Marine Science Institute

We have been attending MSI camps since our daughter was in kindergarten, 6 years later we attend as many camps as there are for her age group. She loves the hands on learning and has annouced she wants to work and save marine life for a career. The trips on the boat are cherished and talked about for weeks! She is happy to share with whomever will listen.

My daughter attended your camp for the first time this summer, and had a GREAT experience! She came home with cool creations, told us about the marine life she got to "pet" and other interesting facts about the bay. She was at first scared to board the boat, but your staff was reassuring, and professional. You were also very well organized in the details, re parking, snacks to pack, etc. etc. We joined as members since we were so impressed with your operation. We've lived in RWC for 5 years, and did not even know you existed. We will spread the word, for sure on all the great things you're doing. Thanks!!

My daughter has been attending your camp from age 5 until this summer when she was 11. She had looked forward to this camp every year and had an amazing time this last summer. Your staff and your program are wonderful!

My son had the greatest experience this summer at the Marine Science Institute summer camp. Signing him up for this camp was a very nice experience for me, too. We were late and camp was full, but the staff tried to find a space for us and they did. All my phone calls were returned in a very timely and respectful manner, and best of all my boy had a blast! Kids were doing science, and learning about the environment and on ways to protect it. They explored marches in the south bay on kayaks, taking samples for analysis and having a great time in between. The overnight trip to Angel island was something that kids will remember for a long-long time. I praise the MSI for all work they do.

I recently participated in MSI's "Ecotour" program, a two-hour, on-water experience to help the general public better understand the San Francisco Bay's functions and characteristics. The tour was informative, well-organized, and engaging. Adults and children seemed to have a good time. I will be taking a group of adults on the tour in a few weeks and am very excited about this program!

MSI's summer camps are fantastic. Full of fun and science, 3 field trips in 5 days were a huge hit with my 7 year old. We'll definitely send him back year after year, and his younger sister is begging for her own chance to attend Marine Science Camp (next year!)

My daughter loved spending time at MSI both as a student and as a camper. She especially liked touching the shark and being on the boat. She thought the only improvement would be fewer games and more Marine Science stuff.

My daughter attended Ocean Explorers Summer Camp. Last year she attended as well, but as a entering first grader. She thoroughly enjoys herself, comes home telling us interesting facts about ocean life, and loves the counselors and staff. I couldn't be happier with this camp. There are two field trips to the beach and tide pools and a trip aboard their boat. It's fantastic!

I recently participated in a Discovery Voyage aboard the Marine Science Institute's boat in San Francisco Bay. I was truly impressed by the quality of the program. The staff do an excellent job of keeping the kids engaged and getting them excited about science and the environment. The program gets the kids to actively participate in collecting the samples and analyzing them. They have four science stations aboard the boat -- one each for plankton, large fish, sediment, and water quality. The children end up learning a ton without even realizing it.

Camp is awesome. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

I think I learned a lot about other types of animals and what lives in the ocean that I didn't know was there. I really like being on the boat. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

I learned stuff about fish and megalodons and sharks and plankton. One more thing that's really cool about Marine Science Institute is the Free Willy whale. One thing that I think they could improve is letting us in the water. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

Camp is awesome and Josh [the counselor] is awesome. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

I really liked it. I would do it again. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

It was definitely fun, and I learned a lot, and seeing all the things that we found, like catching fish. It was really interesting. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

It's definitely better than a lot of camps I've been to. You have more opportunity than other places or thing you could do for free at home. My camp counselors at another camp treated everybody like toddlers but there they are age appropriate. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

It was the best camp ever. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

We learned a lot but it was disguised as fun and games--inside that, there was a lot of learning. Not like being in class, really, really fun! Just fun learning. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

It was the best camp that I have ever been to--and the best one I will ever go to. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

I had a lot of fun. Totally awesome. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

I've been learning a lot about marine mammals. I liked going to the marine mammal center for a field trip. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

I learned that mostly if you get a fish or a shark tail to head it may hurt it. And if a scale came off it would be hard for the fish to swim. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

I think the Marine Science Institute was pretty interesting. There's a lot of things I've learned like that there's only one spotted seal on the coast of California and that a dolphin is a mammal. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

The activities are really fun and very creative and kids learn a lot from them. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

It has been lots of fun on the boat today. I got to teach the kids a lot which was really cool. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

The boat trip was was fun, but we should have done more fish things. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

I have been going to camp here every year since i was five, a total of 12 years now and I enjoyed myself every time. I worked my way up to volunteer and now counselor in training. I enjoy pretty much anything that keeps me involved, but mostly I enjoy working with the kids. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer

The voyage today has been great. The science the kids are learning is so sophisticated that I'm learning all sorts of things, like how the bay has changed over time. At the same time this is not a school; it's another fun day. *This review was collected during a boat trip and entered by GreatNonprofits staff on behalf of the reviewer