Abstract
The University of Southern Mississippi Marine Education Center and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art teamed up to offer summer camp online during the pandemic. The camp was a pilot project to explore compelling ways of delivering art and science virtually. The partners chose the oyster as the topic. Each day the team linked one hour of online oyster science to one hour of interactive art with an hour offline spent in individual reflection and journaling. Content included oyster aquaculture, water quality, the oyster's history, and the geometric beauty of diatoms. The group faced several challenges, including attracting participants in a sea of virtual opportunities and keeping them engaged for three hours during each of the five days, with the expectation that they would work on their own during lunch and re-engage in the afternoon ready for art. It was a challenge to create rich, topic-specific, outdoor learning experiences. Producing them virtually on the water, subject to weather and connectivity issues, added complexity. Partners employed a variety of strategies to address challenges. They offered pre-registered participants a curated box of science materials and art supplies for the cost of shipping. This incentive, coupled with previous educational achievement of both partners, resulted in filling all twenty-five seats within 48 hours. Scheduling interactive art education in the afternoon encouraged all participants to return for the afternoon session. The team kept content delivery fast-paced, using tools that included presentations, virtual field experiences, demonstrations, and guests. In the morning, each day had a different educator present some aspects of oyster science. The afternoon featured a consistent art educator guiding students through the creation of outstanding art projects. By the end of the week, the educators and students were a cohesive, engaged group, and nobody wanted the week to end.
