Sea Lab Science Fridays: Ocean STEM

Event Cost: $10 per participant per class
Event Date: October 21, 2022 & December 2, 2022
Event Time: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Endeavour Hall, Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Pre-registration is required - Click here to register

Discovery Hall Programs is offering a day of ‘drop-in’ classes for home school students, for parents looking for enrichment activities for their children, for students who can join us after a day of virtual learning, or just for folks who love to learn about all things marine science.

Learners can participate in only one class, take two or three classes on the same day or take all six classes over the course of a month, Some of the classes are appropriate for all ages, while younger students will benefit from working with an accompanying adult for others.


Ocean Drifters - 9:30-11:30 am
There’s motion in the ocean! And it’s important! Ocean currents determine the distribution of ocean animals, suspended and dissolved materials as well as heat and energy. Drifters are a type of technology that scientists use to study ocean currents. Come build with us as we design, build, and test our own mini-drifter using our engineering skills. We’ll also track a full-size ocean drifter using satellites and an app and discuss the significance of nearshore currents in barrier island dynamics.

What to wear and bring: comfortable shoes that can get wet and sandy, a hat to shade the sun while outside, sunscreen, a water bottle, and your creativity.

Suitable for ages 10 and up, or for all ages with an accompanying adult.


Trash(in) the Ocean - 1:00-3:00 pm
Marine debris is a huge problem that impacts marine life everywhere. Join us to learn more about marine debris and microplastics. We’ll play the role of a beach dwelling animal and understand how hard trash is to avoid. We’ll explore how scientists collect and analyze data by collecting our own and comparing it to that collected across the world as we take part in a citizen science project using NOAA’s Marine Debris Tracker app.

What to wear and bring: a device (if you can), comfortable shoes that can get wet and sandy, a hat to shade the sun while outside, sunscreen, a water bottle, and your sense of stewardship.

Suitable for ages 10 and up, or for all ages with an accompanying adult.

ROVing the Gulf - 3:00-5:00 pm
Do you like to build things and then see if they work? If so, then this class is for you! Scientists, ocean engineers, and explorers use remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) as they visit, study, and work in the ocean, especially in the deep sea. In this class, we’ll learn more about ROVs, buoyancy, and hydrodynamics and then team up to build and drive a ROV in the Sea Lab pool.

What to wear and bring: a hat to shade the sun while outside, sunscreen, a water bottle, and your building skills.

Suitable for ages 10 and up, or for all ages with an accompanying adult.

Click here to register

NOTE: DISL has implemented a number of procedures and precautions to minimize the risk of COVID19 transmission during visits to the Sea Lab. Activities will take place primarily outdoors, groups will be limited in size, sanitizer will be available at all times, and masks will be worn when in groups and when social distancing is not possible.

The weather on Dauphin Island can be different from that in Mobile or areas farther north: only severe weather conditions result in cancellation. Cancellations due to weather will be posted on our Facebook page

DISL reserves the right to cancel the program in the event enrollment is inadequate. Noncompliance with the rules of the program results in expulsion and forfeiture of the program cost.

Add an *Aquarium visit* to your experience *HERE*