Description

Leave camp behind. Ditch the sitter. Wave goodbye to your parents, and prepare to step into the fascinating world of marine science. It's the adventure of a middle schooler's lifetime.

The answers to the big questions: How do fish sleep? What is coral? Where does sand come from? And the even bigger questions: What is my place on Earth? What can I do to effect change and make things better? You can find them here as you snorkel into the mysteries of the underworld on the Bahamian island of San Salvador. It's an aspiring marine biologists' paradise. Reefs, lagoons, tide pools and mangrove channels filled with shrimp, jellyfish and coral that are just waiting to be explored - by you. So grab your snorkel gear and microscope and dive in. Speaking of, there's even a chance to participate in a Discover Scuba.

Day 1-5
Arrive on San Salvador and check out your new home for the next two weeks, the Gerace Marine Research Center. Once a United States Navy base, Gerace's facilities still show evidence from the Cold War era with abandoned radar stations, cryptography rooms, radio towers and guard shacks. Close to the Center there are lagoons filled with ancient stromatolites, mangrove channels, Ice Age fossil beds, gorgeous beaches and vast seagrass beds just waiting to be explored. Just steps from the beach, our home is a perfect place from which to explore the ocean world. Grab your snorkeling gear and head to the beach for a glimpse beneath the surface. Colorful varieties of corals and countless fish greet you as you enter the water. During the first few days you begin learning to identify the reef fish, corals and invertebrates as you snorkel on the patch reefs near Sandy Point and in the mangrove estuary at Pigeon Creek. Over a hundred species of fish are found in the waters surrounding San Salvador. Do you see the angelfish, parrotfish and butterflyfish? Each has a unique body shape, coloration, behavior and habitat preferences and, as you get to know them, you start to understand why.

Day 6-10
Now that you are familiar with the coral and fish, it's time to get to know the other creatures of the sea. Take a field trip to Green Cay and White Cay to meet the endangered San Salvador iguana, as well as a variety of seabirds. Explore the tide pools seeking the marine invertebrates like shrimp, starfish and tubeworms that live in this remarkable transition zone. Back at the research center, use the microscopes to watch the movements of tiny plankton and zooplankton, the foundation of all life in the oceans. We discuss marine mammals like whales and dolphins and their unique adaptations for living in the ocean habitat. Next, we prepare for out night snorkel. Discover the magic of bioluminescence and experience the marine world's extraordinary nocturnal metamorphosis.

Day 11-14
You've learned so much about marine life and the importance of the oceans. Now shift your focus to their protection. Put your knowledge of the sea life to work by participating in underwater fish counts and reef surveys. Then, take your in-water experiences to a new level by participating in an optional "Discover Scuba" dive. Instead of snorkeling above the reef, now you can see it all around you! Wrap up your tropical experience with a hike to the top of the Dixon Hill Lighthouse, a game of volleyball on the beach or a few moments reflecting on how much you've learned and the great friends you've made this summer.

Highlights

* Hands-on introduction to marine biology at the Gerace Marine Research Center
* Snorkel on the thriving reefs off San Salvador in the Bahamas
* Witness bioluminescence on a nighttime snorkel
* Optional scuba extension available
* Learn about fish, coral and the entire marine ecosystem
* Take side excursions and meet endangered iguana, starfish and more

Travel Types

• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Scuba
• Snorkeling

Cost in US$:

Call for details

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves

• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-3 days

Year Founded

1993