[ad_1] GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – Kids at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies got to snorkel with stingrays on day three of IMMS Summer Camp. The summer camp sessions are each week in June, and welcome ages six to 14. “We bring nature to the kids, and we make learning fun. I think that makes
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GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – Kids at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies got to snorkel with stingrays on day three of IMMS Summer Camp.
The summer camp sessions are each week in June, and welcome ages six to 14.
“We bring nature to the kids, and we make learning fun. I think that makes it an absolutely unique opportunity,” IMMS Director Moby Solangi says.
Before the immersive stingray experience, the kids watched dolphin shows, parakeet shows, and sea lion shows.
“With me, I love animals and wildlife so it’s really fun to come here and experience that,” Hosea Lopez says.
Because today is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the kids must listen closely to instruction.
IMMS Summer Camp instructors made sure kids knew to keep their feet planted on the ground to avoid stepping on stingrays. The shuffling movement is what’s known as the stingray shuffle.
After that, it was time to gear up with water shoes, life vests, and snorkels.
The IMMS Ray Pool featured a dozen sting rays.
Instructors passed out fish, so everyone had the chance to feed a stingray. That means the rays were happy to see the campers.
“I really like how fun the counselors, and everybody makes it, and I really like spending time with the animals,” Macy Kate Hogue says.
Macy Kate Hogue, a Brandon native, is back at the IMMS Summer Camp for the fourth year.
When she grows up, she would like to be a marine biologist.
“It’s really cool. It’s a really fun experience, and they’re really cute,” Hogue says.
The weeklong day camp is full of hands-on experiences just like this.
After snorkeling with the rays, kids got to dissect a shark and learn more about marine life’s anatomy.
“I think that kids not only on the Gulf Coast need to experience these different things, but I feel like the kids from other places — and we have several kids from California, Penn State area, that are here experiencing our amazing Gulf Coast,” assistant camp coordinator Jamie Flowers said.
IMMS Director Moby Solangi says the summer camp spots fill up so quickly because of how popular it is.
The last week for camp is June 24-28.
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