 |
|
Past participants
peer into the Aquarius Habitat.
|
|
|
The Aquarius Project 2005
Girl Scouts of the USA
, Elliott Wildlife Values Project
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration
July 13-19 , 2005
What is it?
The Aquarius Project is an intensive week of ocean science and discovery
for a nationally selected group of six
Girl Scouts sponsored by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation,
and Girl Scouts of the USA.
Where is it?
The event centers around the National
Undersea Research Center's (University
of North Carolina at Wilmington) Key
Largo, Florida field station, home to
the world's only underwater laboratory - the Aquarius Habitat. Girl
Scouts are housed at the Marine Resources Development Foundation’s
MarineLab, also in Key Largo, and attend
lectures and field sessions with educators and other marine science
mentors.
What is the event about?
Girl Scouts learn the fundamentals
of ocean exploration, coral reef and mangrove ecology, maritime
archaeology, habitat preservation, and marine biology. Weather
permitting, lectures and field work include a SCUBA dive to the Aquarius Habitat
to visit current mission scientists at work in the habitat; investigating coral
reefs with marine resource scientists; snorkeling around mangroves; and SCUBA
diving to numerous sites, including a shipwreck site in the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary. During the Aquarius Project, girls learn about marine science
by hands-on experience and interaction with mentor scientists. Each participating
Girl Scout devises an outreach plan for taking what they learned home to their
schools, Girl Scout councils and communities.
Who can apply?
Any registered Girl Scout who is:
- Currently certified in open water SCUBA diving from NAUI, PADI, YMCA, or equivalent (attach copy of certification with application),
- Comfortable diving in the open ocean,
- Committed to marine science, conservation, and exploration,
- Willing to design and implement a project to share her experience with her council and community after the event and,
- between 15-18 at the time of the event.
Note: SCUBA diving can be a significant risk to individuals
with asthma and diabetes. Applicants with these conditions should
consult their doctors as well as the guidelines set forth by the
Divers Alert Network (www.diversalertnetwork.org) before applying.
What are the costs?
There is NO event fee. Tuition, airfare, meals and lodging costs
are fully funded by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration’s
Office of Ocean Exploration. Any ancillary travel costs, such
as taxi fares, will be reimbursed to
the participant after the event. Each
participant is required to bring all necessary diving gear with her
to the event (excluding tanks and weight belts).
How can I receive the application?
Download the 2005 Aquarius
Project Application (pdf, 1.0 Mb).
What is the application deadline?
Applications must be received at GSUSA by May 2, 2005.
When are participants notified?
Participants are notified during the
week of June 7, 2005.
For more information
Please contact GSUSA’s Elliott Wildlife Values Project Consultant, Jodi
Stewart or
call 1-800-223-0624 Ext. 8076.
Information is also available on
the GSUSA's
STUDIO 2B destinations and Linking
Girls to the Land Web
sites.
|
|
|
