Dive into career camp.

Want to swim with dolphins Or help an injured manatee get back in the swim of things? This summer, many students will have those kinds of adventures at Busch Gardens and SeaWorld Adventure Camps. The camps allow about 40,000 students from across the country and around the world (all 50 states and 22 countries, to be exact) to explore animal science careers while experiencing behind-the-scenes action at their popular tourist attractions. High school students ages 14 to 18 stay at the camps for up to two weeks and get a broad view of the parks' inner workings. Campers help plan animal diets, nurse sick animals back to health, and learn essential Facts about the ecosystem.

Mason Trueblood, 14, from Bakersfield, Calif., has participated in SeaWorld's Adventure Camp for two years. "My favorite activity has been interacting with the dolphins, snorkeling with them and getting to play with them. I think it would be fun to be a trainer here one day," Mason told Career World.

Several employees at the parks once started out as campers. Nicole Olsen, a former camper and current trainer at SeaWorld San Antonio (Texas), knew in high school that she wanted a career in animal training. She attended three years of Adventure Camp at SeaWorld and became an apprentice there while still in college. Olsen says that camp "allows you to be more focused, to find out which area you'd like to concentrate on."

Most campers come in liking dolphins and whales, but then as camp continues, "they discover new animals, like manatees or turtles," says Sheila Voss, director of environmental and educational programs at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Discovery Cove.

Besides working with animals, campers travel off-site to learn to surf, ride a Boogie Board, and even snorkel along a real coral reef. They also enjoy all the amusement parks' rides free of charge after hours.

If you love animals, but you don't normally get to come face-to-face with wildlife (besides the critters that might scurry through your backyard), these camps can be the first step in deciding if working with animals is really the path for you. For more information about SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Adventure Camps, visit swbg-adventurecamps.com.