2024 AQUA CAMP REGISTRATION INFORMATION 

We listened when you told us how difficult it can be to register your child for camps, especially when you have a busy schedule. That's why we have made it easier for you! You no longer need to worry about being in front of your computers or on your phones at a specific time of the day to register. We have replaced the "first come, first served" basis with a computer-based impartial Lottery process. This means that your child will have an equal chance of getting into the camp of their choice. Once the registration period is closed, our system will randomly select names from the registrations. Trust us; this new process will ensure every child has an equal opportunity to be selected, regardless of when their parents register them. Register your child for camps today!

Key Dates 

• March 15th: Online Aqua Camp lottery opens 
• March 25th: Online Aqua Camp lottery closes
• April 9th: Parents/guardians are notified if their child(ren) has been chosen through the lottery system

Your BZS membership must be current to complete the lottery registration process for Aqua Camp. Specifically, the parents or grandparents of the child(ren) you are registering for must have a current minimum level of Killifish (Family or Grandparent) membership. If your membership has lapsed, you can renew online here. 

Please note that the child/children you are registering must be your immediate family.

Below is a list of the requirements you will be asked for in order to register your child/ren for the Lottery; please have information readily accessible to help with the easier signup. 

Registration Information:

• Camp Group Name (by child's age) 
• Desired Week
• Child Name
• Point of Contact Name, email, phone number, address 
• Credit Card Information
• Membership Level
• Membership Number

We have implemented the new lottery system to reduce the stress surrounding Aqua Camp registration. We welcome your feedback on these changes.

PAYMENT POLICY

We want to inform all members registering for the summer camp lottery about the BZS payment policy. Upon selection for BZS Aqua Camps, payment is required to guarantee your enrollment. The fee must be paid in full within 5 working days of notification. Failure to complete the full payment by the specified date may result in the forfeiture of your spot and may move your child/ren to the waiting list. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in adhering to this payment policy to ensure a smooth and successful summer camp experience for everyone.

REFUND POLICY

Our refund policy allows us to meet the budgetary requirements of staffing and running our Aqua Camp Programme.

1. Full refund (less $15.00 application fee) if cancellation is received by May 14, 2024.
2. 50% refund of camp fee and After Camp fee if applicable (less $15.00 application fee) - if cancellation is received more than two weeks before your child’s session starts.
3. No refund for cancellations received less than two weeks before your child’s session starts.
4. We are unable to give refunds if camp is cancelled due to extreme weather conditions, “acts of God,” or illness.

Below is a schedule indicating which camps will be available during the summer of 2024. Please note the age range for each camp. The 2024 schedule is similar to past years, with the addition of a few more camps. We will offer After-Camp Care this year and will post more information shortly.

AQUA CAMP INFORMATION

Aqua Camps are for BZS and ACP members' children only, and all are welcome to become members. 

Our Aqua Camps focus on getting students out in Nature! Camps for preschool and primary school students also include field trips, crafts, animal encounters and wading/swimming/snorkelling at an age-appropriate level. Children may only attend one week of a traditional Aqua Camp.Please see camp descriptions for details.

A list of what your child needs to bring to camp will be emailed to you at least a week before your child is due to start camp. You will also be emailed a schedule of their daily activities. We reserve the right to use photos taken during camps in our not-for-profit marketing promotion.

If you have any questions about camp activities, please contact Hollyanne Shirley, Education Administrator, at edadmin@bzs.bm with "Aqua Camp Query" in the subject line or call 293-2727 ext 2181. We look forward to a wonderful week with your child.

AQUA ANGELFISH (FORMERLY KNOW AS AQUA TOTS):

• Time of Camp: 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. *Drop-off times may vary by 5-15 minutes to allow for congestion. 
• Camp Fee: $350 (includes a $15 non-refundable application fee). 
• This camp is for children born in 2019.
• Aqua Angelfish campers will join us for five days, getting their feet wet in the water and dirty on the trails. This week is designed to help our youngest campers become more comfortable in the water and more familiar with the natural world around them. Camp includes immersive nature-based activities such as a trip to the Botanical Gardens or Spittal Pond and a swimming day at Gibbets Beach or Trunk Island. New this year are special classes with an art teacher and enhanced animal encounters. (Please note we assume children in this camp cannot swim.)

AQUA SQUIRRELFISH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AQUA KIDS):

• Time of Camp: 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. *Drop-off times may vary by 5-15 minutes to allow for congestion. 
• Camp Fee: $350 (includes a $15 non-refundable application fee).  
• This camp is for children born between 2017-2018.
• Aqua Squirrelfish campers learn many of the same skills as our Angelfish campers, but have the opportunity to build on them during snorkelling and hiking adventures around the island. This camp also includes classes with an art teacher and educational animal encounters, while incorporating topics in conservation that speak to our childrens' love of nature. (Please note we assume children in this camp cannot swim.) 

AQUA SNAPPERS (FORMERLY KNOW AS AQUA FUN):

• Time of Camp: 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. *Drop-off times may vary by 5-15 minutes to allow for congestion. 
• Camp Fee: $350 (includes a $15 non-refundable application fee). 
• This camp is for children born between 2015-2016.
• The Aqua Snappers camp is where children can improve their in-water skills with a day trip to deeper water, while also keeping their "land legs" with a hike around Cooper's Island.  This camp is designed to engage participants in activities and conversations that encourage them to become stewards of Bermuda's unique island ecosystems–both on land and in the ocean. During the week campers have the opportunity to take classes with an art teacher and learn from animal interactions and encounters. (We understand that some children in this camp may be able to swim and snorkel while others may not yet be swimmers.)

AQUA JACKS (FORMERLY KNOW AS AQUA ZOO):

• Time of Camp: 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. *Drop-off times may vary by 5-15 minutes to allow for congestion. 
• Camp Fee: $350 (includes a $15 non-refundable application fee). 
• This camp is for children born between 2013-2014.
• The Aqua Jacks camp delivers a world of watery fun to campers, with five days of adventures in, on or around the water. Highlights of this camp include a boat trip aboard the M/V Endurance and a class on Friday with an art teacher that encourages the exploration of nature through art. (Campers will have boat excursions to field sites and should feel comfortable swimming in deep water.)

AQUA EXPLORERS:

• Time of Camp: 9:00 a.m.—3:45 p.m. *Drop-off times may vary by 5-15 minutes to allow for congestion. 
• Camp Fee: $400 (includes a $15 non-refundable application fee).
• Aqua Explorers is for children who have completed M1 or M2 (children born between 2011-2012)
• The Aqua Explorers camp brings children on an all-terrain adventure across Bermuda. Campers can look forward to exploring mangroves on a trip to Hungry Bay and a boat excursion aboard the M/V Endurance. This camp combines experiential education and hands-on learning in nature with topics in conservation to develop a sense of environmental stewardship and activism in campers. (Students should be strong swimmers and have some snorkelling experience.) 

AQUA CONSERVATIONISTS:

• The Aqua Conservationists camp is a residential camp (5 days, 4 nights) based on Trunk Island with housing either in tents or in a cottage
• Camp Fee: $500 per child (includes a $15 non-refundable application fee).
• The Aqua Conservationists Camp is for students in M3 and S1 (children born between 2009-2010).
• This camp is designed to introduce campers to a variety of ongoing conservation programmes in Bermuda. There will be theory modules with guest speakers, hands-on work, and fieldwork. Throughout the week, we will conduct studies and projects on Trunk Island and at other locations across the island. This camp is a great introduction for those interested in conservation, natural history and science. Participants will also be introduced to volunteering at BAMZ/BZS in the Aquarium, Zoo and Education Departments so they can decide if they want to apply for the Junior Volunteer Programme for the 2024-2025 school year. 
• Campers will rotate the daily housekeeping tasks so that everyone gets an opportunity to cook, clean, and do timekeeping. Free time on Trunk Island will be scheduled daily, usually before dinner, with some work sessions scheduled after dinner.
• Please note: Although this camp is part of the lottery registration system, selected students will need to attend an interview to ensure they understand the scope of the camp. If you have any questions concerning camp activities, please contact Hollyanne Shirley, Education Administrator at edadmin@bzs.bm with "Aqua Camp Query" in the subject line or call 293-2727 ext 2181.

AQUA FREEDIVING 1 (Suggested ages 10-12 Years):

• Camp Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
• Camp Fee: $425 per child (includes a $15 non-refundable application fee).
• Please note: Although these camps are part of the lottery registration system, selected students will need to attend an interview to assess their readiness and skills.  

• During the camp, we will build underwater confidence through safely learning freediving skills and techniques. If your child is already a water baby, then this is their opportunity to take their skills to the next level. This camp is ideal for those relatively new to free diving or campers 10-12 years of age. This camp will vastly improve their one-breath abilities. All Campers will experience specialised coaching and training to empower them physically and mentally.

  On land, we will focus on stretching, fun theory, breath hold games, and mindfulness development daily. Out on the ocean, we will dive into a whole new world of wonderment, practising safety skills and exploring Bermuda's world-class reefs and wrecks! We will also learn about the important role of freedivers as guardians of the oceans and gain an understanding of the positive changes that can be made to protect our blue planet. This camp assumes that campers are competent swimmers.

AQUA FREEDIVING 2 (Suggested ages 11-14 Years):

• Camp Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
• Camp Fee: $425 per child (includes a $15 non-refundable application fee).
• Please note: Although these camps are part of the lottery registration system, selected students will need to attend an interview to assess their readiness and skills.  

During the camp, we will build underwater confidence through safely learning freediving skills and techniques.  If your child is already a water baby, then this is their opportunity to take their skills to the next level.  For those kids who are already freedivers, this camp will vastly improve their one-breath abilities.  This camp is ideal for those who have completed Free Diving 1 or are older than 13 years old and have strong swimming abilities. All Campers will experience specialised coaching and training to empower them physically and mentally.

On land, we will focus on stretching, fun theory, breath hold games, and mindfulness development daily. Out on the ocean, we will dive into a whole new world of wonderment, practising safety skills and exploring Bermuda's world-class reefs and wrecks! We will also learn about the important role of freedivers as guardians of the oceans and gain an understanding of the positive changes that can be made to protect our blue planet. This camp assumes that campers are strong swimmers.

Aqua Camp Counsellor Applications

Are you interested in becoming an Aqua Camp Counsellor? We employ a number of dedicated, creative and passionate individuals each summer who love working with children and enjoy being outdoors. This role is different than previous years in that the counsellor is responsible for the day-to-day interactions and relationship-building with campers, but will not teach any formal lessons. They will be the adult with students all day and take them on field trips that include swimming and hiking, as well as assist in specialty classes with a art teacher or BZS conservation/animal teacher. Applicants will need have first aid/CPR and SCARS training, be competent swimmers (and snorkellers for the camps for older children), and obtain a police check. An on-site first aid/CPR course may be provided, as well as assistance in obtaining a police check and scheduling SCARS training.

Applications will close at the end of March. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. For further information, contact Dr. Stephanie Toro, Education Officer, at (441) 704-3674 or edofficer@bzs.bm or bzsedofficer@gmail.com.

Click here for an online Aqua Camp Counsellor Application. 

Aqua Camp Assistant Applications

Are you interested in becoming an Aqua Camp Assistant? Camp assistants have the best job! They get to be in the water or in the field with campers. Assistants are expected to make sure that field trips, which can include swimming and hiking, are safe and fun for the campers. Each year a number of enthusiastic teens aged 15 and up are hired to help teach our Aqua Camps. Applicants need to enjoy working with children, be competent swimmers (and snorkellers for the camps for older children) and have an interest in Bermuda's natural history. It's a great learning and job experience.  Applicants will need to have first aid/CPR training, obtain a police check, and applicants 16 years and older are also required to have SCARS training. An on-site first aid/CPR course may be provided, as well as assistance in obtaining a police check and scheduling SCARS training.

Applications will close at the end of March. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. For further information, contact Dr. Stephanie Toro, Education Officer, at (441) 704-3674 or edofficer@bzs.bm or bzsedofficer@gmail.com.

Click here for an online Aqua Camp Assistant Application. 

Aqua Camp Art Teacher

Are you interested in becoming an Aqua Camp Art Teacher? We are eager to hire 1-2 art teachers to help make the connection between nature and art. The art teacher is a specialty teacher and will teach art classes to our Angelfish, Squirrelfish, Snappers, and Jacks Aqua Camps. We are looking for someone that knows how to really get those creative juices flowing with our campers, while helping to foster their love for the environment. We encourage projects that are eco-friendly and teach stewardship and conservation! Applicants will need to have first aid/CPR training and a obtain a police check, and applicants 16 years and older are also required to have SCARS training. An on-site first aid/CPR course may be provided, as well as assistance in obtaining a police check and scheduling SCARS training.

Applications wll close at the end of March. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.  For further information, contact Dr. Stephanie Toro, Education Officer, at (441) 704-3674 or edofficer@bzs.bm or bzsedofficer@gmail.com.

Click here for an online Aqua Camp Art Teacher Application. 

Aqua Camp Freediving Teacher/Counsellor

Are you interested in becoming an Aqua Camp Freediving Teacher? We are eager to hire 1-2 freediving teachers/coaches. The freediving teacher is a specialty teacher and will lead or assist our Aqua Freediving Camps. Freediving certification or experience is required. Applicants will need to have first aid/CPR training and obtain a police check, and applicants 16 years and older are also required to have SCARS training. An on-site first aid/CPR course may be provided, as well as assistance in obtaining a police check and scheduling SCARS training.

Applications will normally close at the end of March. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.  For further information, contact Dr. Stephanie Toro, Education Officer, at (441) 704-3674 or edofficer@bzs.bm or bzsedofficer@gmail.com.

Click here for an online Aqua Camp Freediving Teacher/Counsellor Application

After Camp Counsellors and Assistant Counsellors

After Camp Counsellors support our camp by providing additional care, so that we are inclusive for all families. After Camp Counsellors and Assistant Counsellors will create a fun environment until families are able to pick up their campers. This could include games, reading stories, playing outside, or visiting an exhibit in the aquarium or zoo. Each year a number of enthusiastic teens aged 15 and up are hired to help teach our After Camps. Applicants need to enjoy working with children and have an interest in Bermuda's Natural History. It's a great learning and job experience.  Applicants will need to have first aid/CPR training, obtain a police check, and applicants 16 years and older are also required to have SCARS training. An on-site first aid/CPR course may be provided as well as assistance in obtaining a police check and scheduling SCARS training.

Applications will close at the end of March. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. For further information, contact Dr. Stephanie Toro, Education Officer, at (441) 704-3674 or edofficer@bzs.bm or bzsedofficer@gmail.com.

Click here for an online Aqua Camp After Camp Counsellor Application.