Winter camp brings educational fun

By Dale Smith, Hometown News | View Source

As several campers scrambled to get into their kayaks, squeals of excitement resonated from beyond the water’s edge, while a voice of authority urged campers to “stay together.”

Chad Truxall, education director at the Marine Discovery Center, had his troops excited about learning how GPS tracking worked.

This was just one of the many exercises the 30-plus campers experienced over the two-day 2009 Winter Camp held at the Indian River Lagoon Preserve in New Smyrna Beach, Dec. 21-22.

“We didn’t have the camp last year because we didn’t get a good response at sign-up,” Mr. Truxall explained. “But this year we have around 30, which is a very good turnout.”

On the dock, Lou King, education coordinator for the center, was teaching youngsters how to measure the salt content in the water.

“You collect the water in this (holding up a clear plastic measuring device) and then tap on it to get all the bubbles out,” Ms. King said to those surrounding her.

Meanwhile, other campers braved the cool waters of the lagoon to learn how to kayak.

“Paddle right,” shouted one instructor to a neophyte paddler. “No, your other right.”

Meanwhile, eyes were on the tiny global positioning system device Mr. Truxall’s campers held in their hands.

The more Mr. Truxall explained how to work the device, the more hands shot into the air.

“Do you see what I’m talking about, Nicholas?” asked Mr. Truxall, as the youngster pushed the buttons on his device.

“How many satellites do you see popping up on your screen now?” Mr. Truxall asked his campers.

“I’ve got eight,” answered one camper.

“I see seven,” said another.

“The more satellites you see the more accurate your GPS is,” Mr. Truxall explained.

The campers experienced two days of different educational activities. Beside kayaking and GPS tracking, they worked on team building, investigated plankton and discovered several species of invertebrates.

“We had a great group of kids,” Mr. Truxall said. “It was a lot of fun.”