Every summer, 30 eighth-grade graduates from Pinellas County have the opportunity to attend a marine science summer camp at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science. The Oceanography Camp Especially for Girls (OCG) is a three-week crash course in all things marine science, aiming to dismantle barriers young women still face in STEM education.

Hands-On Learning Experience

The camp is tuition-free, allowing all eligible students to participate. During their time at the camp, the girls study water samples, conduct toxicology labs, and even run their own mock commercial fishing companies. The first week of the camp culminates in a voyage aboard the R/V ANGARI, a 65-foot research vessel equipped with lab workspaces, probes, and instruments used by oceanographers.

The girls spend their days learning at the Clam Bayou Marine Education Center, acquiring skills and knowledge before embarking on an expedition to test their hypotheses. On the research vessel, they cycle through three stations, analyzing dissolved oxygen, pH levels, cloud cover, and surface depth from the USF marina in St. Petersburg to Egmont Key. Marine life, including plankton, sea dollars, and dolphins, also play a starring role in their trip.

Empowering Young Women in STEM

The camp’s instructors are female graduate students from the USF College of Marine Science, and the partnership between OCG and the ANGARI Foundation, a West Palm Beach-based nonprofit, supports marine research and education. The camp’s director, Teresa Greely, emphasizes the importance of self-love, confidence, and friendship, in addition to science education.

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.