How Camp KEEP Turned a Love of Science into a Calling to Teach

From the mud of coastal tide pools to high-tech agricultural labs, the journey of a scientist often begins with a single moment of discovery. Frontier High School student teacher Marissa Moseley’s life-changing experience at Camp KEEP in 7th grade launched a trajectory that led her to conduct vital research on Valley Fever, develop drought-tolerant crops, and ultimately step into the classroom as an educator.

Growing up, Moseley’s curiosity about the natural world was always there, quietly growing, but she had few opportunities to step outside the classroom and truly explore nature.

Everything changed the moment she arrived at Camp KEEP Ocean in Montaña de Oro State Park.

Camp KEEP (Kern Environmental Education Program) takes students out of their familiar classroom routines and immerses them in the natural world. Staying in cabins surrounded by coastal trails, forests and diverse ecosystems, students spend their days hiking, exploring tide pools and experiencing the elements, rain or shine. Getting dirty is part of the adventure, as students are encouraged to embrace the mud, grit and physical challenges that come with outdoor exploration.

For generations, Camp KEEP has brought classroom learning to life through these experiences. For Moseley, however, the program left an especially lasting impression. Investigating wildlife up close and experiencing nature firsthand gave Moseley a fresh perspective on the natural world, turning an educational adventure into something truly life-changing.

She spent the week hiking, stargazing, and discovering tide pools and ancient fossils.

“Suddenly, science wasn’t just something I was reading about in a textbook,” Moseley said.
“It was something I could experience.”

In addition to the natural landscape, it was the human connection that made the experience unforgettable.

“I remember feeling an incredible sense of community, surrounded by counselors who were genuinely excited about science and eager to share that excitement,” she recalled.

The infectious energy of the Camp KEEP counselors, combined with the thrill of scientific discovery around her, felt like missing puzzle pieces finally falling into place. Moseley went on to pursue a degree in Biology at CSU Bakersfield , where her passion became impactful. As an undergraduate, she worked alongside Dr. Antje Lauer on critical Valley Fever research.

“I still remember completing my first successful soil sample analysis and realizing that I had detected the fungus responsible for Valley Fever,” Moseley said. “It might have seemed like a small discovery, but to me, it was an incredible moment.”

Her applied science experience grew as she worked in a Sun World International molecular biology lab, supporting a research project focused on breeding heat- and drought-resistant crops to help feed a changing world.

Moseley at her Sun World internship. (Photos: Moseley).

“Suddenly, science wasn’t just something I was reading about in a textbook. It was something I could experience, surrounded by people who were just as excited about nature as I was.”

– Marissa Moseley

The most recent product of her Camp KEEP experience arrived when she reflected on where it all began. Remembering the educators and outdoor experiences that first introduced her to the wonder of discovery, Moseley made the choice to bring that same lightbulb moment she had at Camp KEEP to a new generation of students, but this time, as a teacher.

Today, Moseley is pursuing her Single Subject Teaching Credential at CSU Bakersfield and completing her student teaching in a biology class at Frontier High School. As she steps to the front of the classroom, her teaching philosophy draws from her own scholarly experience.

“I want my students to develop the ability to think critically about the world around them,” she explained. “Whether that’s understanding their own health, evaluating scientific information, or simply asking questions about how things work.”

From a young camper exploring tide pools to a future educator inspiring tomorrow’s scientists, Moseley’s full circle story is a testament to the power of the mentors who help students find their way.

“Looking back on my journey, I truly believe that Camp KEEP changed the course of my life,” she shared. “Being encouraged by people who supported my passion for science at such a young age helped me believe in myself and see that pursuing a future in science was something that was possible for me.”