NOAA Science Camp 

Paul A. Taylor
Office of Response and Restoration
NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS)

John Ewald
Office of Coast Survey
NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS)

The sixth annual NOAA Science Camp was held July 7-18 in Seattle, Wash.  NOAA coordinated the event in partnership with the Washington Sea Grant and the University of Washington Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Oceans. The camp held two separate week-long sessions. NOS staff from the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) and the Office of Coast Survey (OCS) led NOS’s participation.

NOAA Science Camp began as a grassroots effort to increase environmental literacy in the Puget Sound area. It has since evolved into a one-of-a-kind educational experience involving activities from several NOAA offices including charting, fisheries, marine mammals, weather, oceanography, diving, habitat restoration, hazardous material assessment, and coastal restoration/watersheds. The camp helps middle school students gain an understanding of environmental issues and of NOAA’s role in their community.

OR&R staff ran two sessions per week on oil spill response. In these sessions, students divided into groups of oceanographers and environmental scientists to produce a trajectory analysis and perform a risk analysis for a simulated oil spill in Puget Sound. The students also used watershed models to learn about how pollution can affect coastal systems and about ways to help stop pollution. 

Physical scientists from the OCS Hydrographic Surveys Division (Pacific Hydrographic Branch) discussed and explained hydrography and development of nautical charts. Lessons included the "Sounding Box", Marine Navigation "Plot Your Course," and Latitude/Longitude exercises.

Several other NOAA offices participated in this year’s science camp, including the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Restoration Center, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.