About
"Swimming Creatures"
River Biology from Genes to Populations
Where: Kenyon College
Date: June 23rd - 27th, 2013
Age Group: 15-18 w/ science class background
Cost $650 - Register Here
Swimming Creatures is a summer camp like none other. It is a camp for science loving swimmers, combining high-quality experience in scientific research with top-notch swim training.
The biology portion of the camp will balance the excitement of field research with the precision of laboratory techniques; all while keeping things in the context of usable data and analysis.
Students will work with leaders in their fields from the faculties and staff of Kenyon College and Florida International University to investigate species diversity and how animals in a high quality river respond to habitat variability and environmental stress. Research will focus on the diversity of fish and macro-invertebrates, with students applying techniques of stable isotope analysis to study food webs and getting a window into environmental health by seeing how water quality and habitat structure impact species diversity and distribution.
The swimming portion of the camp will offer students a chance to train with top-level coaches from a variety of colleges and universities. With the option of two practice sessions a day, swimmers will develop and maintain a high level of fitness during their time at Kenyon. They will also have an opportunity to discover what is essential in being a successful science student-athlete in college: balancing vigorous scholastic pursuit with the effort required to maximize one’s swimming potential.
Swimming Creatures is staffed by leaders in their fields. Dr. Mike Heithaus is at the cutting edge of ecological research. Director of Florida International University’s School for the Environment and Society, he has travelled the world investigating the complex interactions taking place in aquatic ecosystems. Considered one of the world’s leading marine biologists, Heithaus began his career in the rivers and streams of Northern Ohio. Not only a National Geographic Research Fellow and former host of ‘Crittercam Chronicles’, Heithaus is also a three-time NCAA Div. III national champion in the 400 IM.
Dr. E. Raymond Heithaus brings almost four decades of teaching and research experience to Swimming Creatures. From Stanford to Northwestern and back to Kenyon, Heithaus Senior’s consistent focus has involved dispersal ecology and plant-animal interactions. From the headwaters of Ohio streams to the tropical forests of Costa Rica and the marine paradise of Shark Bay, Western Australia, Heithaus’ field experience is something only time can buy.
Wetlands expert and Kenyon Professor of Biology, Siobhan Fennessy, will be joining Total Performance’s Science for Swimmers camp this summer! Professor Fennessy serves on the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Research Council – a prestigious panel of scientists who provide focus and advice for researchers in the field of water resources in the national interest. Her varied and high-level experience will be an invaluable asset to camp this June.
Jim Steen, the legendary head coach of the Kenyon College Swimming and Diving team who developed his program into the most successful in collegiate athletics history. One of the most respected coaches in the nation, Steen directed the Kenyon men’s team to 29 of its record 31 consecutive NCAA national championships, while at the same time, he guided the Ladies to 21 of their 23 national titles. Steen won more NCAA national championships (50) than any other coach in any NCAA sport. His contributions have been consistent and innovative, and the results have been quite simply unparalleled.
Jessen Book, the head coach of the Kenyon Men's & Women’s Swimming and Diving team is familiar with the structure of a winning dynasty at Kenyon. Book, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, was a member of four Kenyon national championship teams and was an All-America award-winner in the 1999-00 season. He later returned in 2002 as an assistant coach, guiding the Ladies to three national titles and the Lords to four. Following up on his time with Kenyon, Book also gained experience at the NCAA Division I level working as the assistant men’s coach at The Ohio State University, helping the Buckeyes earn a Big Ten Championship and ninth place finish at NCAA’s before returning again to Gambier.
At Swimming Creatures, you couldn’t ask for better facilities: The world class Kenyon Athletic Center, Kokosing State Scenic River, The Brown Family Environmental Center and Kenyon’s Science Quad are hard to beat when it comes to facilitating quality training and research.
By participating in Swimming Creatures, student-athletes get an opportunity to explore what has made Kenyon College one of the leading academic institutions in the country and Kenyon Swimming the most successful intercollegiate sport program in history.
We hope you’ll join us this June for this unique Total Performance experience!!
I would highly recommend this camp to anyone who is interested in pursuing both science and swimming. The coaches, faculty, field experience and facilities were all amazing! And I really enjoyed the lectures, Dr. Mike [Heithaus] was awesome!
- Camper, 2012
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