Registration is underway until April 2 for the 2013 summer camps at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point.

Sarah McGuire, education coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia at VIMS, said that an anonymous donor agreed to fund summer camp for about 100 children for five straight years. This will be the fifth year for the free camps.

McGuire said that the camps have been so popular that she hopes they will be continued in future years if other funding arrangements can be made.

Because of their popularity, McGuire said, a lottery system is used to select youth in grades 1-4; youth in grades 5-8 must answer essay questions to be considered.

Camp organizers are looking for children to attend who have an interest in the Chesapeake Bay, McGuire said. Age-appropriate activities are being planned.

"Sea Squirts," for first and second graders, will be held June 17-21 at the Gloucester Point campus. Fifteen students maximum...