Radiolarian, foraminiferan, bioluminescence, tsunami, thermocline -- tongue-twisters to the layman, perhaps, but now tripping with ease off the tongues of children taking part in the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute's Summer Explorer's Camp.

Led by dynamic BUEI Education and Research Co-ordinator Mrs. Crystal Schultz, boys and girls aged seven to 12 are learning about such diversified topics as oceanography, marine biology, shipwreck archaeology, marine geology/paleontology, marine pollution and conservation.

"Emphasis is made as to how these topics relate to Bermuda's past and present when possible,'' Mrs. Schultz notes.

For many of the youngsters, closer scrutiny of "things marine'' is a first-time experience, and while the line-up of subject matter may seen onerous, thanks to Mrs. Schultz' fertile imagination, they are, without exception, revelling in each day's discoveries.

"The camps involve `fun-learning' utilising experiments, hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, videos, computer programmes, Internet activities, and play-acting,'' Mrs. Shultz explains.

Sessions in the Institute's Logic Computer Room are always popular, since they include software programmes on such topics as deep sea technology, El Nino, maps and navigation, oftentimes in the form of challenging computer games.

The main classroom is a wall-to-wall wonderland of colourful posters, items recovered from the deep, commercial and hand made replicas of mysterious sea creatures, beakers of coloured water, fossils, and a host of everyday, low-cost paraphernalia with which to carry out exciting experiments.

As befits her Christian name, Crystal Schultz positively sparkles as she leads her charges through a variety of projects each day.

A veteran of 22 years' experience teaching marine biology in Miami, who has also written a school marine science curriculum and a book on Florida science, Mrs. Schultz has the rare ability to inspire children of any age to use their own powers of observation and deduction to find answers to the never-ending challenges she poses.

Whether they are peering down microscopes looking for gold in dried ooze from the sea bed, creating a tornado effect in a bottle, or identifying mystery shells, the children are constantly stimulated as they learn.

"Our mission is to share the ever-expanding knowledge of the oceans, so that the people of Bermuda and the world may explore the sea with understanding, excitement and respect,'' Mrs. Schultz declares. Certainly, her efforts and those of her student counsellors La-Jene Darrell Ivan Taylor and Kamelah Moore, seem to be paying off, for on the day of Lifestyle's visit -- just two days after the current camp began -- the children were universally enthusiastic about their experiences, and keen to learn more.

Given the diversity of ages and attention spans, Mrs. Schultz and her counsellors do a remarkable job of reining in childish exuberance just enough to permit progress without spoiling the joys of being on holiday.

"While we are anxious for them to learn, we also have to remember that it is a summer camp, which is supposed to be fun, so we give little prizes and so on, and we don't fuss if some of the kids want to do one thing in the classroom while others are doing something else,'' Mrs. Shultz notes.

Feed-back from the mostly-male group indicates that the Institute has a real success story on its hands -- and even a Schultz fan club -- for some of the children are return participants, and a few are even talking of marine-related careers.

"I think the camp is fantastic,'' pronounces William Greet Hillier (8). "I like the TV and the microscopes best.'' "I think learning about the ocean is important,'' says Britt Franklin.

"Learning about different things and meeting friends is what makes the camp nice.'' Marine wonderland For seven-year-old Rhys Cranfield, whose interest in sharks extends to 17 books, ten videos, and a collection of their teeth, being a repeat participant is due to finding the camps "fun'' and liking "all things in nature''.

"Everything except about sharks is new to me,'' he says proudly. "I like the computer room best.'' Like James Hillen (7), eight-year-old William Hutchings lists working with microscopes as his favourite activity.

"It was my idea to come, and I've had a really good time,'' he assures.

For Matthew Hollis, the "Joe Cool'' of the group, the camp is part of his summer-long activity programme "based on water''.

"I've done sailing, now this, and the Aqua Camp at the Aquarium is next,'' he notes.

So what does he think? "Mrs. Schultz gets a big thumbs-up,'' Matthew pronounces.

Like his mate Mark Amaral (11), who is not only a computer whiz but also an invaluable assistant to Mrs. Shultz, Matthew, wearing the obligatory baseball cap backwards, adopts a laid-back approach to the girls in the class.

Inevitably, the question arises: what do they think? "Well...,'' Matthew ponders. "Let's put it this way. Here are the small fry, out there are the blue whales.'' Camp counsellors La-Jene Darrell, Iva Taylor and Kamelah Moore, like their young charges, are delighted with their summer jobs and have learned much.

"It is very exciting and educational. You learn so much about marine biology, and you also respect the sea more,'' says Miss Moore, a student at Bermuda College. "Mrs. Shultz is very energetic and the kids really like her.'' For first-time counsellor and Saltus student, Miss Iva Taylor, the opportunity to learn about marine biology is welcomed.

"I have always been interested in it since I was young, and it has been a hobby. I read books about it, but since we don't do marine biology at school, it would be hard for me to go into it,'' she explains.

Miss Le-Jene Darrell, another first-time counsellor, is equally enthusiastic.

"The camp is very, very nice, and I have learned a lot,'' she says. "Mrs.

Shultz is really energised.'' For information on future BUEI Explorer Camps, contact Mrs. Shultz at 297-7296.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro Sea Secrets: Fossils and other detritus from the deep are closely studied by Matthew Hollis as part of a classroom project. Like his fellow summer campers, the Saltus student is fascinated by what the microscope reveals.

Watch this!: Mark Amaral (left) and Nicholas Scarcliffe study the mechanism of a tornado, recreated by moving swirling water from one bottle to another. The experiment, designed by their teacher, Mrs. Crystal Shultz, is one of the most popular in the classroom.