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Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program
by Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service - University of the Virgin Islands (Scientific community)
The Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program is a 4-week marine science based summer program that uses the ocean as the lens through which we teach Virgin Islands youth about Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. Although our proximity is close to the ocean, some Virgin Islanders do not swim and thus lack environmental stewardship ethics. Through YOE, students in grades 7-12 learn about commercially and ecologically important flora and fauna, basic concepts in oceanography, stressors that are affecting our coastal ecosystems, and take part in activities to help reduce these impacts.
Progress reports
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
PLASTICS
  • Coastal clean-ups
  • Plastics recovery/recycling/reuse
Quantification
  • Number of coastal cleanups conducted, number of volunteers engaged, number of pounds of debris removed.
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
  • Community or Locally Managed Marine Areas
Quantification
  • Number of red mangroves replanted in areas that have lost mangrove cover due to natural or human-induced disturbances.
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
Type of commitment
  • Research capacity development
  • Training and professional development
  • Scientific cooperation
Quantification
  • Number of local Virgin Island's youth trained in scuba diving, number of students that participate in the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program that participate in research-based internship opportunities.
August 2020
Plant over 500 red mangrove seedlings around the island of St. Thomas, USVI
August 2020
Remove approximately 5,000 pounds of debris from U.S. Virgin Islands coastlines
August 2022
Engage approximately 1,000 Virgin Island's youth to marine science concepts through the Youth Ocean Explorers Summer Program
August 2025
Open water scuba certify 100 Virgin Island's youth
Staff / Technical expertise
Working with the Coki Dive Shop, we are able to provide scuba certification for YOE students to help introduce them to careers in marine science.
Basic information
Time-frame: July 2016 - August 2025
Website
Partners
Coki Dive Shop (Partnership), Coastal Estuarine Research Federation (Scientific community), Sea Grant (Government), University of the Virgin Islands (Academic institution)
Ocean Basins
  • South Atlantic
Beneficiary countries
Other beneficaries
Contact information
Howard Forbes , Mr., howard.forbes@live.uvi.edu, 340-693-1672
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas - USVI
Other SDGs
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