The Youth Ocean Explorers (YOE) Summer Program, which started in 2015, is a hands-on
marine science program for middle to high school-aged students interested in exploring
our oceans. It is now available on both St. Thomas and St. Croix. Each week, our team
of informal science educators and youth mentors engage students on various topics
such as animal and plant identification, careers in marine science, and environmental
impacts to natural resources. Dive in and join our Youth Ocean Explorers family today!
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2026 YOE SUMMER PROGRAM IS NOT OPEN YET.
Check back in January 2026 to register.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE YOUTH OCEAN EXPLORERS SUMMER PROGRAM
Modeled after the Youth Ocean Explorers experience, our team also coordinates the
Junior Ocean Explorers Summer Program which is open to students in Grades 3-6 and focuses on the fundamentals of swimming, snorkeling, and marine flora and fauna
identification. This 2 week experience serves as many students' initial introduction
to the marine sciences and swimming/snorkeling. JOE helps students develop a strong
foundation for their swimming and snorkeling skills so that by the time they are eligible
for YOE, they are confident and adept while in the water. YOE students spend most
days snorkeling to explore underwater habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds;
therefore it is important for selected YOE students to already have the basics of
swimming and snorkeling.
During the first week of YOE, students are immersed in all things Zoology related
which is heavily supported by collaborations. Each summer, we leverage the knowledge
and expertise of our community partners such as the Division of Fish and Wildlife
to offer a fishing clinic for our students. At these fishing clinics, students get
to learn about fishing practices and regulations of the USVI as well as experience
fishing first-hand. But most importantly, they get to connect with diverse STEM professionals
who highlight potential career pathways to inspire the next generation of ocean scientists.
Featured here is Nicole Greaux, Caribbean Fisheries Management Council (CMFC) Liason
and Reef Responsible Training Educator.
During the second week of YOE, students learn about plant ecology. Preservation of
our natural resources includes those both underwater and on land. Lessons are infused
with elemts of STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics) and employ the use of hands-on activities that are geared towards increasing
student engagement. Students can expect kayaking through mangroves to learn how critical
these coastal plants are, hiking through guts to practice their identification of
local flora, and snorkeling to explore seagrass beds. Here students are using the
PlantNet app to identify plants/shrubs/trees found in a USVI watershed.
During the third week of YOE, interested YOE students are able to earn their scuba
diving certification(s), such as Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue. Prior
to the start of diving, students must complete E-learning coursework; students who
are already open water scuba certified and are elligible can be recommended for the
advanced open water or other speciality scuba course. We work with various dive shops
around the USVI such as the Coki Dive Center and the Cane Bay Dive Center for scuba trainings/certifications.
To ensure YOE students maintain their scuba diving proficiencies, Refresher Fun Dives
are offered in the Spring. Starting in February and continuing through June, YOE students,
mentors, and their parents who are scuba certified can sign up to dive on the third
Saturday of these months at participating dive shops (Cane Bay Dive Shop, Crucian Adventure Divers, and the Red Hook Dive Center). Boats usually fill up fast, so don't miss out on this opportunity!
Launched in 2025 as a collaborative effort, past participants of the YOE Summer Program
are eligible to register for various 1-week internships that enable them to apply
knowledge learned during YOE in a job setting. Past interns have worked with researchers
and staff at the University of the Virgin Islands and coral and mangrove restoration
practitioners on St. Thomas and St. Croix. These opportunities connect interns with
STEM professionals which can open doors to future careers in the field of Marine Science.
Interns receive not only a wealth of knowledge and experience during the week as well
as a monetary stipend at the conclusion of the internship (based on the availability
of funds).
YOE SUMMER PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Within this section, you can learn more about 1) Elligibity requirements for students
interested in attending YOE, 2) What the overal program structure is like for both
students and mentors, and 3) Important information on the registration, payment, and
cancellation processes.
Amber Knight - YOE Water Safety Instructor (St. Thomas)
Zoe Banfield - YOE Water Safety Instructor (St.Thomas)
YOE Mentors - This could be you!
First preference is given to youth from and/or currently residing in the Virgin Islands.
Applicant should meet either of the below criteria to be eligible to participate:
Applicant was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Applicant currently attends a school in the U.S. Virgin Islands (public, private,
parochial, or homeschool),
Applicant has ties to the U. S. Virgin Islands through their immediate family, i.e.
parent(s) are from the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is usually for cases where the applicant
used to or no longer lives in the territory but may visit during the summer months.
Open to youth in GRADES 7-12 (ages 11-18).
Should already know how to swim and be comfortable being outdoors. Applicant should
be able to do the following:
Swim a distance of 50 meters using either the front or back stroke.
Tread water for 2 minutes.
Float on their backs for 1 minute.
Open their eyes underwater to retrieve submerged objects placed at varying depths
ranging from 5 - 20 feet.
New applicants are required to complete a swimming evaluation as part of their YOE
application.
Should have in interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics).
Student MUST be able to attend the entire program. (Plan your vacation accordingly).
The Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program and by extension our team is committed to
increasing the representation of marginalized groups/communities within the geosciences
(which includes marine science).
The Ocean Explorers Summer Programs utilize the ocean as the lens through which we
teach youth about marine science and its associated career paths.
The Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program is supported by the National Science Foundation's
INCLUDES Program, specifically the S.E.A.S. (Supporting Emerging Aquatic Scientists Program) Islands Alliance Program. Through this pathway program, which can begin with the Ocean Explorers Summer Programs,
provides youth with a unique perspective on the field of marine science by highlighting
career opportunities within STEAM, direct engagement in local environmental issues,
and professional development opportunities. This is a research study that utilizes
surveys and in-person interviews to gain valuable feedback from students and parents
about how the program has impacted their family; particaption is optional but is valued
as it only serves to improve the program for future cohorts of students.
The YOE Summer Program operates on both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The 2026 YOE Summer Program will operate on a reduced schedule; additional details
will be shared soon.
Starting in 2025, YOE will now be facilitated as 1-week sessions that focus on a particular
STEM-based topic. Interested applicants can register for the session(s) they are most
interested in. In total, each session can accommodate up to 15 students per island.
Sessions are summarized below:
Animal Identification: Students refine STEM and snorkeling skills to learn how to identify common marine
animals found in the USVI, investigate their ecological roles, and connect with ocean
scientists to discover new career pathways in STEM.
Plant ID and Ecology: Students explore the connection between land and sea through watershed hikes, beach
cleanups, kayaking excursions, supporting mangrove restoration efforts, and refining
snorkeling skills for scientific investigation.
Scuba Diving (MUST HAVE COMPLETED ANIMAL ID OR PLANT ECOLOGY course that year): Students complete a combination of coursework and dives necessary to earn their PADI/SSI
scuba certifications. Specialty and Advanced courses are available for eligible students
who are already Open Water certified. To take advantage of the reduced rate for the
scuba diving course offered through YOE, students MUST enroll in either the Animal ID and/or Plant Ecology courses as these courses go hand-in-hand.
Students interested in only completing the scuba diving course will pay the actual
retail value of the course offered through partnering dive shops.
INTERNSHIPS: (ONLY OPEN TO STUDENTS WHO PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN YOE): Students enrolled in internship modules spend the week working alongside STEM practitioners
to utilize knowledge learned during YOE in a job setting. Internships are offered
on both St. Thomas and St. Croix, be sure to select the correct internship when applying
to avoid errors with your application.
Housing is not provided as this is not an overnight program.
Lunches are not provided; however, light snacks and water will be available each day.
Students are encouraged to bring their own meals each day.
Students can participate for a maximum of 3 years at which point we recommend registering
to be a program mentor.
Below is a cost breakdown of what is included in the YOE registration fee (This is
for the first 2 weeks of instruction):
30 hours of Marine and Environmental Science Instruction valued at$600(This is calculated at $20/hour; students receive 6 hours of instruction each day
for a total of 5 days).
Student gear valued at$150(This can include the following: customized rash guard, snorkel gear (post program),
reusable water bottle, notebook, stickers, etc.).
Equipment use valued at$75which covers general maintenance and upkeep (This includes snorkel equipment, kayaks,
kickboards, etc.).
Transportation / Field Trip fees valued at $50 (This includes booking fees and transportation costs for the 2 planned field trips
each week).
Below is a cost breakdown of what is included in the YOE registration fee (This is
for the 3rd week of SCUBA):
The average cost for Open Water / Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification is between
$499 - $599; you pay $200.
This $200 fee includes : 1-week of SCUBA instruction, access to online E-learning course materials,
and your SCUBA certification card upon completion.
Access to Refresher Fun Dives: 2-tank dives valued at $149/dive starting in February and concluding in May.
Selected applicants will receive a rashguard and/or t-shirt they can wear throughout
the program.
Each day, applicants are encouraged to wear clothing that is comfortable for a tropical
climate (shorts + t-shirt + shoes).
For water-based activities, rashguards and water shoes are recommended; students can
wear non-YOE rashguards as well.
Hats are provided; however, students can wear other hats if preferred. As we are in
a tropical climate, students are encouraged to wear a hat when outdoors as well as
apply reef-safe sunscreen.
Students that have previously participated in YOE and are at least at the 10th grade
level are elligible to apply to be a YOE mentor.
YOE mentors:
Assist the team with the development and facilitation of the program's activities
as well as ensuring the safety of participants.
Must attend mandatory training prior to the start of the program.
Can receive Emergency First Responder training prior to the start of the program.
Mentors are also eligible to earn their scuba certification if interested.
Selected mentors receive a monetary stipend at the conclusion of the program. Stipend
amounts vary based on the students current education level (High School / Undergraduate
/ Graduate) and available funding for that year.
In collaboration with several dive shops across the USVI, students interested in getting
scuba certified can do so during YOE.
Students interested in earning their scuba certification can register for that session.
The SCUBA diving portion of YOE complements the first 2 weeks of instruction; i.e.
the two go hand-in-hand. To register for this session, the student MUST have participated in YOE in either of the two YOE educational sessions offered that
year (Animal Identification and/or Plant ID and Ecology). Applications received that do not follow this guideline will NOT be reviewed.
Students meet at their respective dive shops; on St. Thomas, students meet at the
Coki Dive Center whereas students on St. Croix meet at the Cane Bay Dive Shop in Fredericksted.
Prior to starting the scuba course, students will be required to:
Complete the Medical Questionnaire provided to them via E-mail and
Complete the E-learning coursework.
The scuba course entails a combination of E-learning with in-person diving instruction.
Students are encouraged to dedicate the necessary time to complete the E-learning
components of the course.
Students already open water scuba certified and are of age would be eligible to be
enrolled in either the Advanced Open Water course or a Specialty Dive such as Peak
Performance Buoyancy.
Internships are ONLY open to students who previously participated in YOE; i.e. in your 2nd summer of YOE.
Internship leads can accommodate between 3-6 students per internship. Applications received that do not adhere to these guidelines will NOT be reviewed.
Selected interns will work alongside internship leads to gain a deeper insight into
concepts learned during YOE as well as exploring how these concepts apply to the real-world.
Students receive on-the-job training which can open doors for potential job opportunities.
There is no cost associated with registering for internships.
Upon completion of the internship, students will receive a monetary stipend.
Registration for YOE opens each year on JANUARY and closes firmly on APRIL 1.
Applicants applying for YOE on St. Thomas or St. Croix complete the same application
process described below.
Your application consists of two parts: the PARENT APPLICATION and the STUDENT APPLICATION. Both are required and should be received no later than APRIL 1.
The STUDENT APPLICATION should be completed by the applicant; guidance may be sought. However, the answers
provided to the questions contained in that application should reflect the student's
own words (i.e. do not copy and paste language derived from online sources or CHAT
GPT).
Completed applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; once your application
has been reviewed, you will be notified via the E-mail address provided in your application.
From there, you can then proceed with processing payment for the sessions selected.
Additional forms such as media releases and liability waivers will be shared with
selected applicants prior to the start date of the program; please check your E-mail
regularly as to not miss any important program information.
Each of the 3 sessions costs $200; payment should be received no later than May 1st, 2026; there is no fee associated
with the internships.
Your registration is not complete until payment or the completed scholarship application
have been received.
If you did not receive E-mail confirmation that your child/ren was/were accepted,
please do not process payment at the UVI Cashier's Office.
Payment can be made in person or over the phone with the cashiers on either the Albert
A. Sheen (St. Croix) UVI Campus (340-692-4160) or at the Orville E. Kean (St. Thomas)
UVI Campus (340-693-1437); forms of payment accepted include cash, check, or credit
card.
Scholarships are available for students who currently attend school in the U.S. Virgin
Islands and can either be full or partial.
Full scholarships are available for students who currently attend a public school
in the USVI.
Partial scholarships are available for students who currently attend a private, parochial,
or home schooling in the USVI.
Selected scholarship awardees for the 2026 Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program must
volunteer at a minimum of 3 community service events hosted by either VIMAS, VI-EPSCoR, or DPNR before DECEMBER 31 of the year the scholarship was awarded. Additional information about these events
will be shared both during and after the program concludes.
You can register for a scholarship by clicking HERE. The application consists of one short essay that the applicant should complete no
later than May 1st.
Students can withdraw prior to the start date of the program to receive a refund if:
1 month or less to the start date of the program > half refund of all monies paid
to date.
More than 1 month to the start of the program > full refund of all monies paid to
date.
For students enrolled in the scuba course, any fees related to medical examinations
for the diver medical paperwork or rescheduling for diving courses are at the expense
of the student/parent.
"I clicked the "APPLY" button and am now on a page where I am being asked to enroll
at the University." - Unfortunately, the APPLY button found on the right side of this page is a standard feature on all UVI webpages
and cannot be removed. If you click on that button, simply hit the "BACK" button on your browser to return to this page.
"I submitted an application but did not receive an E-mail notification." - Upon submitting an application, you should receive an automatic notification
stating,
Thank you for submitting an application to take part in the Youth Ocean Explorers
Summer Program. This is confirmation that your Parent Application has been received. Please note that your application is NOT complete until you submit the Student Assessment Form. Should you have any questions
or concerns in the interim, please do not hesitate to contact Program Director Howard
Forbes Jr. @ 340-693-1674 (howard.forbes@uvi.edu). A follow up E-mail will be sent
to update you on your application status.
"My child is interested in marine science but isn't a proficient swimmer. How should
we proceed?" - The Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program curriculum includes some components of
the Learn to Swim Program; however, it is recommended that the applicant practice
their swimming skills prior to enrolling into YOE. This can include flotation without
aid, use of snorkel equipment, and proper hand and feet movements while swimming.
"I wanted to apply for a scholarship. How do I do that?" - Our team will E-mail selected applicants with information on how to register
for a scholarship; please check your E-mail as to not miss these updates.
"When do I process payment?" If you have been selected to participate in the YOE Summer Program, an E-mail will
be sent to you with specific instructions on how you can process payment with the
University's Cashier's Office. Please check your E-mail as to not miss any important
updates.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2026 YOE SUMMER PROGRAM IS NOT OPEN YET.
Check back in January 2026 to register.
Let's get you registered for the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program.
ALL interested applicants are encouraged to review the information found under the "YOE SUMMER PROGRAM OVERVIEW" section as to familiarize yourself with the operating structure of the Youth Ocean
Explorers Summer Program.
New and returning applicants are required to complete both the PARENT and STUDENT forms which can be accessed below.
Applications will NOT be reviewed unless both forms are received.
The STUDENT form should be completed by the applicant.
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements (can be reviewed above under the
Mentoring tab) can apply for the mentorship position.
This portion of the YOE application process should be completed by the parent
or legal guardian and provides our team with important information such as the applicant's
t-shirt / shoe size, known allergies, and emergency contact information. Both the
Parent and Student Applications are required.
This component of the YOE application should be completed by the applicant. This
portion of the application will be used by our team to make our selection of the cohort
of students as we usually receive more applications than we have available spots.
Both the Parent and Student Applications are required.
If you previously participated in YOE and are in highschool (10th grade or higher)
or college, and interested in being a YOE mentor, you are encouraged to apply. Mentors
assist with day-to-day activities, provide guidance and support to student participants,
and are paid a monetary stipend at the conclusion of the program.
