By Tess Malijenovsky
“Dive into World Oceans” is a weeklong eco camp July 23-28 put on by the Beaufort Conservation District for rising Kindergartners through rising sixth graders. For its 23rd year in the running, the camp’s theme will focus on oceans in light of Beaufort County’s World Oceans Day.
“We also are focusing on marine debris, which is a big conservation problem in the area,” says Shelby Berry of the Beaufort Conservation District. The Conservation District is the conduit for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, which targets pollution problems in Beaufort County — a vital partnership for the community.
The Conservation District will invite local experts to share well-rounded information with the students on a variety of topics including reptiles and amphibians, scuba diving, whales, navigating with GPS, marine debris, ocean chemistry and more! The eco camp is also about fun with lots of hands-on activities from T-shirt making to interpretive nature walks. Also, Beaufort County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee will provide Friday Fun Day lunch.
“We just want to excite the kids about the mysteries of the ocean as well as what they can do even at this young age. We want to get them thinking about conservation throughout their lives,” says Berry.
Dive into World Oceans eco camp is July 23-28, from 9 a.m. to noon at TCL, Beaufort Campus (building 16). Every day, students will attend three hands-on science and craft classes to learn about wetlands, estuaries, rivers, oceans and the important connections they have with each other. It is $89 (for materials and TCL expenses), and parents can register their children at the TCL Education Office (building 24) or visit tcl.edu/continuing-ed/life. Maximum enrollment is 60 students, so sign up soon especially to guarantee a correctly sized T-shirt. Program questions can be answered at 522-8100 or email shelby.berry@sc.nacdnet.net.

WORLD OCEANS DAY CELEBRATION AT ARTWORKS: Saturday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the celebration of World Oceans Day at ARTworks. The free community affair in celebration of world oceans and local marine life will include:
• All day build large-scale “Locomocean” sculpture with local artist Terry Brennan.
• 10:30 a.m.: Yoga session
• 11-11:30 a.m. Al Segars speaks about the shore birds and horseshoe crabs.
• 11:30 a.m.-noon: Storytelling in the gazebo outside.
• 12-12:30 p.m. Tony Mills speaks about reptiles &amp; amphibians
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Rick Hubbard the Kazoo Guy
• 2-2:30 p.m. Dave Harter speaks on the predators of Port Royal Sound
• 2-3 p.m.: The Rose Family Band performs in the gazebo
Located at ARTworks in the Beaufort Town Center, 2127 Boundary Street in Beaufort.

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