URI’s Shark Camp takes to Narragansett Bay for 16 Rhode Island students

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Welcome aboard the Cap’n Bert, a University of Rhode Island research vessel and the home of Shark Camp.

“We’re fishing for marine life. We’re gonna catch some sharks, along with a lot of other things,” said URI Professor Dr. Brad Wetherbee

Dr. Wetherbee brought Shark Camp to life in 2018 in hopes of introducing our marine environment to Rhode Island students who would otherwise never get the chance to experience it.

“Some of them have never been on a boat. Some of them have never been to the ocean. Some of them have had very little interaction with marine life,” said Dr. Wetherbee.

Each year, applications pour in, and each year, 16 students from the Ocean State are chosen to participate.

Over the course of five days, the kids get the chance to see the marine world in action.

From the classroom, from the aquarium, and from aboard the Cap’n Bert, which is the centerpiece of what seems to be the fan favorite experience.

“Best part of today? The trawl? Yah the trawl,” said camper Peyton Martin.

“Because we got to see all the different species of creatures.”

Under the direction of teacher and Captain Steve Barber, the Cap’n Bert navigates the Narragansett Bay and trawls for the creatures below.

“We do a survey tow each and every week so that we can use that data for management purposes,” said Captain Barber.

“I’ll have the kids do some research just by sorting by species.”

Taking part in this creature count also gives the kids a chance to get up close and personal with the animals that inhabit the bay.

Each interaction serves as a lesson, and a priceless memory for these students.

“It’s just a crazy opportunity to have this chance to get this close to marine life. And it’s just been a blast,” said camper Zyere Blake.

But the memories aren’t the only priceless part of the week.

The entire camp is free for the applicants that make the cut.

The school even provides transportation to ensure they have no problems getting from their homes to their adventures on the water and to cultivate what could be a lifelong love of the ocean habitat in the Ocean State.

“I wasn’t really that interested in sharks to begin with, but I was like let me learn about it and get over my fear, and now I’m interested,” said Kenya Depina.