Academic Treks - Caribbean Marine Reserves

  Caribbean

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: 22-day programs in June, July and August

Description: The magical island of Saba is home to the Caribbean's best and most extraordinary diving, from coral encrusted walls to breathtaking pinnacles that tower out of the ocean depths. Academic Treks has teamed up with the world-renowned Saba Marine Park (SMP) to offer a one-of-a-kind program focusing on marine resource management and marine reserves, designed to safeguard marine environments while allowing for their sustainable use. Our studies are intertwined with world-class diving and adventure. Students live in hip eco-lodges nestled in mountain rainforests and aboard 50-foot yachts. Island hopping between St. Barts, Statia and Saba, we explore, compare and contrast three very different marine reserves and their unique approaches to conservation, tourism, research and resource management. Learn Reef Check survey protocols used by marine scientists worldwide and discover pristine reefs, huge wrecks and amazing biodiversity.

Day 1-3
We begin our adventure at Broadreach's base in Anse Marcel on the French Side of St. Martin. Settle into your yacht, get to know your crewmates and get accustomed to the pace of life aboard. Whether you are already certified or it's your first time scuba diving, you'll be blowing bubbles and checking out amazing reefs and colorful fish in no time. Balancing our time between formal instruction, hands-on learning and underwater exploration, we examine the primary challenges in marine resource conservation. Learn about the ecological, social, economic and legal reasons why the oceans need our help, and discuss efforts to conserve these treasured resources.

Day 4-8
Sail to St. Barts to explore their newly formed marine park, established to stop further deterioration of fragile ecosystems due to overuse. Discuss the issues relating to the creation and management of marine reserves. How do they operate? Who are the stakeholders? How do marine parks impact other ecosystems? How do they measure success and failure? On several great dives we see how the park has benefited the island's underwater realm in just a few years. Take a break to explore Gustavia and treat yourself to delicious crepes or mango sorbet.

Day 9-12
On the Dutch island of Statia, we put our newfound underwater research skills to the test by participating in Reef Check fish surveys on some of the marine park's most popular dive sites. Learn about and assist the marine reserve with its sea turtle monitoring program and nighttime watches on Zeelandia Beach. Explore Wreck City and the Charles Brown, an impressive 327-foot wreck sunk in 2003, and see how artificial reefs boost dive tourism while providing sanctuary for juvenile reef fish. After morning dives, learn about the park's policies, successes and failures, then hike through lush rainforest in the crater of Statia's extinct volcano.

Day 13-17
The island of Saba towers out of the sea and captivates us with its majestic beauty, world-class diving, quaint villages and mountain rainforests. Settle into your home for the next week, the colorful Eco-lodge nestled in the heart of lush elfin rainforest. Dive below to discover an abundance of marine life and a pristine underwater landscape, from limestone based reef systems and fringing reefs to pinnacles and seamounts. Our underwater classrooms are spectacular sites -- Man 'o War Shoals, Diamond Rock and Twilight Zone - perfect for undersea adventure and learning! Learn how dive tourism has flourished since the creation of the SMP and how diver impact has been significantly reduced, in contrast to other parts of the Caribbean that are experiencing the erosion of coral and marine life.

Day 18-22
Research, monitoring and maintenance are critical to the ongoing management and continued success of the SMP. Conduct research using Reef Check protocols to assess coral diseases, bleaching, algae coverage and biodiversity in Saba's awesome underwater realm. Discuss different types of outreach and education, and learn about the methods used worldwide to instruct stakeholders and others how to protect fragile environments. Then make your own lesson plans to teach locals and visiting Broadreach boats about the importance of marine parks. Host a dinner with local stakeholders, from shopkeepers to government officials, to discuss their perspectives on the SMP. Saba's conservation efforts extend above the waterline as well, and we explore the island's nature trails, rainforests and park systems. Hike through elfin rainforest to Saba's dramatic 3,000-foot peak. We conclude our time on Saba by presenting our research and findings to the SMP. We travel home with unforgettable memories, new friends, a broader perspective on marine conservation and the knowledge of how we can make a difference.

Highlights:
* Hands-on Studies of Marine Conservation and Reserves
* Underwater Research and Community Service
* Scuba Training and Certification
* High School/College Credit; 25+ Hours Community Service
* Prerequisite: No Experience Necessary

Qualifications: Participants must be in grades 9-12. Non-scuba certified participants arrive early to complete the PADI Open Water Diver course.

Cost in US$: $4,880

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Students in grades 9-12 interested in scuba diving, marine resource management and marine conservation.

Age Range: 15-19

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Caribbean Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 10-12

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Broadreach Summer Adventures / Academic Treks's Mission Statement: Broadreach offers experiential summer adventures for teenagers and young adults including scuba, sailing, marine biology, academic and wilderness programs that span the globe. Broadreach's educational adventures provide opportunities for students to learn new skills and explore the world in an active, hands-on environment that fully immerses the participant in the experience. Combining the thrill of discovery, the pride of accomplishment and the excitement of exploration, Broadreach programs focus on individual initiative, group dynamics and genuine participation in the world. Academic Treks is the academic adventure and community service division of Broadreach Summer Adventure Camps for Teenagers. Our educational summer camps and high school study abroad programs provide excellent alternatives to traditional summer camps and summer school. Lastly, Academic Treks College is the university division of Broadreach Summer Adventures. Our college study abroad programs provide unique opportunities to study a single topic in multiple countries around the world.

Year Founded: 1993