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Established in Montreal in 1982.
This string of tropical islands stretches off the southern tip of Florida, and is home to some of the most incredible marine and wildlife in the U.S. On this student community service and environmental stewardship program in the Florida Keys, teens have the opportunity to make a difference by helping restore coral nurseries, preserving the marine environment, learning about shark conservation efforts, and much more! You’ll also learn how to protect biodiversity and ocean life through partnerships with the scientific community. This Florida Keys student experience uses a service-learning framework where our staff provide guidance and reflection on the impact of the work we do throughout the program. Beautiful beaches and laid-back island vibes are just a bonus on this community service and career experience. By the time of your final evening together, you will be a close-knit group, wishing you could prolong your stay to help even more!
Snorkel around coral nurseries and active restoration sites while practicing your fish ID skills.
Soak up the sun on gorgeous Florida Keys beaches & John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Kayak and stand up paddleboard through diverse tropical ecosystems like mangrove, sea grass, and coral reef.
Experience Miami from above at an aerial adventure park, and from below by airboat searching for Everglades' native wildlife.
Feed the tarpon rising up from the water in a powerful flash of silver and green.
Support shark conservation efforts with an up-close underwater volunteer experience.
Bask in the Mallory Square Sunset Celebration watching the glowing pink and red sun sink into the horizon.
Go behind the scenes at the Turtle Hospital for sick and injured sea turtles.
Become a Citizen Scientist by taking part in the Volunteer Fish Survey Project, an effective and powerful ocean program that allows scientists and resource managers to use the data to better understand and protect ocean ecosystems worldwide. Learn to identify and recognize the marine fish species, including their behaviors from reproduction and feeding to camouflage and communication. Practice these Fish ID skills while snorkeling in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Learn about the threats invasive marine fish pose to their non-native environments and what is being done to combat one of the most infamous invasive fish species: the lionfish. Gain background on the invasion, lionfish biology, ecological impacts, current research, collecting and handling techniques, and much more. Explore South Florida's diverse tropical ecosystems, understand their importance, and discover how individuals can make a difference in conservation while kayaking through John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Meet with a panel of industry professionals to discuss the various careers within the marine biology, ecology, and environmental education fields.
About the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
Founded in 1990, REEF is an international marine conservation organization that implements hands-on programs to involve local communities in conservation-focused activities. Its mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about various adaptations and behaviors of marine invertebrates and then observe these adaptations firsthand through short experiments conducted while snorkeling. They will also have the chance to learn about the importance of Seagrass to Florida’s ecosystems. Student data will be analyzed and discussed before being entered into MarineLab’s database. Participants will also observe shark researchers in action! Alongside the Ocean First Institute's team of shark biologists, participants will head out onto the water to learn about methods used to catch and sample sharks, the parameters that are measured and what the data are used for, and how scientists safely handle sharks.
About MarineLab
MarineLab is dedicated to helping students study marine biology and the ecosystems of the Florida Keys region. These labs often serve as hubs for scientific research, education, and conservation initiatives related to the diverse marine life found in the Keys. They provide a unique setting for hands-on learning, fieldwork, and observations, contributing to our understanding of marine environments and fostering efforts to preserve and protect the delicate ecosystems in the Florida Keys.
Get up-close experience with scientific fieldwork and coral reef restoration. Learn about why coral reefs are in decline and why restoration is being done to combat this decline. Snorkel for an expansive view of coral nurseries and active restoration sites of nearby reefs. Discuss coral tree and nursery advantages and disadvantages while exploring various aspects of maintenance & materials. Delve into outplanting techniques and methodology, invertebrate field guides, coral identification & biology.
About the Coral Restoration Foundation™ (CRF)
CRF is the world's largest non-profit marine-conservation organization dedicated to restoring coral reefs to a healthy state, in Florida and globally. Their mission is to restore coral reefs, to educate others on the importance of our oceans, and to use science to further coral research and coral reef monitoring techniques. CRF works to support the reefs’ natural recovery processes through the large-scale cultivation, outplanting, and monitoring of genetically diverse, reef-building corals.
Our groups will help cleanup the canals in the Big Pine community.
About the Conch Republic Marine Army (CRMA)
The CRMA's mission is habitat restoration, and to clean up and protect the coasts, mangroves, and waterways of the Florida Keys. CRMA uses passive restoration techniques to reduce or eliminate the sources of degradation and permit enough recovery time to allow the site to naturally regenerate.
The perfect balance of experiential education, meaningful service projects and unforgettable adventures.
A certificate of completion detailing the program's service hours and projects will be issued after the trip.
Includes all recreation & activities listed.
Travel in passenger vans driven by our staff.
Your service hours are eligible toward the President's Volunteer Service Award.
Everybody participates together in each project. Specific projects are confirmed in late spring and are similar to those described.
Hotels.
Up to 24 participants.
Includes breakfast and dinner daily.
We can accommodate most dietary preferences and allergies.
What if I need to contact my teen during the program?
Participants may bring their cell phones so parents may call and message their kids directly. You may also contact our Communication Centers which serve as the official link between programs on the road and parents. We are staffed every day during the summer and have somebody on call for after hours emergencies ready to assist you 24/7.
Who are the staff and what are their qualifications?
Our staff are educators, guidance counselors, coaches, college and university students, former camp counselors, residence life coordinators, community volunteers, world travelers, and other leaders with diverse backgrounds. Many are former participants themselves who couldn’t get enough of the Westcoast experience! Learn more about our summer leaders.
How are roommates assigned?
Giving everyone a chance to make new friends creates a cohesive group and the warmest and most welcoming social environments in our industry!
On our Active Teen Tours, Global Adventures and Community Service programs, rooming rotation is as follows:
To promote this we’ve found the best system is for the Program Director to assign the rooms for the first and second stops. For the first stop, independent travelers room with other independent travelers and any friends who enrolled can room together. All participants will be assigned a different roommate for the second stop. After the first two stops, choice of roommates is always up to you!
On our Pre-College Enrichment programs & Career Experiences, rooming is as follows:
We assign independent travelers with another independent traveler for the duration of your stay. Any friends who enrolled together can room together.
Important notes: