-PROGRAM DESCRIPTION-

The Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program is a hands-on marine science program for middle to high school-aged students interested in studying coastal, marine & environmental science, natural resource management, and conservation. The program involves a combination of short presentations and lectures daily along with field activities utilizing scientific tools to supplement those presentations. The program by nature is intended to be intense but students who complete the program walk away with numerous field experiences that teach them values about the importance of our environment, both land and sea.

-MISSION STATEMENT- 

The Youth Ocean Explorers (YOE) Summer Program aims to provide students with hands-on, STEM-based (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) training that fosters career development. Using the ocean as our classroom, students enrolled in YOE develop a sense of environmental stewardship, acquire new skills, and establish long-lasting connections with fellow students and STEM professionals. 

-PROGRAM INFORMATION-

-ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA / IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS-                                                                    

• The St. Croix component of the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program will operate differently than the St. Thomas component at least for the first year or two in operation. 
• The Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program is open to students in junior high to high school with an interest in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) (Grades 7-12). 
• The maximum capacity for the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program is 20 students.     
• The 2019 Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program will be facilitated from July 15 - July 26.
• Students should meet at the Recreation Center at the Canegeta Ball Park for 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM and will be shuttled to camp locations each day. 
• Tentatively, the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program will take place at the St. Croix East End Marine Park and the Coastal Studies Outpost in Salt River Bay. 
• There will be a mandatory orientation meeting for both parents and accepted students prior to the start date of the program on July 12th at 5:30 PM; this orientation meeting will take place at the Recreation Center at the Canegeta Ball Park.
• Students are expected to be in attendance daily (9:00AM - 4:30PM) and any scheduled absences should be immediately brought to the attention of camp counselors/coordinators.
• There is a one-time program fee of $100 which covers all program materials and lunches.  
• Lunches will be catered each day. 

-IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MENTORS-

• To be a mentor for the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program, the interested applicant should be in the high school (grades 10 and up) and/or have previously participated in the program. 
• All selected mentors will be required to complete Red Cross lifeguard training prior to the start of the program. 
• Training for the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program is being scheduled; check back soon for more details. 

-HOW TO REGISTER-

Registration Deadline: May 1st, 2019 

Step 1: REGISTRATION OPEN: The application process for the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program consists of two steps:

• Parents or legal guardians of the interested applicant must complete the ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM. This form will provide our team with specific information about the applicant as well as contact information for the parent or legal guardian. 
• The applicant must complete the STUDENT ASSESSMENT FORM. This form contains 3 essay questions and a video response that our team will use to select which students will participate in the program. Failure to complete these forms before the deadline will result in your application being wait listed. Completed videos should be renamed as such (Student first name_Student last name_YOE2019 - for example Howard_Forbes_YOE2019) and can be uploaded by clicking here; please do not E-mail your video.
• Interested mentors should complete the MENTOR APPLICATION FORM. Mentors should have either participated in the YOE Summer Program previously or be at or above the sophomore level in highschool. 

Step 2: SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: After the deadline of May 1, received applications will be reviewed; selected applicants (students and mentors) will be required to complete the documents listed below. These documents are required for your child to participate in the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program. They detail specific language about assuming any known risks associated with any of the field activities covered during the program as well as giving our team permission to take photographs and/or video of students to use to help promote the program.

• MINOR MEDIA RELEASE FORM: This form authorizes our team to use any photographs or video taken during the YOE to help promote our program.    
• RELEASE and WAIVER of LIABILITY: This form should be read and signed by both the parent/guardian and the applicant and informs all parties of possible risks associated with participation in the program.
• CODE of CONDUCT: This form should be read and completed by both the parent/guardian and the applicant and details unacceptable behavior and possible repercussions for such. 

Step 3: PAYMENT: Selected applicants will be required to pay the one-time program fee of $100 no later than 1-week prior to the start date of the program. Cash, check, and credit card payments are accepted; contact howard.forbes@live.uvi.edu for more details. 

-PROGRAM FUNDING / SPONSORSHIP-

The St. Croix Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program was made possible through funding received from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
Our program operates each year via small grants from private foundations and federal agencies as well as donations (monetary or in kind services) from the Virgin Islands community. If you are interested in providing a donation or to sponsor a student to attend, contact us using any of the methods listed below. The University of the Virgin Islands is a 501c3 institution so all donations are tax deductible. 
Funders for the YOE Summer Program include:

• Tropical Shipping - Saltchuk 
• The Lana Vento Charitable Trust 
• The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands
• The Prior Family Foundation 
• The Virgin Islands Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR)
• The Virgin Islands Marine Rebuild Fund
• The National Science Foundation - INCLUDES Program

-CONTACT US-   

Office Phone: St. Thomas (340) 693-1672
E-mail: St. Thomas (howard.forbes@live.uvi.edu)
Website: http://vimas.uvi.edu
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Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service
Center for Marine and Environmental Studies
University of the Virgin Islands

St. Thomas
#2 John Brewers Bay
St. Thomas, USVI 00802