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Education Programs
WIMARCS believes the key to creating a sustainable conservation and recovery program is to develop a sustainable education program.  Teaching our children respect, appreciation, and responsibility toward our marine resources is the top priority to long term sustainable conservation programs.

We feel that it is our responsibility and duty to implement effective education programs to involve the local community, particularly local children.  With this in mind, WIMARCS education priorities are to:

  • Develop USVI sea turtle biologist through an effective sea turtle biologist internship.
  • Develop an effective youth education program that would include classroom activities, field work, and awareness programs.
  • Develop an awareness, in local and national communities, of the importance of marine animal research and conservation.  Emphasis will be placed on specific projects.
  • Work closely with local agencies to develop education, awareness, and support programs for individual conservation projects.
Sea Turtle Biology Internship Program

This internship program allows the successful applicant to gain sea turtle research experience utilizing the sea turtle programs of St. Croix.  These internships give the student experience in the following areas:

  • Sea Turtle Monitoring Methods and Techniques
  • Sea Turtle Nest Management Methods and Techniques
  • Development and Implementation of Wildlife Research
  • Field Research Techniques utilizing hands-on experience

Leatherback Sea Turtle Research Internship

This internship occurs during the leatherback nesting season in St. Croix.  Field training will primarily be conducted at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge which has the largest leatherback nesting beach in the United States.  The student will work closely with professional researchers and field technicians to:

  • monitor leatherback sea turtle activity
  • collect morphological data
  • relocate nests as necessary
  • excavate nests after emergence to determine hatch success
  • assist in current research projects

This program begins on April 1st of each year and ends on August 1st.  Due to school schedules, these dates can be somewhat flexible in some situations.  If you are interested, please complete an Internship Application and send (mail, email, or fax) it to:

WIMARCS

Attn: Jeanne Garner

202 Prosperity

Frederiksted, VI. 00840

Email: jeanne.garner@wimarcs.org

Fax: 340-772-1382

 

Green and Hawksbill Sea Turtle Research Internship

This internship occurs during the peak nesting season of Greens in St. Croix.  Field training will primarily be conducted at East End Bay, Isaac Bay, and Jack Bay on the east end of St. Croix.  The student will work closely with professional researchers and field technicians to:

  • monitor leatherback sea turtle activity
  • collect morphological data
  • relocate nests as necessary
  • excavate nests after emergence to determine hatch success
  • assist in current research projects

This program begins on August 15th of each year and ends on November 15th.  If you are interested, please complete an Internship Application and send (mail, email, or fax) it to:

WIMARCS

Attn: Jeanne Garner

202 Prosperity

Frederiksted, VI. 00840

Email: jeanne.garner@wimarcs.org

Fax: 340-772-1382

 
 

Youth Education Programs

SPNWR Sea Turtle Education ProgramWe currently support and assist the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge Sea Turtle Education program.  This program is run in conjunction with the Saving The Leatherback Turtle research and conservation project during April through August.  It has provided thousands of kids the opportunity to learn and experience more about protecting our leatherback turtle.

The leatherback sea turtles of Sandy Point allow visitors a world they may never have seen before. This is especially true of our local, young people since St. Croix has no zoos or natural history museums. For many of these children, this is their first opportunity to interact with a wild animal.

WIMARCS is currently working with USFWS and VINE to bring sea turtle education to the classrooms as well.  This program can be run in conjunction with the field trip or as a standalone class.  For additional information, please call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 340-773-4554.
 

Public Awareness

At the request of local community groups, WIMARCS consistently holds sea turtle presentations and training sessions.  These sessions provide invaluable knowledge and information to help community groups protect our resources.  For more information or to set up a presentation email Steve at steve.garner@wimarcs.org

More advanced training and knowledge can be obtained through our Local Community Conservation Program (LCCP).

Want to know some interesting sea turtle facts?  Click here
 

Local Agencies

WIMARCS works with U.S. Fish and Wildlife as well the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources to develop and implement education programs throughout St. Croix.  WIMARCS is also a founding member of the Virgin Islands Network of Environmental Educators (VINE).  This organization is dedicated to supporting "sustainable use of natural and cultural resources in the U.S. Virgin Islands through environmental education".

VINE and WIMARCS are dedicated to developing "cooperative efforts through effective dialogue and  interaction between educators, natural resource professionals, and stakeholders that will lead to more effective learning from kindergarten through adulthood".
 
 
 

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West Indies Marine Animal Research and Conservation Service, Inc.

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