Parent Information

SYCC and The Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network: 

The Suncoast Youth Conservation Center is the educational hub of the Florida Conservation and Technology Center’s Center for Conservation, located on the eastern shore of Tampa Bay. Situated on a 20-acre campus with 6,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor teaching space, SYCC shares the campus and shoreline with the Manatee Viewing Center, the Florida Aquarium, the University of Florida, and Tampa Electric Company. SYCC specializes in inshore saltwater fishing and paddling adventures, hosting immersive, educational field trips and family programs during the school year, and week-long day camps in summer. 

SYCC is operated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network. FYCCN has five conservation centers across the state, including SYCC, that also operate as year-round education facilities/training centers during the fall-spring and as camps in the summertime. FYCCN also has community partners across the state of Florida that utilize FYCCN as a resource for training and equipment to offer recreation/wildlife-based programs. FYCCN’s goal is to spread youth participation in four areas: paddle sports, shooting sports, fishing, and wildlife viewing. FYCC’s ultimate mission is ‘Creating the Next Generation That Cares’. 

Accredited Through the American Camp Association: 

The American Camp Association is a prominent organization dedicated to maintaining high standards in the camp industry. Established in 1910, ACA serves as an advocate and educational resource for camps nationwide. Its accreditation process evaluates camps against over 300 standards covering safety, quality, and operations. Achieving ACA accreditation showcases a commitment to excellence, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for campers. This process encourages ongoing improvement and innovation. ACA accreditation signifies a camp’s quality and provides families with confidence in their choice for a positive camp experience. 

Age: Campers must meet the minimum age requirement for their program before the first day of their scheduled week of camp. Review the minimum age for programs and other program eligibility requirements below. 

• Saltwater Fish Camp (Week 1): 8 – 10 years old 

• Saltwater Fish Camp (Week 2): 8 – 10 years old 

• Saltwater Fish Camp (Week 3): 11 – 13 years old

• Hooked on Conservation (Week 4): 14 – 17 years old

• Paddling Adventures Camp (Week 5): 14 – 17 years old

• Paddling Adventures Camp (Week 6): 11 – 13 years old

• Marine Science Camp (Week 7): 11 – 13 years old 

• Marine Science Camp (Week 8): 8 – 10 years old  

Campers will spend the majority of their day doing activities related to their specific week of camp (see below), but campers each week will also have opportunities to kayak, try archery, do crafts, have Friday Funday, and fish on our saltwater pond. 

Saltwater Fishing Camp: Activities include learning to rig rods, tie fishing knots, select bait, throw cast nets, build a tackle box, and understanding fishing regulations and conservation ethics. Middle school-aged campers will experience an inshore charter! 

Hooked on Conservation: Campers will have opportunities to try fly fishing, bow fishing, kayak fishing, and will learn from local professionals who work in conservation careers. Campers will experience an inshore charter! 

Paddle Camp: Campers will learn skills related to kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and jon boating. They will also learn orienteering/chart reading, how to operate a trolling motor, and knot tying. 

Marine Science Camp: Campers will have a week of hands-on marine science adventures through games, experiments, crafts, and outdoor activities. They'll also meet marine science professionals and get a behind-the-scenes look at life as a scientist.  

For specific program descriptions, view “Program and Costs” on the Summer Camp Information page. 

SYCC recruits and hires two seasonal staff for our summer camp operations. Staff must be at least 19 years old to work at SYCC. Employment is contingent on passing a Level 2 background screening. Staff receive three weeks of pre-camp training. All staff are Lifeguard + Adult and Pediatric First Aid, CPR, AED certified through the American Red Cross. 

If you know someone who may be interested in joining our summer camp team, they can visit our Jobs and Volunteering page on our website. We start accepting applications for summer camp staff in the spring. 

SYCC employs six staff year-round. Visit our Staff and Facility page to learn more about our year-round team. 

You (or your designee) are responsible for transportation to and from the facility. If you expect your child to ride home from the camp with a friend or neighbor, please verify that they are listed on the pick-up authorization form during Monday check-in. The authorization form must include the name(s) of authorizing person(s) signing in the camper, the adult that filled out the registration form, and the person(s) permitted to pick up your camper(s). Campers will not be released without proper identification, to anyone not on the authorized pick-up list, or to a designee(s) under 16 years of age. If an extenuating circumstance prevents you from complying with the established drop-off and/or dismissal times, please notify the camp director as soon as possible. Campers must be picked up by 4:00 PM. If a camper is not picked up by 4:30 PM and attempts made by camp staff to contact those authorized to pick up are unsuccessful, we will follow our policy to get the camper into appropriate care. 

Reminder: 

For anyone authorized to pick up camper(s) from camp, please remember to bring an I.D. as it will be checked by a staff member each afternoon during pick-up. 

Inclement Weather:

In the case of inclement weather (i.e., a shelter-in-place requirement due to lightning in the area) drop off and pick up procedures will differ from our normal requirement that you remain in your vehicle. If we are expecting inclement weather at pick up and/or drop off times, you will be notified via text message from MyFWCAlerts. When you arrive at Suncoast, you will see an A-frame sign notifying you that we are under a weather hold. 

DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE IN THE LINED PARKING SPACES. Please use the circle as you normally would. The first car should stop at the FLAGPOLE. Vehicles following should pull all the way up to the car in front of them.

If we are under a Weather Hold during drop off, please park according to the procedures above. Put your car in park, exit your vehicle, and escort your child to the exhibit hall up the ramp. 

In the event of inclement weather at pickup, please park according to the procedures above. Put your car in park, exit your vehicle, and walk up the ramp to the exhibit hall to pick up your camper. 

Once you have returned to your vehicle (in both instances), please promptly exit the circle to ensure smooth flow of pick up.

If you are in line to pick up and drop off, please do not park and exit your vehicle until you have made it to the yellow barriers on the right-hand side. 

These procedures ONLY APPLY during a Weather Hold and will not be permitted at any other time. 

SYCC does not provide food service. Please ensure that you are packing your camper a lunch and enough snacks and drinks to sustain campers for long days with high-energy activities.  

We do not have a microwave or refrigerator available for use. Please pack only food items that do not need to be heated, and ensure their lunch stays at a proper temperature by including ice packs.  

The camp will provide water refills, but it is the camper’s responsibility to bring their reusable water bottle each day. We recommend packing only water and electrolyte drinks for camp and avoiding other options that encourage dehydration in campers.

Medical and Health: 

The health history information received during camp registration is diligently reviewed by camp staff to assure all campers will be successful and cared for while at the Suncoast. If your camper’s medical information changes, or they may benefit from program modification due to a disability, please contact the director as soon as possible so that we can ensure a safe and welcoming experience for your camper. 

During check-in, supervisory staff will collect any camper medications and will verify with the parents/guardians that no changes in medical history have occurred. Vitamins and prescription drugs must be in the original containers. 

Also, if your child is on medication for ADD/ADHD during the school year, it is recommended that they remain on their medication for the duration of camp. 

Don’t Forget: 

Please do not forget to bring any medications on the first morning of camp! Arriving without any life-saving medications indicated on your registration, including inhalers and epi-pens, will result in your child returning home with you. If life-saving medications are indicated on the registration but no longer required, an accompanying doctor’s note must be brought to check-in. 

Medical Emergencies: 

This camp strives in every respect to provide a supervised and safe learning experience. However, it must be realized that a portion of the responsibility for this success also lies with you and your child during camp, outside of camp hours. 

Camp staff are First-Aid/CPR/AED and lifeguard certified. Minor injuries and ailments are treated with over-the-counter medications (Children’s Tylenol, Children’s Benadryl, and Triple Antibiotic Ointment) where approved during camper registration.  

A registered nurse is on call for any consultations deemed necessary by the camp director.  

Major medical issues will be handled by calling 9-1-1. Parents/guardians are notified as soon as possible in the event of an emergency. 

• Clothing should be appropriate for an outdoor environment. Campers will be active (paddling, fishing, bending, running, jumping, etc.). Clothing should fit comfortably and should not inhibit the listed activities. Clothing referencing alcohol, tobacco products, profanity, etc., is inappropriate and is not permitted. 

• Whether in dry clothes or swimwear, clothing should cover from the shoulder to around mid-thigh. Shirts and shorts/pants are required for all activities in or out of the water. Be sure to send a change of clothes with your camper each day, so they have something dry to wear after any water-based activities. 

• During activities, campers will get wet, muddy, etc. Please send clothing/items that can get dirty, and leave expensive items at home. 

• Closed-toed shoes with a closed heel and sides that can be wet and muddy are to be worn at camp. You may wish to send your camper with two pairs of shoes, so they have a dry option to change into after water activities. All shoes should meet the above specifications. Crocs, flip flops, slides, or other non-protective footwear are not permitted. 

• Label everything – campers will mix up their items, and this makes it much easier to get item(s) back to the owner. 

• Pack enough lunch and snack foods to sustain campers for long days with high-energy activities. 

Camper Code of Conduct: 

There is a three-strike policy for behavior as outlined in the Camper Code of Conduct (signed during online registration). 

1. Strike one: Camper to discuss issues and solutions with camp director.
2. Strike two: Discussion with camp director and parent/guardian
3. Strike three: If problems persist, the parent/guardian will be called to immediately pick up the camper. 

If a camper is picked up for disciplinary reasons, the family will not be eligible for a refund. Please note, some offenses do not require three strikes, and response to each situation is at the discretion of the director. 

Rights and Dignity of Others: 

Campers will adhere to respectful communications with and regarding all individuals in terms of ability, culture, gender, race, religion, sexuality, physical characteristics, and language in order to promote a safe, kind, and welcoming camp environment. 

Campers will respect others and their property. Campers will help everyone feel safe and welcome in our camp community. 

FYCCN takes the safety of campers in our care seriously. As a result, expulsion from an FYCCN camp for bullying, harassment, or abuse will result in the camper being barred from future attendance at any FYCCN-run camp. 

No payment is due at the time of application. You will receive payment information after confirmation that you have received a spot at camp. Payment is due 14 days after you are notified that you have been selected for a spot. If payment is not received by the deadline, your child will be unregistered from the selected camp. 

Cancellation policy: 

• Cancellation of a week of camp requires written notice. Please email any requests to Suncoast@MyFWC.com with attention to the Camp Director. 

• Each camp registration includes a non-refundable $25 deposit. 

• Refund requests will be declined if the camper was sent home for disciplinary reasons. Please consult the camp director for their refund policies in cases where a child is sent home due to illness during camp. 

• Cancellation/refund deadlines are as follows: 

• • Cancellations made on or before May 15th = 100% refund (excluding the $25 deposit) 

• • Cancellations made after May 15th and between 15 and 30 calendar days BEFORE the start of that camper’s week of camp = 50% refund (excluding the $25 deposit). 

• • Cancellations made after May 15th and 14 calendar days or LESS before the start of that camper’s week of camp = no refund. 

• Approved refunds will be issued via check and cannot be refunded to a credit card. Refunds may take up to one month to be processed.