Oh, how fine is thy.

---

2011

Learning to Dive

By Steve Swanson 

To always keep us safe, we have to have the tools

We learn the names, we learn the terms, we all must learn the rules

Not just words to memorize, but procedures we must know

Then we take the giant stride to see the realm below

Descend into the ocean, a new world to be seen

Aliens right here on earth majestic & serene

We can fly with proper weights & air in our BC’s

Protect yourself, protect the reef & you can dive with ease

Then we take flight & we soar, above the canyons far below

And we begin to feel the freedom that the birds already know

The world is ours but to behold, we never touch a thing

The reason is to not harm, but it could bite or sting

Then as we get ready to ascend back from the depth

The safety stops at the top & never hold your breath

Once above the fantasy & all is said & done

We have learned to dive quite safely, but most of all we’ve learned it’s fun!

---

 By unknown author

Wow! This is our 6^th Kids Sea Camp, the third in Bonaire,

So with all this experience I felt I should share

With all of the families who are new this year

That they should relax, there is nothing to fear.

All the hard work has already been done.

by Margo who wants our kids to be safe and have fun.

The dive shops, the rooms, the staff and the foods

Have been carefully checked to keep us in good moods.

Just let your kids learn, dive, swim, and play,

And enjoy the great place that we get to stay.

Be warned, that the kids develop bonds that are strong

And they will keep in touch even after they’re gone.

This year in November I found it had been decided

By Kids Sea Camp friends who through Facebook & email confided.

The decision was made that they would again meet

The 3^rd week of July in the Bonairian heat.

So being the greatest parents alive

We agreed to return to Buddy Dive.

So parents each year be prepared to hear a plea

From your kids who want to go back to the sea.

And see all the new friends they have made

While diving and playing in the sun and shade.

It’s the great friends we have made that make us return again and again,

Thanks to Margo, Tom, Robbie, and Jen

---

Dr. Seuss’s Ode to Sea Camp

By  Andy Hopkins & Family

The sun it did shine, It was too hot to play

So they sat in the house on that hot sweaty day.

Sam sat there with Hunter, They sat there the two,

And they said how I wish I had something to do.

Too hot to go out. Too hot to play ball.

Too hot in Florida to do, Anything at all.

All they could do was to, sit, sit, sit

And they did not like it, Not one little bit.

Then something went “click”, Boy, we were thick!

We looked at each other, our fingers went snap

We looked at each other, our hands they did clap

That’s it!

Margo, you’re a champ, Let’s all go to Kids Sea Camp

Margo looked at us in our Minds-eye bubble

“I gave my advice and you know they’ll be trouble!

I know it is hot and the sun way too sunny

But we can have lots of good fun that is funny

I know some good games. You can play if you wish

And parents you can come dive with the fish”

When are we going, Mommy? When? When? When?

We did it before, Let’s do it again

Sam, Hunter, Let us be

We will try it, you will see

We will try it in Bonaire, We will try it anywhere

In the wind, In the rain, In the dark, with a cane

In a storm, Was that thunder?  Nah!

Thumbs down, Let’s dive under

And look at us all, Look at us know

We’ve had so much fun, we’re booked for Palau!

Well at least in our minds, We are ready to go

There’s just one small problem, The greenbacks, the dough!

So now we must wait, Fingers impatiently strumming

Until the next time the boys, Go gleefully running

Down the docks and into the Ocean

We’re here, we’re here, And this is always such fun.

---

 By Unterman Family

We started on the red eye to a destination called Bonaire

Unsure of what we’d find there or how our family would fare

Check in went smoothly & breakfast was divine

We were positively sure that our vacation would go just fine

With Jr open water we had Pepe & Martin at the helm

Mom & Dad on Harbour Lady has Scott & Natalie to show them the ocean realm

We worked on our set of scuba skills our buoyancy did improve

So soon we had the chance to experience the underwater thrills

Oh my what we found beneath the ocean’s surface

Puffers that  look like bulldogs, spotted drum’s as cute as pie

Trunkfish, scorpion fish, eels galore & alone seahorse we did spy

Our sunset cruise & jam session ended in our walk off the plank

Family dives & all our fun to Margo & Tom we must thank

Sadly all good thing must end & we say farewell to our Bonaire

Until we meet again we’ll see you all next year

---

Susan & Mitch

We came from places far & near

And brought our children we hold so dear

They studied & they learned & dove the depths

They laughed  & they played & snorkeled the reefs

By the end of the week, they left us in awe

Of what they learned & what they became

Those children we brought from far & near

Have forever been changed by this week at the same

Those children we hold so very very dear

Now need to return-same time next year                    

---

By Morgan Tappero

There once was a cat I named Urtle, Who really acted like a turtle,

He ran real slow,  So how would you know,

That Urtle wasn’t a turtle.

He learned his P’s & Q’s, And knew how to tie his shoes,

So how would you know, With Urtle so slow

That Urtle wasn’t a turtle, Urtle could jump so high,

He could almost touch the sky, He could be a flying monkey rat,

But who could imagine that? Urtle was a really a cat

Urtle was from Bonaire, He liked to use Conair

Kids Sea Camp was the best, With Urtle at the test

Other than the cats, I also liked the hats

You can’t forget the diving, Or how long it took arriving

Kids Sea Camp was the best, With Urtle at the test

Everything was great, I wasn’t even late

But the thing I liked the most, Was the flying monkey rat, 

The Cat               

---

By Tappero family

Diving skills put to the test!

A week so fun, no one wants to rest!

Thanks to Margo, Tom & Fraser (even without Rogest)

Kids Sea Camp Bonaire is simply the best!

---

The Olson’s (Tom, Gail, & Roger)

So Bonaire we came- Kids Sea Camp at last!

New skills, old friends, each day a blast.

The sea full of wonders- so much to learn

We help each other & have no concerns

Parrotfish, trunkfish, Charley & eels

Spotted drum reef squids, what’s nipping at my heels?

Angelfish, trumpet fish, flounder & chubs

Tube sponge, hermit crabs & gulls stealing grub

Thank –you Margo & Tom for this week to hold

In our hearts, all year-the stories will be told

May we return again; light the dive lamp

As we look forward to another Kids Sea Camp!

---

By Eliza Sallee

Wake up in the morning at 4:45

I’m shivering uncontrollably, I am still dead tired

Comb my hair; brush my teeth, then I am in a cab

I’m at the airport, in a plane on Delta airlines

One hour later & minutes in Atlanta, in Delta airlines

Watch Diary of a wimpy kid.

4 hours n’ six minutes I’m in Bonaire

I see a parrot fish, an angelfish, a squirrelfish

Some scorpion fish lobsters 2 turtles.

Some puffers, a tiny shark & a tarpon

I got stung by some jellyfish & got hit by fire coral

But when think pasta I begin to think Bonaire with the fish

But most importantly Kids Sea Camp with my Family

---

By Matt Parker

Take off the adrenaline rushes into you and the force of the plane gives you

To your seat as you leave the airport

As you step of the plane, feel the warm breeze whip through your hair

And drift across your face like a smooth hand

The memories of last year make you smile & happy that you are there

And if you are new, the ocean is blue

And there are lots & lots of things to do

From tubing to donkeys it’s the best

I can tell you now Kids Sea Camp beats the rest

As you arrive at Buddy Dive you think Wow what a fantastic place

The people are nice the diving is great

This is not a place you could hate

So come & relax sit down at the bar

Maybe have a smoothie or 2

This is a place your best friends should come too

As the days roll by slowly, you see many cool creatures

Sea turtles that glide across the ocean so smoothly & gracefully

There’s also barracuda they’re scary, won’t bite if you disturb them

They’ll hurt you without a fight

In Bonaire the assortment of fish is fantastic, from angelfish to parrotfish

You will be able to see everything in the clear warm water

As the days wind down & the week goes on everybody had lots of fun

But then the day comes, the most dreaded day of all. When people say goodbye

And the plane takes off as you remember one of the best dive weeks EVER

---

By Sciortino Family

On Tuesday the divers on the harbour Belle

Were given another great story to tell

While preparing to dock, some divers were sent

From the bow to the stern, so off they went

During the transition we all appalled

It seems that one diver did not look

And instead of the rail grabbed the boat hook

So into the water went both hook & diver

But I’m happy to report, both are survivors

To avoid embarrassing the diver, I should keep a tight lip

But you have all probably already guessed, it was Skip    

---

By Debra Shannon

Poets we are not but we still give it a try.

We did not come to Kids Sea Camp to stay dry.

We had just re-certified & Scott had never even tried.

We had a week off & wanted to dive.

Brian & I went off on a boat with lots & lots of gear to tote.

Scott went to class & learned to clear his mask.

We were so proud that he gave it a chance.

He learned all his skills & got certified.

We went to his graduation & did a high five.

Day dives & night dives, we saw lots of fish.

There was nothing more for which we would wish.

By the end of the week we were looking like pros.

We will be very sad to go.

We made so many new friends & there is always next year

So I guess we will be back with all of our gear.

---

Diving In

By Brian Clapp

Two worlds: one above, one below

Separated by what looks to be a clear sheet of glass.

Air: something we humans need to enter the world below.

We take a deep breath, jump in & exhale.

Slowly, we pass through the glass barrier, we sink into wonderment

Everything stands still, & we are welcomed into our other family

No, better! We are welcomed into a school of fish.

The coral waves at us as if to say “hello, how are you? Please look but don’t touch”

And if we are very lucky we are greeted by eel, turtle, ray, & even the elusive shark.

Now it’s time to come back to our other world.

We look up, take a breath, stop for safety, & then slowly

Push through the “ glass” & say “I’m okay, welcome me back!”      

---

Kids Sea Camp Bunch

By MacDonald Family

Here’s a story about a Padi lady, who was bringing up 2 little scuba divers

Both of them smelled like neoprene.. like their mother, the youngest 1 not even old enough to be a Sasy

Here’s the story of a rock n roller, who couldn’t live any further from the sea

He was a grown man from Danville, Illinois, jamming with his band boys, yes he was all alone

Until the one day when the diver met the rocker & they knew it was much more than a hunch

That this group would somehow dive together, that’s how they became the Kids Sea Bunch!

The Kids Sea Bunch, the Kids Sea Bunch, that’s the way they became the Kids Sea Bunch.

---

By Neal Seltz

When I enter the beautiful sea, and cool water hits warm me

What do I think about, I’ll tell thee, it’s that I really need to pee

If I could ask Neptune, King of the sea, a question to that high exalted potentate

“Exactly where do you pee?” And is a hurricanes sea surge rush, simply your attempt to flush

So when you see me emerge from the sea, holding tank & mask & fin

And smiling with a great big grin, you’ll never know if it’s cause a great fish I’d seen

Or is it because I’ve been pee in

Is it really so bad a task, compared to when fishes do it in front of my mask

And when your dive master wants you to have buoyancy

Is it so bad to get there after your pee

And isn’t relieving your bladder in the sea

Better than doing it on the ladder?

And are divers from Holland & France, I’m seeing the worst violators of this scene

And is that why their called “you’re a peeing?”