Environmental
Discussions
Taking
in Local Sites
International
Weekend
A Visit to
Orlando
Newfound Harbor Marine Institute 1300 Big Pine Key, Fl 33043
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OTHER PROGRAMS
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM - TEACHERS WORKSHOP
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
Seacamp Association, Inc. is an international
institution, hosting students from many countries of the world.
Since 1986, youth and adult students from over 40 countries have
participated in Seacamp or NHMI programs at our site, coming from
Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Great
Britain, Greece, Guadeloupe, Italy, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, the Philippines, Puerto Rico,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela and many
other countries.
For its international student
groups NHMI offers programs from 5 to 20 days. If a group is
interested in a longer program, we will, upon request, connect it
with one of the American groups that is doing a program at NHMI
during the same time. It is a great experience for international
campers to make friends with their American peers through joint
participation in marine studies.
Program Design
From the many program options, group coordinators may tailor
their schedule to the needs
and interests of the group - or, they may request additional
programs. For example, at the request of the Moscow Environmental
College, NHMI prepared a 15-day program on Tropical Ecosystems. A
group from The International School of Lagos, Nigeria, came to NHMI
for 7 days and concentrated on studying both coral reefs and
history of the Florida Keys. The Institute for Foreign Studies
(Philippines) focused their studies on sharks and animal behavior.
To supplement the science program options, special tours can be
arranged to visit such facilities as the Dolphin Research Center,
the Key West Aquarium, and Theater of the Sea.
NHMI has hosted several groups of international scientists,
educators, and camp administrators, sharing with them our
knowledge and methods of both teaching marine science and
operating an environmental education field center. Program options
for professionals and pre-professionals may include:
-
experiential teaching methods;
administration of field studies centers;
administration of camp programs and facilities;
Cultural Aspects
An integral part of NHMI international
programs is its cultural ingredient. The students have a chance to
visit several museums including the Natural History Museum of the
Florida Keys, Ernest Hemingway's home, the John James Audubon
house, and the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum of sunken treasures from
17th century Spanish galleons. A visit to the southernmost city in
the United States - Key West - is always a popular tour.
International students also enjoy visits to local schools or
colleges. Dinner with an American family is a great treat and a
memorable experience for them, as well.
Different languages are not a problem for understanding or
communicating at Seacamp. The classes are so visual, tangible, and
hands-on that the students do not have any difficulty in
understanding marine life and its concepts. International students
leave NHMI improving their command of the English language and
enlarging their vocabulary.
At the request of our
international groups, NHMI offers a Disney World option. Disney
World is located in Orlando, an 8 hour drive from our Institute. A
four day excursion to Disney World includes 3 nights'
accommodations, round-trip transportation to Orlando, 2-day
admission tickets into Disney theme parks, meals, transportation
and NHMI staff as escorts. The length of the stay in Disney World
may be extended if desired.
When to Come
NHMI encourages its international participants to come in December,
January, and February. The climate in the Florida Keys is
subtropical. The water temperature is much warmer than anywhere
else because the Gulfstream flows close to the islands. Air
temperature during these months varies from 60°F (17°C) to 77°F
(26°C); water temperature varies from 68°F (19°C) to 73°F (25°C). When
considering stays during any other months of the year, you should
be ready to book your space a year in advance. As a rule, NHMI
programs are booked 6-12 months before the group arrival date.
NHMI personnel will be glad to work with our international
participants arranging the time of the visit and developing their
own individual programs.