A Summer Camp Like No Other

Imagine a part of the summer on a yacht in the crystal waters of the British Virgin Islands - learning tropical sailing, scuba diving and marine biology - from some people very experienced, competent and friendly.

This is a different kind of summer camp - a movement, live-aboard 'Camp - of which SeaTrek. Here live high school and university students between the ages and play on board a modern art with numerous safety features 45-foot catamaranand onboard technology for 21 days.

Under the watchful eyes of a professional staff, SeaTrekers take full control of their live-aboard yachts while learning seamanship, sailing, scuba diving and marine science. This hands-on instructional approach continues throughout the voyage ensuring a thorough understanding of safe yacht operation, proper scuba diving procedures, and basic marine science.

Captains Monk and Kat, owners of SeaTrek Adventures, bring a wealth of knowledge of the sea, scuba diving and youth education to the students they work with each summer.

Captain Monk has 10 years experience on live-aboard dive vessels, having worked in the Bahamas, the US and British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Honduras, Mexico, Florida, Australia, Costa Rica and Hawaii. He has developed and directed several school age diving programs in conjunction with Texas A&M University and San Jacinto College. Monk worked extensively with Texas A&M's Biology Department and The Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary as a research diver and dive supervisor.

Captain Kat currently teaches Environmental Science at the University of Michigan. She is an expert on island formation and geology, a photographer and a bit of a historian. She is an avid sailor, having led three previous adventure voyages, as well as having three years experience with world class live-aboard dive vessels. Kat has ten years experience diving the Great Lakes, Mexico, the British Virgin Islands and Hawaii.

Monk and Kat Both hold United States Coast Guard 100ton Masters Licenses and are both Instructor Trainers for the National Association of Underwater Instructors, CPR/1st Aid Instructors, and Divers Alert Network (DAN) Oxygen First Aid Instructors.

""Our biggest thing is safety - making sure that the kids come home safe. We travel all across the US to meet parents in person prior to each trip. We hire the best sailing, diving, and biology instructors available. Every student receives personal instruction through every aspect of the voyage from raising the sails to tying up your hammock at night," said Monk.

No experience is necessary, in fact, most Trekers have never sailed or scuba dived before. To be eligible, students must be at least 13 years of age and want to learn. "We offer programs for those who have never set foot in the ocean all they way up to programs for those who have logged hundreds of dives or days under sail." Programs range from introductory scuba, sailing and marine biology for those with no prior experience, to highly advanced training for the most experienced "Trekers."

Alex Cohen, age 18, has been sailing with Monk going on four years. "I've learned more in those summers than I've learned anywhere. I cannot think of a better way to spend my summers - it's a great life experience." Now an employee of SeaTrek, Alex says the leadership skills he has developed through his experience sailing Monk with him all the best for his professional goals include a career in medicine have prepared.

During the dive, students learn experiences led by a naturalist and a marine biologist on board on a variety of learning. "We are a full-time biologist, which introduce children to biology. We have a unique program where students school credit for completing a project, available to shipping offer," said Monk, the program offers an impressive 02:01student teacher ratio.

The culmination of the journey is when all students actively participate in operating the yacht themselves. "One of the biggest goals of each journey is that the students will be able to operate the 45-foot catamaran for 6 hours by themselves - this is the ultimate level of excitement and learning."

To add to this exciting adventure, each SeaTrek vessel comes fully equipped with a kayak, windsurfer, kneeboard, wakeboard, water skis, and speedboat in tow. Although their programs are centered on water-based activities, each Trek also includes ample adventures ashore. SeaTrekers hike through old-growth rainforests, explore rocky inter-tidal areas, learn island culture from the locals, play beach volleyball, and even dance into the night.

Summer will never forget

My introduction to the program

I was employed in the program two years ago. After a couple of telephone interviews and honest conversation about my limited experience does not exist and live aboard diving career I was hired. I bought a ticket in Tortola British Virgin Islands, where to show me to the port to collect fishing gear was tight, but pretty quick packing list of personal property, and an attitude to work hard every day it was. When I arrived at the portHe stood for a moment, take it all, this was my first work experience outside the United States and also my first time working on boats. I was born and raised in Indiana, where I grew up water skiing on lakes competitive through the years, I had an open water diving certification and once was sailing with my family. I was a bit 'surprised when I was hired, but he knew it was an adventure I was not ready to abandon it. While I was in the harbor full of boats four times larger driveeverything I've ever had I was driving back I heard a loud voice: "Oh, Tara," I saw a frighteningly large, broad-shouldered man held his head and beard shaved clean, full, is a bank nearby. For a split second, all the fears of one woman 22, who will jump into their work first boat in a foreign country, with a captain who has never met flashed through my head. Oh, the possibilities ...

I had no idea at the time, but I was more than everimagined. My first weeks were filled with training boat. I had to learn everything from the keel up in many ways I was on the same level as our students, or sometimes even less well known! I was asked to SeaTrek Explorer live where I live under the watchful eyes of Captain Daniel Kat (wife of Captain Monk). I blinked with two other employees named Mary and streamlined train. These two women, both started with SeaTrek when it was created. They were students in their first year of the programraces, and now they were both studying for their teaching certification and has been working extremely hard and capable companions on the ship. In a relatively short time, I learned about this dynamic trio has taken all of our ship and all students who fail to board.

What makes our program is all

As a young adult, my greatest personal and professional development opportunities was SeaTrek BVI, I can only imagine the impact it would have had ten years agoI was a teenager. The environment created by staff on each ship is very open and welcoming. Our proposal is to bring together students from all over the world for a community in which students work cooperatively while participating in sailing and scuba diving to create and to inform appropriate and safe behaviors in such an environment. Although the focus of our activities seems purely recreational, there are a lot of work behind the scenes to develop social skills, building self-Picture and all around preparing each student for the challenges of living and working nearby. Some days are a challenge for staff, while the ship, the personality of the students balance, and do all the planning, facilitating, together with a field. Some important aspects of SeaTrek that make our jobs possible is that we keep a close relationship 3:01 student / staff at all times, staff and students share boat responsibilities such as morning checks, cooking, cooking and cleaning the boat,And sailing, and finally we have an impressive rate of return of students from almost 48%. Almost half of our students have gone through with SeaTrek before and had a positive experience that return year after year!

A day in the boat

Our days start early, a few hardy souls for the day with a refreshing dip in the water when they begin their waist in water sports wakeboarding at sunrise. After a few runs up and down the coast all the heads for a hot breakfastserved on eight clock with the parties usually arise spontaneously shine n 'Dance entered the cockpit. Subsequently, students are informed about the events of the day. In general there is a sail or motor to our first morning dive and snorkeling spot. There is a hot or cold lunch served after the first dive, then the sails are set, and once again we went to our next dive site. Afternoon activities vary daily. There are days that we have a port visit to allow time for students to land, perhapsHike to a remote island, kayak along a barren coast, we can take a boat to sail along in order to promote the education of students, was the boat to choose to attend a technical dive site or call Captain Monk all ships at anchor soon extended to water, beach games across the board, and a fire in the evening. Every day is an adventure in itself. No matter how much time you spend with SeaTrek BVI every moment is worth the time and energy spent getting here.

Classes thatEnd

Believe it or not, you do not have a sub, if you want to get to the field, you just have to learn to be prepared! Our staff are thoroughly trained to guide the process of learning through lectures and practical water every day for divers at every level. We acknowledge all the way from the open sea by a teacher! Spend enough time with us and you will literally be able to get our work done, or branch out and find another career in diving. Depending on theCertification level when you enter SeaTrek you are in a "walk" or a class that meets with the groups at the same time their dive skills. Below is a breakdown of the various Trek

Trek 1 is for students without previous experience or certification in scuba diving, sailing, or marine biology. You will be introduced in the marine realm, filling more than 25 dives and earn a NAUI Open Water, Advanced Open Water and a number of special awards.

Trek 2 offers scuba-certifiedStudents intensive underwater adventure. This program takes you through the Advanced Open Water NAUI diving including night diving, deep diving, wreck diving, underwater navigation, underwater naturalist. They are to become a Rescue Diver! This certification is an important step in teaching divers to look and think to themselves, the safety of other divers. Therefore, a Rescue Diver course for entry into all NAUI leadership training is not required. In this trekThey are also encouraged a certification of specialties like photography, research diver, boat diver, or are looking to relax and follow.

Trek 3 accepts only students who are 15 or older and interested in a closer look at the physics, physiology, equipment and planning of dives with diving. Along with your income NAUI Master Diver you have the opportunity to earn your Rescue Diver and other special prizes.

Trek to take 4,that giant leap by a diver, not just a professional diver! This course is a challenging but very exciting. Our three-week intensive program provides practical training together with our professional diving. Candidates practical experience as interns supervision of students during lessons in confined water and open training. This is a great opportunity to get a professional certificate, and to see how a real dive center works! The students successfully completedthis walk, was certified NAUI Divemaster and are willing to give the Training NAUI Instructor Training.

Trek 5 is your chance, the professional diving industry connect with one foot in the door. SeaTrek is the only summer adventure program at sea, Training Instructor Course. Our staff NAUI Course Director will guide you step by step how to develop the skills necessary to directly monitor students in training. The course is intensive and covers every aspectDiving from academics to ship control skills of students in open water Waterman. Complete this course and who knows, maybe next year we can work to SeaTrek!

Summer Time: Get the bugs to know that Cousin Cousine Buzz

I love poetry summer by Walter Dean Myers.

The "Bugs Buzzin 'Cousin Cousine" fixed a smile on my face too hot. hot summer days and nights are perfect for studying all types of insects.

Then take action to me inedible to insects (see my article How to be a still tick-free experience) is much easier to see and get to those That fly or crawl about on the road.

Here is a list of insects that we see, probably in northeastern North Americaand some interesting facts about the individual spring turns into summer:

Ant Lion: The larvae of the lacewing fly stage, this year, millions of insect is characterized by tapered digging wells in sandy soil. If an ant crosses the edge of this pit, the earth in caves, like a funnel, sending the ant, the ant wait.

Ant: This insect uses a chemical odor (pheromone nest) to mark the path from a source of food for her. The Nest Ant's companions to follow this road forFood source. Therefore, the ants go online.

Bees bees hive to the source of pheromones also alert members to a meal. bees have adapted an internal "clock" on the day of 24 hours of sunshine, so you can maximize collect nectar and are at the same time, the flowers in bloom. Hives are usually rotten in the heart of a living tree as an oak or maple removed.

Butterflies: These winged beauties are usually during the daytime to keep the wings folded at restand long, thin antennae with buttoned ends. Furthermore, each type is different. Deep Purple mourning cloak winter in northeastern North America. The non-poisonous Viceroy Butterfly looks so much like the poisonous monarch butterfly, that fool predators.

Daddy Long Legs: This insect is a harmless piece body, a spider, the body has two segments. I like the delicate atmosphere of a Daddy Long Legs long arm. The legs are longer this insect sense organs. If ITap the hand launch my Daddy Long Legs in the air, his body turns into a parachute, Sky Diver drive this field. This is one of my favorite summer memories.

Earthworms: These worms till the soil, leaving jets full of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. A good place to see earthworms is not rich soil moisture, such as forests open, a lawn and a garden - especially after it rains. Watch how they move their muscles, the segmented body. If you see a Robinpull a worm from the ground, you'll see the worm hang on sometimes until breaks. The bristles that it holds on with are called setae. Scientists say that if the worm breaks, new segments will grow.

Fireflies: The higher the temperature, the shorter the period between the flashes this insect makes. When attracting fireflies, notice that each different species of firefly has a distinct pattern of flashing light.

Hornets/Wasps: There are more of these stinging insects flying around in late summer, when workers no longer need to search for food, the larvae eat food. Unlike the Yellow Jackets, who build their nests underground, wasps and hornets' nests hung-like paper.

Entomologists say that the mosquitoes mosquito larvae live harmless water and adult mosquitoes feast on nectar from flowers, and when the mosquitoes do not bite the female spawning is usually species specific. Most mosquitoes prefer the blood of other species of humans,but due to habitat destruction, often we are all on the menu.

Moths: These winged insects are typically nocturnal, resting with its wings and short, feathery antennae. They typically have subdued colors and is a source of light stoves to investigate other types of entertainment at night. Bats eat moths and moths, so you have to listen through the Bat-sonar and avoid capture is to beat fantasy or fold their wings and fall to the developedGround.

Spiders: This is another group with a different number of members. wolf spiders weave webs in general, but migrate to the prey. Some spiders weave several web-weaving models between various forms. Orb spiders usually live outdoors, and Brown Recluse Spider can live inside or outside. Moreover, to make art spider web, is fascinating to watch a spider web, spider. Could weave efficiently with string?

Water Strider: These insects use theirshort front legs to catch prey, the legs as a means of oars and hind legs as rudders. You can make up on the water surface without waves. Other insects, including butterflies that the contact surface of the water to make waves. These waves tell only the water strider, which is its food. The water moved by Strider back with legs in the middle, making small waves to create the slide, but not break the surface tension of water.