David Kinne Scholarship

The scholarship covers:

• Tuition for one week of camp (two $250 camp sessions within the same week).
• A free camp t-shirt.
• A camp gear pack, including a Clearwater Marine Aquarium camp bag, mask and snorkel, CMA towel, CMA water bottle, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
• Daily catered lunches with an entrée, drink, dessert, and a side (chips, fruit cup, or baby carrots with ranch dressing).

The scholarship is open to students who have completed kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2024-2025 school year. Applicants must also meet the specific grade criteria and age range for the camp they wish to attend.

Applicants must complete the application below, including a short essay written by the applicant. The essay should answer the following questions in 1-5 paragraphs:

•  What makes you passionate about the ocean?
• Why do you want to come to Marine Science Camp?
• What makes you the ideal candidate for this scholarship?
• Imagine waking up one day with the ability to breathe underwater. Where would you go, and what would you see, hear, and feel in the ocean?

Yes, previous campers are welcome to apply. However, priority will be given to applicants who have not attended camp at Clearwater Marine Aquarium before.

Winners can choose any week that includes two $250 camp sessions (morning and afternoon) within the same week. Once confirmation is received, winners will self-enroll in their preferred camp using a promo code provided by Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Winners must select and register for their camp by May 1, 2025. If the chosen camp is full, winners can select another camp or join the waitlist.

The camp is held at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, located at 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767.

Each camp is a 5-day program running Monday through Friday during your selected week. These scholarships include full-day camps that run from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Scholarship campers must be dropped off between 8:15 am and 8:30 am. Scholarship campers must be picked up between 4:00 pm and 4:15 pm. Early arrivals and late pick-ups are not permitted. We do not offer before or after-care services.

Lunch is catered each day and includes the following menu: Turkey and cheese sandwiches on Monday, cheeseburgers on Tuesday, pizza on Wednesday, chicken tenders on Thursday, and corn dog nuggets on Friday. Each meal is served with a drink, dessert, and a side such as chips, a fruit cup, or baby carrots with ranch dressing. Please note that the menu is subject to change.

To ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience, we recommend that all campers bring peanut and tree-nut free snacks and a refillable water bottle. All scholarship camp participants should arrive each day dressed in a bathing suit underneath their camp t-shirt and bottoms, along with closed-toe water shoes. On the first day, scholarship campers will receive a camp gear pack, including a Clearwater Marine Aquarium camp bag, mask and snorkel, CMA towel, CMA water bottle, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Each day, campers should bring a backpack containing closed-toe water shoes, mask and snorkel, towel, a change of clothes, sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent.

Please apply sunscreen before arriving, as our staff can only assist with spray-style sunscreens. Closed-toe water shoes are essential due to potential hazards in Clearwater Bay, such as sharp shells. PLEASE NOTE: Campers will not be allowed to enter the water without closed-toe water shoes. Clearwater Marine Aquarium does not sell water shoes, so please ensure your camper has a pair before attending camp each day.

Unfortunately, we are not able to retroactively apply a scholarship to an existing registration. If you receive a scholarship after already registering, you may either select another week or choose to receive a refund according to the standard camp refund policy outlined in the Camp Family Handbook.

For general camp-related questions, please refer to our FAQs and family camp handbook, which can be found here: Camp FAQ and Handbook. If you have any further questions regarding the scholarship, please contact our Supervisor of Conservation Education Programs at camps@cmaquarium.org or call (727) 441-1790 ext. 2270.