Sanibel STEM camp offered girls hands-on science education

Spring break is wrapping up for Southwest Florida students, but many girls spent their break at a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) camp in Sanibel focusing on science, field methods and learning how to use lab equipment.

Two marine scientists, both women, run the free camp that they say gives the girls confidence they might not always have in the classroom. This week, they collected sediment to study ancient hurricanes and studied plastic pollutants in water samples. The girls say it was a great way to try out a field they might want to pursue.

“I thought it sounds kind of interesting, because I want to go in the STEM field, hopefully, and so I was like, ‘Maybe this will give me a chance to see what it’s like,'” said camp participant Raani Jenkins.

This spring break camp was a partnership between Florida Gulf Coast University and Sanibel Sea School, which hosts various camps during the summer, including one on marine science. But open spots for this year are all taken.