Reef Ministries

June 11-16, 2012

Trip Description
Join Sherri Seligson, author of Exploring Creation with Marine Biology and Tec Clark, director of Reef Ministries on a Christ-centered homeschool camp exploring God's underwater world. This special camp takes place at Marine Lab in the beautiful Florida Keys.  Snorkelers will be supplied masks, snorkels, fins and snorkeling vests and will even be given instruction on how to snorkel if they have never experienced it before.  Campers will enjoy six days of science and exploration in and around John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.  The customized curriculum allows campers to get one year's worth of marine biology labs in one week, and to participate in a volunteer survey project!

Faculty

Sherri Seligson, a marine biologist and homeschool mom, worked as a marine biologist at Walt Disney World's Living Seas pavilion in EPCOT Center, where she collected and maintained coral reef animals. Focusing on marine predators, Sherri has also published scientific research on shark behavior. The author of Apologia's Exploring Creation with Marine Biology text and curriculum, Sherri has written many articles for marine related magazines and homeschool publications. Her newest book is Interning for High School Credit. Sherri and her husband, David, have been homeschooling their four children for seventeen years. She has a motivated heart for teaching students the importance of studying God's creation and equipping them to give an answer for their faith, and she also speaks at conventions where she loves to encourage other moms on their homeschooling journey.

Tec Clark is a diving industry expert who has held elite positions including Managing Director of the University of Florida's Academic Diving Program, National Director of the YMCA Scuba Program, and Captain of the United States Freediving Team. He holds over 40 professional certifications with over 15 diving agencies. Tec has received numerous honors for his instructional abilities. He has authored many articles and has co-edited several diving texts. He has also appeared as a diving expert on A&E, The Learning Channel, and Outdoor Life Network. As Founder and Director of Reef Ministries, Tec uses his God-given diving industry gifts and talents to show others the unmistakable evidence that the underwater world is the handiwork of God. Tec gives presentations, leads trips, and teaches diving in a Christ-centered fashion, championing scripturally-sound creation elements.

Itinerary
June 11-16, 2012

Monday, June 11, 2012:
2:00 p.m.    Arrival and Orientation

June 11th-16th:  Daily Trips, Presentations and Labs

Saturday, June 16, 2012:
1:00 p.m.    Check-out After Lunch

Note: Special transportation from Miami International Airport will be available for those flying in for this camp.

Location
MarineLab
51 Shoreland Drive
Key Largo, FL 33037

click here for directions

Prices
$1,900 ($1,520 if registered prior to January 1st, 2012)
Attendance is limited.
Price includes accomodations, meals, classroom presentations, labs, boat trips, in-water guides, and the use of all snorkeling equipment.

Packing List
Bathing Suits
Rash Guards (Long sleeve preferred)
Personal Clothing
Water Shoes (i.e. Teva, Keen, etc.)
2 Bath Towels
Sleeping bag or twin bed linens
Pillow
Sunscreen (Waterproof.  Must be 30SPF or greater. No oils and no arisol sprays on the boats)
Insect Repellant
Toiletries
Medication
Hat
Sunglasses
Windbreaker or rain coat
Plastic bag (to send wet items home)
Pencil and Notepad
Snorkeling Equipment (if you have your own mask, snorkel and fins bring them.  If not, they will be provided for you)
Notarized Paperwork for MarineLab and Reef Ministries

Prerequisites
To participate in the Marine Biology Creation Camp, participants must meet the following conditions:

• Participants must know how to swim and be comfortable in the water.
• Participants must be in good health.  Medical conditions, medications and/or allergies of any kind must be disclosed at registration.
• Participants must abide by the Reef Ministries modesty policy.  Reef Ministries’ trips and retreats uphold Christian principles and values.  Adherence to positive Christian values allows all Reef Ministries activities to be ideal for fellowship, worship and learning.  As with all Reef Ministries adventures Participants’ modesty is encouraged in speech, actions and apparel.  One-piece bathing suits for girls please, or two-piece while wearing rash guard.

FAQs

Who can participate in the Marine Biology Creation Camp?
This camp is idealy suited for high school aged homeschool students (parents are welcome too) who have studied or will be studying the Marine Biology curriculum of Exploring Creation Through Marine Biology (S. Seligson, Apologia Publishing).  Labs conducted will be from that curriculum.  To participate in snorkeling, we ask that you know how to swim and be comfortable in the water.  This is an interpretive adventure, the more one is comfortable with the activity of snorkeling, the better the experience will be to absorb the beauty of God's underwater marine life.  Please call if you have questions regarding your or your child's abilities to snorkel.

Can parents be a part of this camp?
Yes.  Parents may participate in this camp with their children.  Parents register and pay the same as an individual camper.

What will we see on the reef?
You will see many tropical reef fish indigenous to Florida and the Caribbean - parrotfish, snapper, damselfish, angelfish, stingray, wrasse, tang, etc.  These include adults and juveniles, individuals and schools. You will also see an assortment of hard and soft corals including sea fans and sponges.

What will we do in the labs?
This customized curriculum allows campers to get one year's worth of marine biology labs in one week!  These labs include disections, plankton tows, water sampling, and microscopic analysis just to name a few.  These labs are from Exploring Creation Through Marine Biology (S. Seligson, Apologia Publishing) and are led by the author herself.

What is the volunteer service project?
Camp participants will be collecting data for Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).  REEF's mission, to educate and enlist divers in the conservation of marine habitats, is accomplished primarily through the Volunteer Survey Project. The Project was developed in 1990 with support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and guidance by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The project allows volunteer SCUBA divers and snorkelers to collect and report information on marine fish populations. The data are collected using a fun and easy standardized method, and are housed in a publicly-accessible database on REEF's Website. These data are used by a variety of resource agencies and researchers.  This is a wonderful volunteer project for including in college admissions applications.

What about motion sickness and waves?
The boat will not run snorkeling trips if the seas are moderately rough.  The staff makes the judgment early in the morning to determine if trips are running or not due to weather.  There are some people who are prone to getting motion sickness even in the mildest of conditions - on a boat that is called sea sickness.  There are some over-the-counter medications for motion/sea sickness, and it is always best to consult with your family physician to see if that medication is right for you or your child.

Reservations
A 30% deposit is required to hold your reservation ($456 prior to January 1, 2012 and $570 after January 1, 2012). This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.  The balance is due on May 12, 2012 (30 days prior to start date).  There will be a waiting list so, if you must cancel, you would only get your deposit back if someone else from the waiting list takes your camper's position.  Simply click "Reserve Now" below and you will be taken to our secure reservations site where you may choose a variety of payment options.  If the reservations are full there will be a waiting list and as other boats open up the first on the list will be contacted.  If you have any questions please call (954) 495-7810.

RESERVE NOW!