Reported by Rob Overly, D6970 Youth Exchange
Committee member and veteran Sea Camp Chaperone
 To
the members of the Long-term Youth Exchange Program, the weekend of
February 5th through the 8th will always be dedicated to memories of
SeaCamp, a joint activity of both Districts 6990 and 6970. This year marks
the 12th anniversary of the program that owes its existence to the joint
efforts of Bob White and the Rotary Youth Exchange Program of District
6990, and Big Pine Key Rotarian and Executive Director of SeaCamp, Irene
Hooper. This is District 6970's third year attending this wonderful event.
Thursday: For 17 inbound Rotary exchange students
from Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Orange Park, Gainesville, Ocala, Ormond
Beach, and Daytona, the program started with an early morning departure
from Jacksonville in three vans that were loaded to the gills with
students and their luggage (Many thanks to Kim Lego for her assistance
with the van rental!). At 1:30 pm, the group met up with their
counterparts from District 6990 and sped through the lower half of the
state on a mission to meet their schedule of touring Dolphins Plus
(dolphin encounter) and Pigeon Key (home of Henry Flagler's work camp for
the construction of the railroad to Key West). Late night activities
included camp check in and marshmallow roast.
Friday: After breakfast, the SeaCampers were
given a quick orientation of the camp, its rules, and the weekend's
itinerary. Then the group was divided into subgroups, led by one of the
camp's staff, representing issues impacting both the sea and the coastal
ecology. The first order of business of each group was to check out
snorkel equipment and prove to the staff that they can swim, that is to
say that they have the capacity to jump into the February waters off the
Keys and survive. Everyone, including chaperones that have proven that
they have done this year in and year out, must do this (not mentioning any
names mind you). Following this and a hearty lunch, each group went out on
a snorkeling field trip, exploring mangroves and the local flats around
the camp. But it is not all work at SeaCamp, after dinner all the exchange
students along with high school students from Michigan got together for a
camp-wide dance which included the latest in pop fare plus Brazilian
sambas, line dancing, and the limbo.
Saturday: A big concern throughout the camp was
whether or not the weather would hold out just long enough for the trip to
Looe Reef, and although the front loomed to the west the SeaCampers had
just enough time to enjoy one of the major attractions of the Keys, the
coral reef. There, the students chased, I mean observed, parrot fish,
sergeant majors, barracudas, rays, and a whole host of marine life. Some
of the luckier ones even saw a shark or two! The boats made it back to the
marina just before the winds of the front shut the door to any other
potential excursion to the reef. Just in time for lunch and just in time
for class. That's right… class. In spite of their best efforts to skip
the classes back in their hometown, here at SeaCamp, they still had to go
to class and, to make matters worse, they had to go on Saturday! Each
group researched their particular issue, from water quality, coastal
development, to marine harvesting and prepare a presentation for the
evenings convocation which was facilitated by a professor from Florida
Institute of Technology. By the evening's end it was evident that each
member of the group would not only leave with fond memories of newfound
friends and evening sunsets, but also with a deeper appreciation of the
environment around them.
Sunday: After breakfast and camp checkout rituals
the caravan headed to Key West for a whirlwind attempt at shopping and
sightseeing, culminating with lunch at Sloppy Joe's and pictures at
Mallory Square. Finally, at 2:30 in the afternoon, the vans headed north
for a last goodbye to the Keys (Emma has decided that she wants to live
there) and a long, very long drive back to the colder climes of north
Florida. At 3:00 a.m. on a Monday morning bleary-eyed host parents
collected their disheveled students and drove home for some much needed
sleep. Needless to say that none of the students woke up in time for
school that morning and I know that a few drivers had to scrape themselves
out of bed to keep their Monday morning obligations with the work a day
world. And with that, I need to thank Karen Mason, Stefan's host mom and
my wife Kate for their patience and endurance which made this trip
possible. |
