers. Captain Claire had us safe in hand…[with]…a coastal expedition of the Lowcountry salt marshes in St. Helena. They learned about the ecosystems, dolphins, sharks, and native birds. They did some dolphin tracking research in three different locations. It was quite a day and I think we have some serious future scientists!”
The week was all about taking a closer look: campers used microscopes to observe swimming tadpoles, dissected starfish and examined owl pellets (the undigested parts of a bird's food, including hair or bones, which are regurgitated). Many conversations centered around cause and effect, such as when the group discussed how pesticides, fertilizers and “dog poop” affect water quality.
They hope that this week’s experiences will become lasting memories that encourage the students in their future endeavors.
The completed plankton net for the Sands Beach trip.
Special thanks to the following companies and foundations for the support and resources that made this camp possible:
Minto Communities USA
Bluffton Pest Management
Latitude Margaritaville
Homegrown Home Inspections
Coastal Expeditions Foundation
USCB Coastal Ecology & Conservation
