Quick Details
Participant
Ages 8 to 14
$ 350
About the Camp
Welcome to the Hilo Ocean Adventures Summer Camp, a 4-day, water-focused experience designed to get kids comfortable, confident, and curious in and around the ocean. Based out of our Hilo shop, campers spend their week snorkeling, body boarding, paddle boarding, and kayaking along the Big Island’s east coast, guided by our team of ocean professionals.
The camp is built around the Hawaiian practice of kilo, the art of careful observation. Throughout the week, campers learn to slow down, watch the water, identify marine life, and understand the coastal environment they’re playing in. We split older and younger campers across activities when needed so that every group gets instruction at the right level, and we wrap the week with a visit to ʻImiloa Astronomy Center and a pool party to celebrate.
Lunch and Thursday Pizza Party
- This is a bring-your-own-lunch camp. Please pack a lunch each day Monday through Wednesday. We will have onsite snacks for the campers each day
- On Thursday we provide a pizza party at the shop followed by an afternoon pool party to close out the week.
- Please let us know in advance about any allergies or dietary restrictions.
Weekly Itinerary
Monday, Welcome and Water Safety
Get-to-know-you games in the morning, followed by an afternoon of swim safety and snorkeling instruction at Carlsmith Beach Park. Campers are introduced to kilo ʻāina, observing the land and sea, with the guiding idea that by observing, we learn.
Tuesday, Reef Life and Body Boarding
Morning fish ID and food chain activities introduce campers to Hawaii’s coral reef ecosystem. In the afternoon, we head back to the water for body boarding and snorkeling.
Wednesday, Paddle Boarding and Kayaking
Campers split into older and younger groups for paddle boarding and kayaking lessons, then swap activities after lunch so everyone gets time on both.
Thursday, ʻImiloa and Pool Party
A morning field trip to ʻImiloa Astronomy Center connects ocean and sky through Hawaiian voyaging and science. We close the week with a pizza party and pool party back at the shop.
What Campers Will Learn
- Foundational swim safety and snorkeling skills
- Hawaiian reef fish identification and basic marine food chain concepts
- Body boarding, paddle boarding, and kayaking fundamentals
- The practice of kilo: observation as a way of understanding the ocean
- Respect for the ʻāina through Leave No Trace principles and conservation awareness
Rainy Day Backup
Hilo weather can be unpredictable, so we always have a Plan B. On rainy days, campers stay engaged with group games (Mafia, Ninja, Infection, Captain’s Coming, frisbee), creative activities like aquarium drawing, coloring, and kilo journaling, and weather-permitting adventures such as a Wailuku River observation walk.
What to Bring
- Swimsuit (please wear before arrival)
- Towel and dry change of clothes
- Reef-safe sunscreen and sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Light rain jacket (Hilo, after all)
- Lunch for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday!