Camps
Explore our exciting camp options below! For Spring Break, we have both day-long and week-long spots available, each featuring a unique marine theme every day. Our Summer Camp runs throughout the season and promises engaging marine science activities that will create unforgettable experiences for your child. We also offer a festive Winter Break camp and a variety of singe-day Bay Day camps on school holidays!
NEW! Bay-Day Camps
No school? No problem!
Our Bay‑Day Camps turn days off into hands‑on fun filled with boat trips, outdoor exploration, creative crafts, and engaging activities and science labs. Kids stay active, curious, and fully immersed in the magic of our ecosystem — they won’t even realize how much they’re learning along the way. Tampa Bay Watch reserves the right to cancel any camp program due to low registration.
View our Bay-Day Camp Information Packet to learn more.
Cost: $80 per day
Ages: 6 - 10
Time: 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Location: Discovery Center: 700 2nd Ave NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701
Questions? Email: education@tampabaywatch.org
Register for the 2026-2027 school year now!
Upcoming Camp Dates:
Wednesday, November 11th
Monday, November 23rd
Monday, January 18th
Monday, February 15th
Friday, March 26th
Friday, April 23rd
See below for Holi-Bay Camp and Spring Break Camp dates!
Holi-Bay Camp
December 2026
Polar Explorers!
What do penguins, polar bears, sea otters, and Tampa Bay’s manatees have in common? They’re all ocean explorers!
This winter break, campers are invited to journey around the globe to discover some of Earth’s coolest ecosystems. From the icy waters of Antarctica to the fjords of Norway and the wild coastlines of Alaska, we’ll explore how animals and people adapt to life in some of the coldest places on the planet.
Through hands-on science, outdoor adventures, boat trips, creative activities, and plenty of exploration, campers will investigate everything from sea ice and polar food webs to migration and animal adaptations. We’ll also discover what it takes for humans to live in cold-weather environments, from finding creative ways to stay warm and travel through snow and ice to adapting to long, dark winters and making the most of the landscape around them.
And while we may be exploring the polar regions, we’ll keep coming back home to Tampa Bay. What can a manatee teach us about staying warm? How are our local waters connected to oceans around the world? What do migrating birds and marine animals have in common? And why does what happens in chilly, faraway places matter right here in Florida?
No snow boots required! Campers will discover that you don’t have to live at the poles to be a polar explorer. All you need is curiosity, a sense of adventure, and a willingness to use your imagination!
Registration for Holi-Bay Camp 2026 is now open!
View our 2026 Holi-Bay Camp Information Packet to learn more.
Cost: $80 per day
Ages: 6 - 10
Time: 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Location: Discovery Center: 700 2nd Ave NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701
Questions? Email: education@tampabaywatch.org
Camp Schedule
Pathway to Patagonia
Let's travel to the wild southern edge of the Americas! Patagonia is a land of towering mountains, sparkling glaciers, and deep fjords. We’ll explore how people and animals have learned to navigate this cold, windy, rugged landscape, from Indigenous communities who traveled its waterways to cougars, condors, orcas, and elephant seals that call the region home. Campers will test their boat-building skills by creating miniature vessels inspired by traditional watercraft, and discover how animals stay warm with a hands-on blubber experiment. Adventure awaits!
The Alaskan Frontier
Grab your parka and let’s head to the Alaskan frontier! From jagged glaciers and icy fjords to forests and wild coastlines, Alaska is home to an incredible variety of wildlife and communities who have learned to thrive in this rugged landscape. We’ll take to the water aboard our eco-vessel to compare the ecosystems of Tampa Bay and Glacier Bay, discovering the animals that call each place home. Campers will investigate the adaptations that help Alaskan species survive, then create a colorful Northern Lights watercolor inspired by the vast Alaskan sky. Northward bound!
The Snowy Shores of Antarctica
Welcome to the coldest, windiest, and most remote continent on Earth! Antarctica may look like a frozen world of snow and ice, but beneath the surface is a surprisingly busy ocean ecosystem. We’ll dive into the icy waters surrounding the continent to discover penguins, leopard seals, and some of the world’s most unusual marine life, while exploring what it takes for scientists to live and work at a remote Antarctic research station. Campers will step into the role of polar scientists as they investigate why the Southern Ocean is so important to life across our planet, then put their skills to the test with an ice-fishing game, build their own penguins, and create leopard seal origami. Expedition Antarctica starts now!
Siberia: The Frozen Desert
Today we’re venturing into one of the coldest regions on Earth! Siberia is a vast land of snow-covered forests, frozen rivers, and open tundra, where extreme cold and long winter nights shape life for both people and animals. We’ll explore how communities have adapted to winters that can last for months, while discovering how Siberian tigers, snow leopards, reindeer, and other animals stay warm and find food in this frozen landscape. Campers will investigate insulation and erosion, then create their own animal constellations inspired by Siberia’s dark skies. It’s fantastically frozen fun!
Greenland and Iceland: Lands of Fire and Ice
What happens when fire and ice collide? We’re heading north to explore two neighboring islands with very different personalities. In Greenland, we’ll venture across enormous ice sheets and discover how polar bears, Arctic hares, and Arctic foxes are built for life in a frozen world. Then we’ll travel to Iceland, the “Land of Fire and Ice,” where glaciers meet volcanoes, black-sand beaches stretch along the coast, and some surprising creatures make their home. Along the way, we’ll discover how both people and wildlife adapt when the landscape is constantly changing. Two countries, one epic day of camp!
Navigating Norway
Today we’re journeying to Norway, a land of glistening fjords, snowy mountains, and long winter nights! We’ll explore how people and animals navigate and thrive in this icy landscape, from reindeer and wolverines on land to the surprising sea life found beneath Arctic waters. Did you know you can find seashells in the Arctic? Campers will investigate how animals stay warm with a hands-on fur and skin mystery challenge, then discover how wolverines use their incredible sense of smell to find food buried beneath the snow. We’ll also explore the hidden world beneath the Arctic waters and create our own marine life-inspired Arctic artwork. PPreparepare tto bbe snow-prisedd!
Svalbard: On Top of the World
How do you survive in a place where winter can last for months? We’re heading above the Arctic Circle to Svalbard, a remote archipelago where glaciers meet the sea and polar bears roam across the frozen landscape. We’ll discover how Arctic animals stay warm, find food, and navigate a world of ice and darkness, while learning how people travel, work, and live alongside wildlife in this extreme environment. Campers will explore the surprising connections between glaciers, the ocean, and Arctic animals through a hands-on glacier art activity, then put their speed and sense of direction to the test in a puffin migration game. Get ready to go wild at the top of the world!
NEW! Bay Futures Counselor in Training Leadership Program
Teens ages 13-18 with a passion for marine science, leadership, and working with kids are invited to apply for our Bay Futures Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Leadership Program. Gain hands-on experience guiding younger campers while honing key skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving—plus, earn volunteer hours!
Upcoming Camp Sessions:
Holi Bay Camp (December 28, 2026 - December 31, 2026) - Applications due November 20, 2026
Spring Break Camp (March 15 - 19, 2027) - Applications due January 31, 2027
Click here to learn more - your teen can apply today through our website and take the first step toward becoming a future leader!
The cost to participate is $180 per week, due at time of acceptance, which supports the supplies and dedicated staff time necessary to deliver a high quality learning experience.
Spring Break Camp
March 15 - 19, 2027
2027 Details Coming Soon
Registration Opens January 11th at 9:00 AM!
View our Spring Break 2026 Information Packet to learn more.
Cost: $80 per day
Ages: 6 - 10
Time: 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Location:
Discovery Center: 700 2nd Ave NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701
or
Auer Marine Education Center: 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715
Questions? Email: education@tampabaywatch.org
Estuary Quest Summer Camp: June 1 - August 7, 2026
SOLD OUT
Two locations, one summer camp adventure to remember! Estuary Quest is all about diving into the amazing world of Tampa Bay in a fun, hands-on way. Each week has its own animal theme, but no matter when you come, you can always count on snorkeling, science experiments, games, boat rides, eco-friendly art, and tons of exciting activities.
Our Auer Marine Education Center in Tierra Verde, Florida, is the perfect spot for water lovers. Want to get muddy in the mangroves or paddle a kayak through the bay? This is your place!
Over at the Discovery Center on the St. Pete Pier, you’ll explore Tampa Bay Watch’s interactive exhibits, enjoy creature meet and greets, and cool off at Spa Beach or the Splash Pad.
No matter which location you choose, Estuary Quest is all about making lasting memories, connecting with nature, and learning something new every step of the way!
Registration is Open!
Summer Camp 2026 Parent Info Packet: Click here to download
Cost: $375 per week (members receive 10% off, please call (727) 867-8166 ext. 240 for more information)
Ages: 6 - 12, we also offer a Counselor in Training Leadership Program for ages 13-18
Time: M-F 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Questions? Please send an email to education@tampabaywatch.org – we’re happy to help!
“Tampa Bay Watch is the camp my child looks forward to most every year. We attend not only during the summer, but also on school days off and over spring break because of how much he loves it. The staff are consistently caring and friendly, and I always feel confident that he is safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. He comes home excited to share what he learned about various animals and conservation, which makes it so special to see him having fun while learning at the same time.”
