SeaWorld’s Education Department has provided more than a million children with behind-the-scenes, up-close animal experiences since the early 1980s. Last year alone, the SeaWorld Adventure Camp program played host to more than 17,000 campers from across the nation and around the globe: the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and more than 40 U.S. states.

Indeed, 2006 was an impressive year. The SeaWorld Education Department accomplished the following goals:

• Hosted 61,486 guests on behind-the-scenes Tours
• Provided an outdoor classroom to more than 120,000 school children visiting SeaWorld for Instructional Field Trips
• Hosted 1,501 Resident Campers
• Broadcast “Shamu TV” to more than 50 million households
• Hosted 11,572 participants in the Sleepover program
• Made a difference in the lives of 3,194 Day Campers
• Answered hundreds of letters and e-mail requests for information on marine life
• Expanded and updated the largest animal information database (www.swbg-animals.org) available to the public (the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens animals Web site)

In 2007, SeaWorld’s Education Department is looking forward to surpassing last year’s achievements, with an incredible line-up of educational and entertaining offerings. Here are just a few:

• Environmental Excellence Awards: Sponsored by SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Fujifilm, the Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of students and teachers across the country, who work at the grassroots level to protect and preserve the environment. In the last 10 years, $1.4 million has been awarded to more than 125 schools in 40 U.S. states/territories. In 2007, eight projects will be selected, with each winning group receiving $10,000 and other prizes. In addition, they’ll also win an all-expense-paid trip for three students and one adult to SeaWorld San Diego for the project presentations and awards ceremony on Oct. 11, 2007.
   
• National Geographic World Championship: This biennial geography competition for students from around the world will be hosted by SeaWorld San Diego in August 2007. Teams of three students from more than 20 countries will compete for the coveted World Championship title. The three-day competition will culminate in a televised event moderated by “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek.
   
• New teaching tools: In an effort to make SeaWorld even more educational and hands-on for guests and students alike, SeaWorld is adding a number of teaching tools at attractions throughout the adventure park, including Manatee Rescue, Forbidden Reef, the California Tide Pool and the Shark Encounter. Educators will be on hand, with tools such as shark skin and killer whale teeth, for guests to touch and look at up-close.
   
• SeaWorld Adventure Camps: Thousands of participants will enjoy SeaWorld Adventure Camps in the spring and summer of 2007, with programs ranging from half-day camps to one-night Sleepovers to six-night Resident Camps. During Ocean Adventure Camp, students in grades 4 through 6 spend a week behind the scenes learning how animal keepers care for bottlenose dolphins, beluga whales, polar bears, sharks and other fascinating animals. The Ocean Animals Camp program has students from grades 7 through 9 meeting animal experts and learning what it’s really like to take care of SeaWorld’s mammals, birds, fishes and reptiles. During Career Camp, students in grades 10 through 12 interested in pursuing careers in an animal care field are exposed to a realistic look at animal care positions at SeaWorld.
   
• Instructional Field Trips: Thousands of students and their teachers will take advantage of this fun and inexpensive way for school groups to learn while enjoying SeaWorld. Students from preschool through college visit the park for an educational animal presentation and self-guided investigation of SeaWorld’s animal habitats. A teacher’s guide including animal information and vocabulary is provided prior to the visit.
   
• National Emmy Award Nomination: SeaWorld’s highly-successful program “Shamu TV” has once again been recognized for quality in educational children’s programming. “Saving a Species: The Great Penguin Rescue” was nominated this year for a national Emmy Award for Best Children's TV Special, with Elijah Wood receiving an additional nomination for Best Host. This 30-minute special premiered on the Discovery Kids Channel in November 2006, and was hosted by Wood at SeaWorld San Diego. It told the story of the largest documented bird rescue in history, the South African oil spill of 2000, in which SeaWorld aviculturists played a critical role. “Shamu TV” has received eight regional Emmy awards and three national nominations in its 16-year history.

SeaWorld supports the National Science Education Standards and the California Science and Literacy frameworks. SeaWorld Education programs exceed the high standards established by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The American Camp Association also has accredited the park’s camp programs.

For more information about SeaWorld’s education and camp programs, call (800) 25-SHAMU (press 4) or visit www.swbg-adventurecamps.com.

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