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 2025 YOE SUMMER PROGRAM IS NOW OPEN.
Registration can be accessed by clicking
REGISTER
. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the information found below, prior
to registering to better understand how the YOE Summer Program operates.
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.
The YOE Summer Program is built upon 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.
Preservation of our natural resources includes those both underwater and on land.
Students enrolled in the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program learn through hands-on
activities, how our actions on land can affect coastal ecosystems and animals. Activities
are infused with various elements of STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics); classroom presentations are made interactive through the use of virtual reality, giving students the opportunity to explore these unique habitats, first, in a safe
virtual environment. This increases students comfortability and sense of familiarility
when we explore these habitats as part of our field-based activities. Here students
are using the PlantNet app to identify plants/shrubs/trees found in a USVI watershed.
Although not a requirement for being a marine scientist, interested YOE students are
able to acquire their scuba certification(s) during the four weeks of the program.
Students enrolled in the open water scuba course will complete a combination of E-learning
and in-person diving practicals; 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 and the Red Hook Dive Center for providing fun, refresher dives for students post-program completion.
YOE students are provided with opportunities to utililize their knowledge and skills
obtained during the program in real-world applications. Students that have earned
their scuba diving certification are able to participate in the Youth Diving With a Purpose Program (YDWP) based in Fort Lauderdale during the summer months. There, they can network
with other diverse scuba divers as well as assist with coral restoration efforts and
engage in archaeological diving. Featured here is St. Croix YOE student Maleyah Navarro
cleaning acropora coral during YDWP. Learn More About Youth Diving With A Purpose
The Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program is part of a much larger National Science
Foundation (NSF) funded research effort that aims to increase the participation and
representation of underserved minorities within STEM and the geosciences which have
historically lacked Diversity. The S.E.A.S. (Supporting Emerging Aquatic Scientists) Islands Alliance program builds a pathway for students at various education levels (grade school,
college, and post-graduate) to not only be introduced/engaged with the geosciences
but to also see themselves as future scientists. Pictured here is one of the principles
of S.E.A.S. in action, Family Engagement. During the program, we invite YOE students
and their families to actvities such as a nighttime shoreline walk where parents get
to witness first-hand what has captivated their child's interest each day in YOE.
Opportunities such as these, are indeed exciting, but serve a larger goal of helping
to increase a student's interest and engagement within STEM.
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)
Kayden Richards - YOE Photographer (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.
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 2025 Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program will take place from July 7 - August
1.
The YOE Summer Program operates on both St. Thomas and St. Croix.
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.
The sessions for 2025 are summarized below:
Animal Identification (July 7-11): 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 (July 14-18): 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 (July 21-25): Students complete a combination of coursework and dives necessary to earn their PADI
Open Water scuba certification. Specialty and Advanced courses are available for eligible
students who are already Open Water certified.
Coral and Mangrove Restoration Ecology Module (July 28-August 1): Students enrolled in this module will work alongside researchers at UVI to learn about
and assist with coral and mangrove restoration efforts. We anticipate selecting between
4-6 students for this module and each selected student will receive their own scuba
gear, a stipend for participating, and the complete set of Reef Identification guide
books. To be eligible for this module, applicant MUST:
Have previously participated in the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program,
Be enrolled in the St. Thomas component as this module is currently only offered on
St. Thomas,
Be scuba certified.
CWORI (Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative) (July 28-August 1)– Students participating in this module will have the opportunity to work alongside
Conservation Technicians at CWORI to learn about marine and terrestrial conservation
efforts as it relates to Virgin Islands ecosystems (focus primarily on coral reef
restoration and conservation). Please check back for additional details.
For each session (not inluding the CWORI module):
Students meet daily at either UVI's Center for Marine and Environmental Science (St.
Thomas campus) or at the Albert A Sheen UVI Campus on St. Croix from 9am - 4pm.
Students will travel off-site for various field trip experiences such as kayaking,
snorkeling, hiking, etc.
Students receive a variety of gear and supplies prior to the start of the program;
this can include the following: backpacks, reusable water bottles, snorkel guideboooks,
rash guards, etc.
Students connect with diverse STEM professionals to gain deeper insight to what steps
are needed to pursue a career within STEM and marine science.
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.
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 PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors)
scuba certification can register for that session (July 21-25). To register for this session, the student MUST have participated in YOE in a previous year or in either of the two YOE sessions
offered this year (Animal Identification - July 7-11 and/or Plant ID and Ecology - July 14-18).
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 Discover Dive proctored by the dive shop.
The scuba course (Open Water) 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.
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, 2025; there is no fee associated
with the Coral and Mangrove Restoration Ecology Module.
Your registration is not complete until payment or the completed scholarship application
have been received.
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 2025 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, 2025.
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.
"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. Registration for the YOE Summer Program can be
found below.
"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 2025 YOE SUMMER PROGRAM IS NOW OPEN.
YOE Program Dates: July 7 - 25
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.
SCUBA DIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Below you can find opportunities for YOE students to continue their scuba diving post
program.
REFRESHER DIVES
Students who previously participated in YOE and are scuba certified can sign up for
refresher dives. These dives are at no cost to the participant and are a great way
to maintain your scuba diving proficiency.
