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 and who have completed at east one high school biology course are welcome to apply to the program. Each session is led by two Camp Directors and two Resident Assistants reside in the dorms with the participants. Lectures and other activities are led by our excellent Faculty. The cost of the program is $1,375, 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 15, 2023.

REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED.

Please click here to join the email list for when details for RWU Marine Biology Camp 2024 become available.

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

Dates

July 23 - 29 and July 30 - August 5

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.