OceanQuest camp seeks to inspire teen's interest in science

The rising freshmen tested and analyzed the chemistry of the Elizabeth River, built remote operated vehicles, dissected a perch, toured a massive Navy ship, and touched a live but resting shark - all in a little more than two days.
"It was, like, rough and leathery," 14-year-old Josiah Emery said of the shark.
"It felt like the back of a turtle," Taliya Gunawansa said.
"Gritty," Asjah Brown declared.
The teens, all from Portsmouth public schools, spent last week as OceanQuest campers. The intensive six-day oceanography program was designed to spark their interest in science careers.
Formed a year ago by the Beazley Foundation, Nauticus and city education leaders, the program also aims to help high-achieving Portsmouth students forge friendships.
It's also a way to expose them to college life. The program comes with a nearly weeklong stay in an Old Dominion University dorm.
OceanQuest was so successful last year that it was expanded to three sessions of a total of 36 rising ninth- and 10th-graders this summer, from two groups of a total of 24 students last year.
In addition to strong grades, the teens who make it into OceanQuest must have glowing teacher recommendations and love to learn.
The teens rounded out their 15-hour days by journaling their adventures. Fourteen-year-old Willard Ward wrote about his awesome tour of the carrier Theodore Roosevelt and building and running a remote-operated vehicle that moved up, down and to the sides - everything it was supposed to do.
"It was like a cool breeze of success," said Willard, a William E. Waters Middle School grad.
Some of the students already know they want a career in the sciences or math. Others are still figuring it out.
"I want to be a flight attendant, travel the world, then get a job that has to do with math or animals," said Yulissa Balsamo, who just finished Cradock Middle School.
Keaun Barrett, a recent Churchland Middle School graduate, wants to go into law.
Erick Larson, one of OceanQuest's counselors, sees a connection between Keaun's ambition and his camp studies.
"We're going to need people in the legal system to protect whatever advances we make in cleaning and protecting the river," Larson said.
Later, Keaun smiled.
He never thought about that before.
Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com the teens who make it into OceanQuest must have glowing teacher recommendations and love to learn.
The teens rounded out their 15-hour days journaling their adventures. Fourteen-year-old Willard Ward wrote about his awesome tour of the USS Theodore Roosevelt and building and running a remote operated vehicle that moved up, down and to the sides - everything it was supposed to do.
"It was like a cool breeze of success," said Willard, a William E. Waters Middle School grad.
Some of the students already know they want a career in the sciences or math. Others are still figuring it out.
"I want to be a flight attendant, travel the world, then get a job that has to do with math or animals," said Yulissa Balsamo, who just finished Cradock Middle School.
Keaun Barrett, a recent Churchland Middle School graduate, wants to go into law.
Erick Larson, one of OceanQuest's counselors, sees a connection between Keaun's ambition and his camp studies.
"We're going to need people in the legal system to protect whatever advances we make in cleaning and protecting the river," Larson said.
Later, Keaun smiled.
He never thought about that before.
 
Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com