Campers take to the water
Happy campers Despite COVID, camp still offers safe hands- on experience
For 15- year- old Alexa Daquesian, the critters at The Maritime Aquarium are more than just finned, feathered or fuzzy faces in a crowd — over the year, they’ve kind of become like friends.
“I’ve done this since fifth grade,” the Norwalk resident said of the summer camp program that puts her and other kids literally in touch with the care, conservation and community of the aquarium’s animal inhabitants.
“When you come back, you just keep track of the animals and how they are, and it’s really just interesting to see how they grow.”
Despite the ongoing changes and restrictions from COVID- 19, the 32- year- old South Norwalk aquarium has still managed to assemble a menu of summer camp programs this year that offer hands- on experiences in and out of the building for three age groups of students.
Groups are smaller due to reduced capacity limitations, masks are being worn and temperatures are being taken first thing in the morning to ensure healthy cohorts, but otherwise things are operating much as they have for decades in the program.
“We’ve had to retool some of the activities,” said educator Devon Savard, who leads the Teen Apprentice program for ages 13- 15.
This includes replacing visits to Calf Pasture Beach with exploration of Farm Creek — a salt marsh in Rowayton.
“It’s the same experience, just at a different place,” Savard said. “It was awesome, because we’re able to even use it as a way to come up with new activities,” including dragging the waters with nets to explore animal life and exploring habitats in that area relating to Monarch butterflies.
When they’re not visiting sites or lifting anchor onboard the aquarium boat, campers — who range in age from 6 to 15 — explore the aquarium, where programs combine environmental science with art and game activities.
“I think we get to interact with the animals in a way that the visitors don’t get to,” explained Ana Petricone, 13, of Rowayton, who was thrilled to have the experience of hand- feeding a Macaw parrot named Baby Cakes.
“My goal is to become a zoologist, so anything I can do to work closely with the animals is great,” said Joshua Levy, 15, of Rye Brook, N. Y.
“I’ve come to camps here in the past and I always enjoy camp here,” he said, noting the staff offers guidance on what steps it might take to enter related fields.
In particular, the Animal Husbandry Department introduces campers to the various facets of animal — and environmental care — both in and out of the museum.
“We have this vein of conservation running through pretty much all our camps,” said Hollie Brandstatter, assistant camp director.
Thanks to the animal husbandry professionals, she said campers learn what’s needed to foster a thriving habitat both in an aquarium setting and in the wild.
“Even our youngest groups really pick up on that,” she said. “It’s really never too young to start talking about these themes.”
“We’ve done a lot with animal husbandry,” Sa
“I think we get to interact with the animals in a way that the visitors don’t get to.” Ana Petricone, 13, of Rowayton
vard said.
As a group, they’ve even been training a redfooted tortoise named Clark to help manage its behavior during feedings.
Animal interaction inspires art projects too, including — for the Junior Aquarist group ages 6 to 8 — creating your own animals out of clay.
“I like everything in the aquarium,” said Madelyn Lisi, 6, a Junior Aquarist. “I just can’t tell what I love the most. I think I like every exhibit, so I just say I like everything.”
“I like seeing the eel,” noted Junior Aquarist Jett Forcellina, 7, of Norwalk. “It’s really long and there are two of them.”
Ian Connell, 11, of Wilton, praised the various experiences he’s had at the camp.
“It’s the critters, the critters,” he said, lauding an opportunity to go behind the scenes to watch — and even take part in — things like feeding, food preparation and behavior training for the animals.
“I like that we walk around the whole aquarium and look at all the cool things and animals,” said Amelia Stein, 8, of Weston. “And we can learn new facts about all of them.”
“It’s a unique opportunity that I think a lot of other camps don’t have,” Brandstatter said.
“We’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from parents,” she said. “It’s a really good experience.”