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 district 6990 and 6970. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the program that owes its existence from the joint efforts of Bob White or 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: Due to the generosity of the West Jacksonville club and the incredibly low rate charged to the exchange students by the camp, Emma Roux was able to attend this event at no cost to her. For her, and sixteen other 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, lead 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 of 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 is 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, Stephan’s host mom and my wife Kate for their patience and endurance which made this trip possible.