The Junior Ocean Explorers (JOE) Summer Program is a continuous, 2 week, hands-on
marine science program for students in grades 3-6 interested in learning more about
our environment. Currently, it is only offered on St. Thomas; however, efforts are
underway to establish an equivalent JOE Summer Program experience for students on
St. Croix and St. John. JOE prioritizes teaching youth the basics and fundamentals
of swimming and snorkeling. Engaging youth at this age is pivotal to increasing their
interest in and curiosity within the marine sciences.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 JOE SUMMER PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED.
Registration for the 2025 JOE Summer Program will re-open in January of 2025.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE JUNIOR OCEAN EXPLORERS SUMMER PROGRAM
Students are assisted by program staff to learn the fundamentals of swimming which
starts with activities such as 1) Combined leg and arm motions, 2) Floating, and 3)
Submerging their heads underwater.
Students practice their snorkeling skills in a safe environment which enables them
to feel more comfortable exploring our oceans. All snorkeling gear is provided for
students to use during the program.
Students learn how to identify common marine invertebrates such as this friendly cushion
sea star. Knowing what animals live in our waters as well as those that could pose
harm are important Water safety skills covered during the Junior Ocean Explorers Program.
Students enrolled in the Junior Ocean Explorers Summer Program to learn the basics
of painting and can build upon their artistic foundation to better understand marine
life in our oceans.
Students in JOE assist UVI researchers with important research efforts to better protect
and understand our natural resources. Here, students are collecting health data on
mangrove seedlings that will be used for restoring our coastlines.
Looking for more marine science fun this summer? Students who previously participated
in the JOE Summer Program can seamlessly progress into the Youth Ocean Explorers (YOE) Summer Program. YOE, which is open to students in grades 7-12 (ages 12-18), is a 4-week experience
that enables students to expand upon their understanding of marine science and STEM
career pathways. Students can also earn their PADI (Professional Association of Diving
Instructors) open water scuba certification during the program.
JOE SUMMER PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Within this section, you can learn more about 1) Elligibity requirements for students
interested in attending JOE, 2) What the overal program structure is like for both
students and mentors, and 3) Important information on the registration, payment, and
cancellation processes.
Howard Forbes Jr. (M.Sc.) - JOE Program Director
Jarvon Stout - JOE Program Coordinator
Jendahye Antoine - JOE Program Coordinator
Amber Knight - Water Safety Instructor
Zoe Banfield - Water Safety Instructor
JOE Mentors - This could be you!
First preference is given to youth from and/or currently residing in the Virgin Islands
On average, 20 students are selected to particpate each summer.
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 3-6 (ages 6-11).
Should have an interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics).
Should have an interest in being in the outdoors (ocean, forests, nature, etc.).
Student MUST be able to attend the entire Session they registered for. For example: if you register
for Session 1, you should plan to be in attendance for the entirety of Session 1 barring
any emergencies. (Spaces are limited each year, so please plan your vacations accordingly
if you wish to apply).
The Junior 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 theS.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.
JOE has 2 Sessions that applicants can register for; interested applicants can register
for the Session they are interested in (this could also include attending both Sessions).
At this time, the JOE Summer Program is only offered on St. Thomas.
Session 1 will take place from June 3 - June 14 and will cover the Learn to Swim basics
/ snorkeling with an emphasis on marine animal identification.
Session 2 will take place from June 17 - 21 and will cover the Learn to Swim basics
/ snorkeling with an emphasis on ecology and coastal plants.
Students meet daily at UVI's Marine Science Center from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Lunches and snacks will be provided. (Please be sure to indicate ALL known allergies of the applicant (if applicable) when applying.
Housing is not provided as this is NOT an overnight program.
You can access the schedule for Session 1 by clicking HERE.
You can access the schedule for Session 2 by clicking HERE.
JOE mentors assist the team with the facilitation of the program's activities.
Mentors can receive Emergency First Responder (EFR) training prior to the start of
the program.
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.
Registration for JOE opens each year on JANUARY 1 and closes firmly on APRIL 1.
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.
Completed applications will be reviewed after APRIL 1; applicants will be notified of the selection process via E-mail.
Selected applicants are required to pay a one-time program registration fee of $200 which covers all program-related costs such as student supplies, field trip expenses,
and lunches.
Payment can be made in person or over the phone with the cashiers at the Orville E.
Kean (St. Thomas) UVI Campus (340-693-1437); forms of payment accepted include cash,
check, or credit card.
Scholarship recipients volunteer at a minimum of 1 community service event hosted
by eitherVIMAS,VI-EPSCoR,DPNR, or other Environmental-focused agency (not in the USVI)beforeDECEMBER 31of the year the scholarship was awarded. Additional information about these events
will be shared both during and after the program concludes.
To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must: 1) Have been born/ or currently reside in the U.S. Virgin Islands and 2) Attend a public school in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Due to funding shortfalls, there will not be any scholarships for the 2024 Junior
Ocean Explorers Summer Programs. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have
caused.
Students can withdraw prior to the start date of the program to receive a full refund
of any monies paid to date.
If a student withdraws after the program has already started, no refunds will be issued.
"I clicked the "APPLY" button and am now on a page where I am being asked to enroll
at the University." - Unfortunately, theAPPLYbutton 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 JOE 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 Junior 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. @ 340-693-1672 (howard.forbes@uvi.edu)
and Program Coordinator Jendahye Antoine (jendahye.antoine@uvi.edu). A follow up E-mail
will be sent to update you on your application status.
"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 JOE 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.
"Why is this program only offered on St. Thomas?" These programs require a substantial amount of funding and personnel support to
operate sufficiently. Currently, our operating budget only allows for us to coordinate
this program on St. Thomas, though we are actively working on ways to obtain additional
sources of funding. To offer these programs at the price we do requires external funding
support; otherwise the registration fee which is currently at $200 will instead reflect
the actual programmatic costs (~$1,000/child) which is not feasible for most USVI
families.
REGISTER FOR JOE 2024 IS NOW CLOSED.
SESSION 1: JUNE 3-14, 2024 / MARINE ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION AND SWIMMING SESSION 2: JUNE 17-21, 2024 / ISLAND ECOLOGY AND SWIMMING
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 JOE SUMMER PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED
Both the Parent and StudentApplications are required to complete your Junior Ocean Explorers Summer Program application
packet. Please plan accordingly so that you can complete your application before the
registration deadline.
This portion of the JOE 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. Estimated
time to complete ~ 5 minutes.
This last component of the JOE application should be completed by the applicant. It
contains 2 short essay questions that will provide our team with a better understanding
of an applicant's interest in the program and STEM. Estimated time to complete ~ 1
- 2 hours.
If you are interested in being a mentor or swim instructor for JOE, complete this
application to join our team. Previous mentors have included high school, undergraduate,
and graduate level students. Mentors assist with day-to-day activities, provide guidance
and support to student participants, and are paid for their time.
