For over 20 years, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum has hosted summer camps filled with educational, exciting, hands-on learning experiences. Campers learn about their community, its history and culture – including meeting maritime archaeologists who talk about their underwater discoveries, local artists showcasing their talents, and park rangers teaching about the nature around them. This year, camp welcomed over 100 rising first through fifth graders for the five-week program. The feedback from the campers and their families show that the camp was another great success for the Museum!
Photos Above: Left: As part of the “La Florida” Summer Camp Week 1, students toured the Castillo de San Marcos to learn about Florida’s Spanish history; Right: Campers enjoyed Lighthouse Park for their lunch break each day taking time to climb the trees with their friends.
Elementary students weren’t the only ones to receive educational programs this summer! Undergraduate and graduate archaeology students from across the country participated in the Field School hosted by the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) this summer. The students attended lectures from LAMP archaeologists but also received valuable real-world experience in all aspects of archaeological fieldwork, scientific diving, seamanship, and laboratory analysis. LAMP has partnered with a variety of universities, including Flinders University, Florida State University, Syracuse University, and Plymouth State University to organize and implement this four-credit course.
Photos above: Left: Field School students practice dive safety in a swimming pool prior to going into the ocean; Right: Field School students pose in front of the LAMP research vessel, the Empire Defender.
Both Summer Camp and Field School are part of the Museum’s educational programs that take place year-round including the interpretative programs and workshops offered to school groups. When you donate to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, you support these programs and help students of all ages learn about our area’s maritime history. Consider making a donation today to help support the Museum’s educational programs: click here to donate.