For more information, please contact Capt. Monk Daniel: monk@seatrekbvi.com (877) 467-2454

DAILY SCHEDULE MORNING:

Breakfast and daily goals Content lecture Lab and/or field study Science workbook and reflection

AFTERNOON: Lunch and Q&A on the morning’s activities Community service/cultural studies activity Group work for research projects Scuba diving/recreation

EVENING: Dinner and group project updates Content lecture, lab, or cultural studies excursion Group work for research projects Review activity/discussion/video

RECREATION:

SCUBA diving & snorkeling Beach games Kayaking Hiking Sailing

COURSE TOPICS Development of the FATHOMS curriculum is an ongoing, collaborative effort led by Angela Cowan, SeaTrek’s Director of Marine Science. The SeaTrek science staff consults with a number of marine scientists and master educators to continually review course content and execution. The course curriculum uses a comprehensive, hands-on approach to study the Islands’ coral reef and coastal ecology by addressing the following topics: □ Tropical Marine Ecosystems & Island Ecology

□ Scientific & Marine Research Methods

□ Culture & Natural History of the Virgin Islands

□ Coral Reef Biology & Monitoring

□ Island Geology & Mapping

□ Water Chemistry & Quality

□ Ocean Exploration and Technology

□ Marine Resources & Human Impacts

□ Marine Ecosystem Management & Conservation

□ 12-15 SCUBA dives that include training in two

NAUI Specialty Diver Certifications: Introduction

to Scientific Diving in Coral Reef Habitats and

Marine Heritage Awareness

SeaTrek BVI is proud to present Focused Adventure Through Hands On Marine Science, our new program that combines marine science, community service and cultural studies in the Caribbean’s Virgin Islands. During the 21-day voyage, students live aboard a 43’ sailing catamaran that serves as their mobile research station, affording them countless opportunities to study and experience the ecology and dynamics of the living marine laboratory that surrounds them.

For more information, please contact Capt. Monk Daniel: monk@seatrekbvi.com (877) 467-2454

LECTURES Lecture style is kept interactive and student-driven. FATHOMS uses videos, animations and other media tools to help students visualize and comprehend difficult concepts. Each lecture is aligned to a worksheet or note-taker in the science workbook so that students have access to the information at any time. The labs and field studies will help students apply and integrate the content covered in each lecture.

LABS Each lab is designed as an extension of a specific lecture and allows students to observe and apply the concepts discussed. Labs also help students prepare to use that information during a field study. Examples of labs include dissections, mapping monitoring sites, collecting and graphing water quality data, collecting plankton and sediment for identification and sorting, and observing and classifying fish and invertebrate species.

FIELD STUDIES Field studies occur in terrestrial and aquatic habitats throughout the islands. They are essential in teaching students how to apply the scientific method to real world scenarios and contexts, which helps them develop their focus research projects. Examples of field studies include profiling beaches to examine erosional forces and sediment composition, using GPS to map study sites and organism distributions, collecting water samples for chemical and biological analysis, collecting physical water column data to graph temperature and light profiles, using transects and quadrats to examine biodiversity and population density, and photographing and cataloguing specimens.

The FATHOMS program presents biological, chemical, geological and physical marine science concepts to help students make observations and draw conclusions about the dynamics of tropical marine ecosystems. Students apply the scientific method to a variety of hands-on learning experiences, including labs, field studies and community service projects. Students evaluate human impacts and conservation strategies, especially those relevant to the Caribbean and BVI. Through these lectures, hands-on explorations and service projects, students become equipped with the tools necessary to investigate, better understand, and impact the world around them.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS

SeaTrek has established collaborative projects with a variety of organizations throughout the BVI, including the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society, Conservation and Fisheries Department, and National Parks Trust. In working with these groups, students are responsible for collecting and reporting data and helping educate BVI residents and tourists about the marine environment. SeaTrek also assists international organizations in addressing marine conservation issues on a global scale. Examples of community service projects include Coral Coverage & Disease Surveying, Sea Turtle Tagging & Monitoring, REEF Fish Identification, Lionfish Marking & Capture, Seagrass Monitoring and Mangrove Planting, CoralWatch, and Beach Cleanups.

CULTURAL STUDIES By talking to and working alongside BVI residents, students gain insight into the culture and natural and human history of the BVIs. Students learn about the Islands’ marine environment and resources and begin to explore outreach and management strategies for protecting the region’s valuable marine resources. Examples of cultural studies activities include field trips to historical sites and natural areas of Jost Van Dyke and St. John; presentations by BVI fishermen and divers, park rangers, and scientists; interviews with residents and tourists; and community service projects.

RESEARCH PROJECTS The FATHOMS curriculum is designed around two key research projects that emphasize the importance of marine research, conservation, and outreach. Developed in collaboration with the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society, Project #1 is the establishment of a coral coverage and disease monitoring program. Project #2 is the development of a coastal trail guide/map to teach Jost Van Dyke residents and tourists about the history, culture and ecology of the island’s East End. Students learn the content and skills necessary to carry out both projects. They then present their work during a peer review session, enabling them to critique and evaluate their work. SeaTrek staff and affiliated marine scientists work with students to provide resources and feedback throughout the entire process.

COURSE CURRICULUM

SeaTrek FATHOMSInaugural Summer Program

BY ANGELA COWAN

FATHOMS 1 group on the Brewers Bay Cave Hike in Tortola, BVI.

It was last October. I got the call from my boss, CaptainMonk Daniel, director of operations for SeaTrek Ltd. Hesaid that the pieces were finally in place and the timingwas right, “Let’s make this science boat happen.” TheSeaTrek “science boat” had been unofficially in theworks for over five years; now the time had come tomake it a reality. I had no idea how much time, effort,and teamwork would be required as we pursued thisnew endeavor. The stakes were high, but so were theexcitement and the potential.

As SeaTrek’s director of marine science, it was my jobto get the ball rolling. I enlisted the help and creativityof other SeaTrek staff, including Chance Ruder, abiologist and dive instructor. Chance had started withSeaTrek as a student in 2007 and was one of the firstpeople to recognize the need for a more intensive,project-based marine science program. In Chance’swords, “I thought that a boat dedicated to science couldaccomplish some really neat projects. Living on a boatin the Caribbean for three weeks surrounded by otheraspiring scientists sounded like paradise.” Within aweek we had a program name, objectives, anddescription. It was time to make the officialannouncement: SeaTrek BVI is proud to present our newest program,Focused Adventure Through Hands On Marine Science.FATHOMS combines marine science, communityservice, and cultural studies in the Caribbean’s BritishVirgin Islands. During the 21-day voyage, students liveaboard a 43-foot sailing catamaran that serves as theirmobile research station, affording them countlessopportunities to study and experience the ecology anddynamics of the living marine laboratory thatsurrounds them.

The FATHOMS program would incorporate the samehigh-quality scuba, sailing, and marine science trainingprovided by SeaTrek’s main programs in the BritishVirgin Islands (BVI) and exploratory programs in theBahamas and Hawaii. In addition, the content anditinerary for FATHOMS would be unique and centered onmarine science, community service, and culturalinteraction. This would afford FATHOMS students theopportunity to learn about the marine environment andculture of the Virgin Islands in an authentic, hands-onmanner. The FATHOMS curriculum was designed topresent multidisciplinary marine science concepts andequip the students with the tools necessary toinvestigate, better understand, and impact the worldaround them by applying the scientific method to avariety of experiences, including labs, field studies, andcommunity service projects. Students would alsoevaluate human impacts and conservation strategies,especially those relevant to the Caribbean and BVI.

We also wanted collaborators. One organization came tomind immediately. The Jost Van Dykes PreservationSociety (JVDPS) is a BVI not-for-profit organization

Rather than bombard you with more of my ownramblings about what a wonderful time ourstudents had and how much they learned, hereare a few of their words about our inauguralsummer of SeaTrek FATHOMS.

“FATHOMS was a wonderfullearning experience that tiedtogether pervious knowledgefrom school and used it in thereal world. This fantasticexperience gave me anopportunity to use thatknowledge in multiplecommunity service projects.FATHOMS was unforgettable.”Jennifer Havens from Issaquah, WA, age 15

“It was a great experience tomake a special connection to theBVI—to go beyond being atourist. It was really cool tolearn from BVI students andcommunity members and get to know them better. We startedto see how the reef is not just atourist resource. It is importantfor their culture and livelihood.As tourists we are a part of the problem that threatens thereef and other coastal resourcesin the BVI. But if we learn more about our impact, we can change our behavior and be part of the solution.”Maya Aurichio from Evanston, IL, age 16

“The ocean is like a book with abeautiful cover, and FATHOMSallowed me to open it and beginto understand the ocean. We still have a long way to go,though, before we can finishreading the book.”Alexandra Welch from Atherton, CA, age 17

38 S O U R C E S — F O U R T H Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 1

dedicated to the preservation of the island of Jost VanDyke, including its land, the surrounding sea, its livingcreatures, and its culture, through conservation,cultivation, education, and research. So I called SusanZaluski, executive director of the JVDPS, and pitched theidea of establishing a collaboration between our twoorganizations. Over the next several months wediscussed how both of our groups could most benefitfrom this new program; and we decided to focus on twokey areas: (1) establishing a coral reef monitoringprogram using snorkelers and scuba divers and (2)developing an interpretive trail guide for a popular trailon the east end of Jost Van Dyke.

We also contacted the BVI Conservation and FisheriesDepartment and the National Parks Trust to developother collaborative projects, including turtle tagging andmonitoring, lionfish marking and removal, and seagrassmonitoring. In working with these groups, studentswould be responsible for collecting and reporting dataand helping educate BVI residents and tourists aboutthe marine environment.

A number of guest lecturers from the Virgin Islands andmainland United States also agreed to share their workand expertise with our students. These included marinescientists, local fishermen, cultural historians, and parkrangers. They provided our students with a deeperunderstanding of the complex issues surroundingmarine ecosystem monitoring, conservation, andmanagement.

One of our guest lecturers was Emma Hickerson,research coordinator for the Flower Garden BanksNational Marine Sanctuary, who summed up herexperience, “What a pleasure it was for me to workdirectly with keen young students who had a passion forthe marine environment! They far surpassed our goalsand expectations for the program and allowed us toexpand the FATHOMS vision on the go, based on their

abilities and skills. I think the FATHOMS program willgive these future stewards of the oceans a terrific kickstart into their future endeavors.”

Fast forward to June 2011. After months of planning andprepping, our FATHOMS 2011 voyages were underway.We had students joining us for two separate voyages,one starting in mid-June and the other in late July. I wasa bit anxious, but I was confident we could execute theprogram and make it a fun and learning-filled adventurefor all of our participants, including the local Jost VanDyke students who would be joining us.

Ultimately, our goal with the FATHOMS program is toinstill in our students a sense of stewardship andinspire them to take what they have learned back homeand be advocates for similar issues in their owncommunities. We will continue our work with the JostVan Dykes Preservation Society and community so thatwe can all experience and better understand the marineenvironment that is so vital to their economy andculture. SeaTrek and JVDPS students worked togetheron multiple occasions this past summer. They snorkeledand dove together while identifying and cataloguing fishand coral species. They spent time talking about marineconservation issues in the BVI, such as fisheries andinvasive species (lionfish, mongoose) management.Most importantly, they spent some time just hanging outand being kids. We were fortunate to have Kenny andAdam Turbé talk to us about how fisheries havechanged in the several generations that their family hasbeen fishing in the BVI. Susan Zaluski and her assistant,Lorraine Callwood, presented information and joined usfor several of our excursions and field activities. JVDstudents went turtle tagging with us and successfullycaught and tagged three green sea turtles off JVD’s eastend. Next year we have high hopes of garnering morelocal interest in the budding program. Thecollaborations and program goals are what set theFATHOMS program apart and make it truly valuable.

Left: FATHOMS 1 and JVDPS students and SeaTrek staff after diving together and hearing fisherman Adam Turbé’s talk. Right: The FATHOMS 2group on our Virgin Islands National Park hike led by Ranger Laurel Brannick. Left to right: Jenna Smith, Helene Flittie, Kasey Fox, ShelbyMunsterman, Aly Yingst, Olivia Post, Krista Ransier, Chad Brewer.

“If you have any interest inmarine science, this is theprogram for you. FATHOMSoffers students a uniqueopportunity to study the ocean ina life-changing couple of weeks.I learned so much about theocean, from the life inside it tothe factors that are harming it.For example, I never knew howfascinating seagrass beds couldbe or what their importance was.After exploring them with alittle guidance, I becamefascinated with that ecology. The program has taught me agreat deal about myself, as well. I now know that I want to spend my life researchingbecause the ocean is what I am passionate about.”Aly Yingst from Harrisburg, PA, age 17

“We got to delve deeper intomarine biology and BVI culture,in comparison to other summerdiving/sailing/science programs.It was really interesting to learnabout something and then gothere and learn about it byseeing it for yourself. It makes itso that it will stick in your brainso much better. It wasinteresting to incorporatelearning about marine ecologywith the culture and history ofthe BVI.”Emily Walker from Lexington, MA, age 17:

Now, I am once again at my computer and on thephone—signing students up and prepping for SeaTrekFATHOMS 2012. It is time to do it all over again, butwith the advantage of having one year under our belt.And most importantly, I have the privilege of using my2011 FATHOMS students to inspire me. We will keepimproving FATHOMS and making it the effective andmeaningful program that it should be. We have alreadymade some changes for 2012. We extended theprogram from 17 to 21 days, adding a few days on theisland of St. John, USVI, so that we can take advantageof the Virgin Islands National Park, the Virgin IslandsEnvironmental Research Station, and the richresources of the island. We are adding new guestlecturers and community service and research projectsinto the curriculum. We are pursuing official universityaccreditation so that our participants can earn collegecredits. And, based on feedback from our 2011 studentparticipants, we are creating a new Advanced FATHOMSso that they can return and delve even deeper into themarine science, community service, and culturalstudies projects that they contributed to this past summer.

Our students’ enthusiasm and commitment to the goalsof the FATHOMS program were completely inspiring. Iam most fortunate. It is a privilege to work with suchcaring and motivated young people—who will likely bethe future scientists, conservationists, andenvironmental managers who will continue thisimportant work. I hope they know just how much I,their “teacher,” have learned from them. Specialthanks to the Daniel and Ruder families for theircontinued trust and support, without which FATHOMSwould not be possible.

For more information on SeaTrek and FATHOMS, visitthe websites http://www.seatrekbvi.com andhttp://www.seatrekbvi.com/fathoms.php or contactCaptain Monk Daniel at monk@seatrekbvi.com. (Allphotos by SeaTrek Ltd.)

The FATHOMS 1 group at Salt Island with our boat (The Life) in thebackground. Left to right: Patrick Ross, Lauren Beyer, Maya Aurichio,Emily Walker, Kasey Fox, Rob Spaeth, Alex Welch, Jennifer Havens.