Green waves are ruining summer camp for more than a hundred Martin Count students.
The group of children from the Environmental Studies Center Summer Camp were shifted from beach to beach today as more green-algae was discovered in Martin County.
John Vanilla had to break the bad news to 150 kids on Monday that Summer Camp activities on the water are being canceled.
"It's heartbreaking when you have to look at them and tell them we can’t do it," said Vanilla, Boat Captain of the Environmental Studies Center Summer Camp in Jensen Beach.
The Summer Camp focuses on Marine Science. Kids from second to eighth grade participate in hands-on activities like water sampling, snorkeling, boating.
"It's all based in the water in our lagoon or in the ocean and we can't do it. We had to cancel everything," added Vanilla.
The activities at Bathtub Reef Beach were moved to Jupiter Island because of green algae.
Just as the children got to Blowing Rocks Preserve, that beach was being closed to swimmers too.
"They are closing our beaches. At this point it is the worst I have ever seen it," said Vanilla.
Elizabeth Argraves signs her daughter up for the camp every year.
The fifth grader was excited ot start camp this week. "It's just disappointment more than anything," said Argraves.
Parents paid about $180 per week.
Teachers and counselors are all paid up. Vanilla says they're scrambling to find activities for this last week of camp.
"Our hands are tied with this. No one expected this," added Vanilla.
Argraves is confident the camp staff with make the best of the situation.
She fears for the long-term effects on our beaches and future camps.
"We’ll try do to it again next year. I hope by then our water situation has gotten turned around," added Argraves.
