Start exploring Marine Science summer programs for middle schoolers

Dates:

Jul 5–31, 2027

Length:

4 weeks

Cost:

$5,518 (2026 pricing; housing, meals and field trips)

Location:

Davis, CA (UC Davis campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th–12th graders attending high school in California (completed grades 8–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Due Feb 5, 2027

The biology, chemistry and engineering of raising fish, shellfish, seaweed and plants through freshwater and marine aquaculture, hydroponics and aquaponics. Field trips include caviar producers, Bodega Marine Lab, oyster companies and the Nimbus Fish Hatchery.

Residency restriction: CA residents

Dates:

Jul 5–31, 2027

Length:

4 weeks

Cost:

$5,518 (2026 pricing; housing, meals and field trips)

Location:

Merced, CA (UC Merced campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th–12th graders attending high school in California (completed grades 8–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Due Feb 5, 2027

Studies the partnership between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and its glowing bacteria: students culture bioluminescent bacteria, watch infection change squid development under the microscope, run DNA extraction and PCR, explore CRISPR, and design their own experiment.

Residency restriction: CA residents

Dates:

6 sessions between Jun 1–Aug 6, 2027 (4 days and 5 days options)

Length:

4 days–5 days

Cost:

$560

Location:

San Diego, CA (Mission Bay)

Grades:

Entering grades 5–8 in fall 2027 (completed grades 4–7)

Format:

Commuter

A marine science day camp on Mission Bay: daily ocean activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, boogie boarding and stand-up paddleboarding, paired with labs on invertebrates, fish, sharks, sea turtles and marine mammals, including dissections.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 5–Jul 29, 2027 (6 days, 5 nights options)

Length:

6 days, 5 nights

Cost:

$1,725

Location:

San Diego, CA (Mission Bay)

Grades:

Entering grades 7–12 in fall 2027 (completed grades 6–11)

Format:

Residential

A residential marine science camp on Mission Bay with labs, plankton and water chemistry studies, a shark snorkel at La Jolla Shores, kayaking, paddleboarding, boogie boarding and a full-day boat trip for snorkeling and marine mammal watching.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jul 4–Jul 23, 2027 (1 week options)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$1,598–$2,998

Location:

San Diego, CA (UC San Diego)

Grades:

Completed 6th-8th grade (ages 12-14)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

One-week academic program for middle schoolers. Students spend the week in one course.

Dates:

5 sessions between Jun 12–Aug 10, 2027 (7 days, 17 days, and 18 days options)

Length:

7 days–18 days

Cost:

$3,750–$6,350

Location:

Toyon Bay, Catalina Island, CA

Grades:

5–11 (varies by track)

Format:

Residential

Residential ocean camp at Toyon Bay on Catalina Island. Campers live in cabins and spend the session in ocean activities.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 18–Jul 2, 2027 (7 days, 6 nights and 8 days, 7 nights options)

Length:

7 days, 6 nights–8 days, 7 nights

Cost:

$2,695–$3,195

Location:

San Diego, CA (Mission Bay)

Grades:

7–11 (varies by track)

Format:

Residential

Advanced overnight SEACAMP on Mission Bay for students who have already attended SEACAMP.

Dates:

8 sessions between Jul 4–Aug 28, 2027 (1 week options)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$1,625

Location:

Edmonds, WA (Puget Sound)

Grades:

6–9 (varies by track)

Format:

Residential

Weeklong overnight camp on a bay in Edmonds, on Puget Sound. Campers live in cabins, choose water activities, and do marine mammal science projects.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 29–Aug 3, 2027 (8 days options)

Length:

8 days

Cost:

$2,795

Location:

Belize City, the Maya Mountains, and Caye Caulker

Ages:

14-18 (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Group Housing

~22 hours of community service split between rainforest fieldwork at the T.R.E.E.S. research base (wildlife studies, bird banding with mist nets, camera-trap tracking, Kriol drumming) and marine exploration on Caye Caulker (snorkeling Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, an Ocean Academy student exchange). Includes a stop at the Altun Ha Maya archaeological site. Max 18 students.

Dates:

6 sessions between Jun 8–Aug 10, 2027 (8 days options)

Length:

8 days

Cost:

$2,895

Location:

Camaronal Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Ages:

14-18 (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Group Housing

About 26 service hours protecting Olive Ridley sea turtle nests at Camaronal National Wildlife Refuge: hatchery monitoring, night beach patrols, beach cleanups, and trail work, plus a surf lesson and a dolphin-watching boat tour. Maximum 18 students. Lodging is rustic, with open-air shared bathrooms and unreliable phone service.

Dates:

5 sessions between Jun 12–Aug 7, 2027 (9 days options)

Length:

9 days

Cost:

$3,599

Location:

Costa Rica

Ages:

14-18 (completed grades 8–11)

Format:

Residential

Residential program in Costa Rica. Students spend the session on hands-on service or learning, with cultural excursions and adventure activities. Sea turtle conservation-focused theme within the same Beachside program.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 16–Aug 5, 2027 (9 days options)

Length:

9 days

Cost:

$3,495

Location:

Kefalonia Island & Athens

Ages:

14-18 (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Group Housing

~20 hours of hands-on loggerhead sea turtle conservation fieldwork in partnership with Wildlife Sense (a Mediterranean Action Plan-recognized research organization): dawn nesting-beach surveys, harbor turtle monitoring, seagrass habitat snorkel mapping, and beach cleanups. Since 2018, Rustic Pathways students have helped protect 340+ loggerhead nests. Includes a full-day boat tour and a Cave of Melissani visit. Max 20 students; domestic Athens-Kefalonia flight included in tuition.

Dates:

5 sessions between Jun 15–Aug 7, 2027 (10 days options)

Length:

10 days

Cost:

$4,870

Location:

British Virgin Islands

Ages:

12-18 (completed grades 6–12)

Format:

Residential

10-day introduction to sailing and scuba. No experience necessary. IYT Try Sailing plus PADI Discover Scuba or two sport dives. 12 students and 3 staff per boat, sailing with the wider fleet.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 28–Jul 14, 2027 (10 days options)

Length:

10 days

Cost:

$2,195

Location:

Bali

Ages:

14-18 (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Group Housing

Rustic Pathways' first student travel program in Indonesia: a PADI Discover Scuba pool session and two guided open-water dives, a sea turtle release at Padang Bai, one night living in a Balinese village house compound (Rumah Desa) in Tabanan with daily offerings and rice-field work, a pre-dawn Mount Batur summit climb for sunrise, and Ayung River whitewater rafting. Max 22 students.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 27–Aug 12, 2027 (10 days options)

Length:

10 days

Cost:

$4,590

Location:

British Virgin Islands

Ages:

12-18 (co-ed) (completed grades 6–12)

Format:

Residential

10-day introductory voyage covering sailing basics, snorkeling, Discover Scuba, and marine biology -- open to complete beginners regardless of certification status.

Dates:

Aug 2–12, 2027

Length:

11 days

Cost:

$5,125–$5,695

Location:

Florida Keys

Grades:

Current grades 7-8

Format:

Residential

Marine-focused community service and adventure in the Florida Keys, including a stay on a private island.

Dates:

Jul 6–17, 2027

Length:

12 days

Cost:

$8,930

Location:

Belize

Grades:

Broadreach alumni only (prior program participation required, not a standard grade band)

Format:

Residential

Advanced reef diving and rainforest exploration exclusively for returning Broadreach students.

Dates:

Jul 17–28, 2027

Length:

12 days

Cost:

$5,280

Location:

Bonaire

Grades:

Completing grades 6-8 (must be 12 years old by program start)

Format:

Residential

Advanced land-based diving program in the world's oldest marine reserve; earns PADI Advanced Open Water certification plus Peak Performance Buoyancy, Reef Renewal Diver, and Sea Turtle Ecology and Research Diver specialties.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 20–Aug 14, 2027 (12 days options)

Length:

12 days

Cost:

$5,380

Location:

St. Martin, St. Barths + Saba, Caribbean

Grades:

Completing grades 6-8 (must be 12 years old by program start)

Format:

Residential

Marine biology-focused liveaboard voyage combining diving, sailing, and instruction. No experience necessary.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 29–Jul 24, 2027 (12 days options)

Length:

12 days

Cost:

$5,999

Location:

Greece

Ages:

14-18 (completed grades 8–11)

Format:

Residential

12-day residential program in Greece. Students spend the session on one itinerary, traveling with the group. Sea turtle conservation program.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jul 1–Jul 26, 2027 (12 days options)

Length:

12 days

Cost:

$3,395

Location:

Imperia, Liguria

Ages:

14-18 (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Group Housing

Five-day marine research course with the Delfini del Ponente group on the Ligurian coast: dolphin photo-identification, seagrass snorkel surveys, sea-turtle beach monitoring, and a day at sea in the Pelagos Sanctuary. Maximum 16 students.

Dates:

4 weekly sessions, Jun 20–Aug 6, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$3,548–$6,248

Location:

San Diego, CA (UC San Diego)

Grades:

Completed 8th-12th grade

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Two-week academic program at UC San Diego. Students spend the session in one course, with excursions and college-readiness workshops.

Dates:

Jul 18–30, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$3,298–$5,798

Location:

Santa Barbara, CA (UC Santa Barbara)

Grades:

Completed 8th-12th grade

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Two-week academic program at UC Santa Barbara. Students spend the session in one course, with excursions and college-readiness workshops.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 30–Jul 31, 2027 (14 days options)

Length:

14 days

Cost:

$4,788

Location:

California

Grades:

Current grades 6-8 | 9-12 (dual cohort structure)

Format:

Residential

Marine biology and conservation program along the California coast (Monterey Bay, Channel Islands, Big Sur); front-country tent camping, no scuba certification component (surfing, snorkeling, tidepooling instead).