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About the Camp
Our mission is to encourage scientific and technological engagement through the development of teamwork skills, STEM capabilities, and the understanding of the oceanic environment using hands-on, technology- and phenomenon-based learning activities.
BACKGROUND
Motivated by the desire to address today’s technological workforce needs, SS-ROV Camp was started in 2013 through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Geoff Wheat and his team of program developers with funding from University of Mississippi, NIUST, NASA, NSF-USC (C-DEBI) and University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Our premise was to provide a hands-on, STEM, summer, learning opportunity that mimics a research ship mission – held in a classroom setting. Children entering grades 3 – 5 or grades 6 – 9, learn about ocean exploration and the science, technology, and operations that enable it. Hands-on STEM activities focus on the scientific method and ocean technologies in a real-world framework of discovery.
Students engage in hands-on activities in the areas of robotics, sensor technology, programming, marine geology and ecology. Like professional ocean research, the SS-ROV Camp emphasizes purposeful engagement and vision, planning and preparation, teamwork and execution, and discovery and problem solving.
VISION
Our vision is to create a sustainable, nationwide program that sparks excitement for learning about marine environments and helps young people, especially those who might not otherwise experience these types of activities, to see themselves in the role of the explorer, scientist, and engineer.
“There are no dreams too large, no innovation unimaginable and no frontier beyond our reach.”
-John S. Herrington
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
– Confucius
OUR TEAM
With support from our funders, the SS-ROV Camp team is inpired and dedicated toward better preparing out youth for the future with fun and challenging marine science and tech activities that open minds, encourage exploration, build technological and scientific capabilities and develop collabroation skills
Staff
Dr. C. Geoffrey Wheat is a Research Professor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and an Adjunct Scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute as well as a visiting Professor at Moss Landing Marine Labs. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and the University of Washington. Dr. Wheat has participated in over 75 oceanographic expeditions of which 47 included a submersible or ROV component. His motivation for starting the Seafloor Science & ROV Camp and other related programs comes from his desire to provide children with fun and challenging learning opportunities in STEM fields.
Claudia Paul is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, with a B.S. in Environmental Science. She has worked in laboratories for two decades on a wide range of sea-going projects.
Kellie Ventimilia-Vicent is a graduate of California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Child Development, as well as a teaching credential from CSUMB. She is a kindergarten Teacher, and is also involved with teacher education programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
WE BRING REAL LIFE, HANDS-ON SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING TO COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND THEREBY LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR YOUNG ASPIRING SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.
Since 2015 we have provided annual SS-ROV summer day camp sessions in Monterey, Los Gatos, San Jose, Saratoga, Aptos, and Gilroy.
As of 2021 we helped 768 children discover new aspects of science and technology, awarded 54 scholarships and provided paid internship positions to 69 students.