Camp SEA Lab

Name

Camp SEA Lab

Legal name

Camp SEA Lab

Website

https://campsealab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Science Education and Youth Outdoor Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM), Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

Keywords

• Marine science education
• Youth summer camps
• Outdoor school programs
• Ocean stewardship curriculum
• Residential science camp

Headquarters

HQ city

Aptos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees collected for outdoor school and summer camp programs form the primary revenue source. Programs include day camps ($595), overnight camps ($1,495), and residential outdoor school programs. 25% deposit required at registration.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Programs supported by donations through PayPal, in-kind gifts, and Friends of Camp SEA Lab 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization fundraising activities primarily for scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Camp SEA Lab provides hands-on marine science education programs for school-age youth in the Monterey Bay area, including weeklong summer day camps, overnight camps, and a multi-day sailing adventure, plus residential and day outdoor school programs for school groups. Programs combine marine science instruction (snorkeling, kayaking, dissections, monitoring studies) with NGSS-aligned curriculum and partnerships with marine research institutions. Revenue is primarily generated through program fees, supplemented by donations via the Friends of Camp SEA Lab 501(c)(3).

Product overview

Camp SEA Lab is a nonprofit marine science education organization offering a portfolio of youth programs centered on marine education, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship in the Monterey Bay area. Its product suite consists of three types of Summer Camp programs — Day Camps (Stewards of the SEA, Beach Biology and Breakers, Ocean Forest Odyssey), Overnight Camps (Kelp Forest Quest, Keepers of the Coast, Curious Creatures of the Bay), and the Voyage Seaward sailing adventure — as well as an Outdoor School division providing Residential (3-day/2-night) and Day Programs for school groups, plus an At-Home Curriculum for remote learning. All programs emphasize hands-on marine science activities (snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, dissections, monitoring studies) aligned to NGSS and NOAA Ocean Literacy Standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stewards of the SEA (Day Camp) Weeklong day camp for ages 10-14 focusing on marine ecology, ocean conservation, and science. Activities include surfing, snorkeling, a Monterey Bay Aquarium visit, sand crab study, plankton exploration, and dissection. Drop-off/pick-up 8:30am-3pm at Lover's Point, Casa Verde Beach, and San Carlos Beach Park. Priced at $595 per camper.
• Beach Biology and Breakers (Day Camp) Weeklong day camp for ages 8-13 exploring sandy shore environments. Activities include surfing basics (2 days), whale watching, kayaking, boogie boarding, marine mammal artifacts, sand crab studies, and shorebird observations. Drop-off at Del Monte Beach and Casa Verde Beach. Priced at $595 per camper.
• Ocean Forest Odyssey (Day Camp) Weeklong day camp for ages 8-13 exploring nearshore and kelp forest habitats. Activities include snorkeling (2 days), kayaking, algae pressing, gyotaku fish printing, tidepooling, plankton studies, and fish dissection. Located at Lover's Point and Del Monte Beach. Priced at $595 per camper.
• Kelp Forest Quest (Overnight Camp) Overnight marine science camp for ages 12-16 exploring kelp forest ecosystems. Activities include snorkeling, kayaking, boogie boarding, fish dissection, Monterey Bay Aquarium visit, plankton studies, and scientific illustration. Includes dorms and meals at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. Priced at $1,495 per camper.
• Keepers of the Coast (Overnight Camp) Overnight marine science and conservation camp for ages 12-16. Activities include surfing, tidepool monitoring, whale watching, kayaking, squid dissection, and marine conservation art and advocacy. Includes dorms and meals at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. Priced at $1,495 per camper.
• Curious Creatures of the Bay (Overnight Camp) Overnight camp for ages 10-13 focused on animal adaptations in Monterey Bay. Activities include surfing, kayaking, a Monterey Bay Aquarium visit, sand crab studies, a shark night hike, deep sea investigation, and marine species dissection. Priced at $1,495 per camper.
• Voyage Seaward 5-day sailing and marine science adventure aboard the Seaward, an 82-foot classic schooner, for ages 13-16. Departs from either Sausalito Harbor to Monterey Harbor, or Monterey Harbor round-trip. Activities include marine mammal studies, whale watching, squid dissection, oceanography sampling, navigation, and vessel handling under a professional captain and crew. Limited to 12 campers with 5-6 staff.
• Residential Outdoor School 3-day, 2-night residential science camp program for grades 5-8 at Camp St. Francis in Seascape/Aptos, CA. Accommodates up to 125 participants. Daytime lessons include sand crab monitoring, plankton and food chains, kayaking the Elkhorn Slough, marine debris, watersheds, ocean currents, and ocean acidification. Evening activities include beach campfire, squid dissection, deep sea exploration, and shark night hike. Teachers and chaperones attend at reduced rates.
• Day Outdoor School Programs Full-day field experiences for grades 3-8 at Asilomar Beach (Pacific Grove) or Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (Watsonville). Activities include tidepooling, sandy beach explorations, marine mammal studies, sand crab monitoring, plankton studies, and nature hikes. Runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Schools arrange transportation and chaperones.
• At-Home Curriculum Free set of at-home science experiments, creative crafts, and virtual resources for students, including an ocean acidification lab, science illustration, paper bead upcycling craft, and links to virtual resources from Elkhorn Slough Reserve and Año Nuevo Animal Count citizen science projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000 youth served cumulative since founding in 2000
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• United Camps, Conferences & Retreats (UCCR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Camp SEA Lab officially joined WOLF School, becoming part of the UCCR family. UCCR is an organization of camps, conferences, and retreats.
• WOLF School (Web of Life Field)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Camp SEA Lab became part of WOLF School in 2021, the outdoor school component of United Camps, Conferences & Retreats. WOLF School has been creating engaging outdoor experiences for K-12 students since 1989. Camp SEA Lab is now led by Heather Butler, who also serves as director of WOLF School.
• Kayak Connection-Moss LandingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp SEA Lab partners with Kayak Connection for kayak tours at Elkhorn Slough during outdoor school programs. Tours led by Kayak Connection guides with life vests and paddle lessons provided.
• Monterey Bay AquariummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram affiliate providing educational resources and facility access. Campers visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium as part of camp programs to learn about different marine habitats.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram affiliate providing marine science education connections and expertise. Campers interact with MBARI employees during programs.
• Hopkins Marine StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram affiliate of Stanford University providing marine science education resources and partnerships.
• Elkhorn Slough FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram affiliate providing access to Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve for kayak tours and marine mammal studies.
• California State University Monterey BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer operating parent organization. Camp SEA Lab previously operated under CSUMB before joining WOLF School. Marine science alumni from CSUMB are hired as staff.
• Stevenson SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides dorms and meals at Pebble Beach location for overnight camp programs, including transportation to activity sites.
• NOAA Monterey Bay National Marine SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram affiliate supporting marine science education and ocean stewardship mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Major aquarium and education provider in the same geography, running youth programs and serving as one of Camp SEA Lab's largest content partners — comparable in mission and audience, but as a much larger, broader institution.
• Sea Education Association: Operates accredited tall-ship semester and gap programs with marine science and sailing — adjacent to Camp SEA Lab's Voyage Seaward offering but serves an older student segment.

Direct peers

• Ocean Institute: Dana Point-based marine science education organization running youth camps, tall-ship programs, and school field experiences on the California coast — comparable in audience, content, and school-program channels.
• Marine Science Institute: Provides hands-on marine science school programs and youth camps in coastal California covering plankton, marine life, and watersheds — directly comparable to Camp SEA Lab's outdoor-school curriculum.
• Catalina Sea Camp: Residential marine science summer camp in California serving school-age youth with sailing, snorkeling, and ocean ecology programs — directly comparable to Camp SEA Lab's overnight and Voyage Seaward offerings.
• SEACAMP San Diego: One of the longest-running marine science youth camps in California, offering residential and day programs in ocean ecology, diving, and sailing — comparable in mission, audience, and pricing model.
• Living Coast Discovery Center: Southern California aquarium and nature center offering school field programs and summer camps focused on coastal ecology and marine science education — comparable to Camp SEA Lab's day-program and outreach model.

Regional players

• Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey: Massachusetts-based historic schooner offering shipboard educational sails with marine science themes — directly comparable to Camp SEA Lab's Voyage Seaward sailing model, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/campsealab
• Instagraminstagram.com/campsealab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp SEA Lab