Courtesy of Julene Chapman-Dorsett
The University of the Virgin Islands’ Center for Marine and Environmental Science is abuzz with youthful energy each summer thanks to the Youth Ocean Explorers (YOE) Program. Hosted by the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS), YOE is a popular summer camp initiative that introduces middle and high school students to the marine and environmental sciences through immersive, hands-on learning. Directed by Howard Forbes Jr., YOE has served students on St. Thomas and now St. Croix since 2015, offering nearly no-cost access to high-quality science education and career exposure. The program has become an important entry point for Virgin Islands youth interested in marine science and often serves as a pathway to UVI’s undergraduate and graduate programs.
YOE focuses on introducing students to the diversity of marine and terrestrial ecosystems and traditionally dedicated just one day to restoration ecology training. Recognizing that the students were left wanting more, Dr. Marilyn Brandt, a Research Professor at UVI and Director of Reef Response, UVI’s coral restoration program, and Dr. Kristin Wilson Grimes, a Research Associate Professor at UVI and Director of GRROE USVI Mangroves, UVI’s mangrove restoration and education program, teamed up to provide a solution.
With support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Transformational Habitat Program and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Strong Coasts project, Drs. Brandt and Grimes developed a new week-long training module focused on coral and mangrove restoration for a select group of students. Six YOE participants from St. Thomas were invited to continue their summer learning through this additional, intensive experience.
During the training, students worked alongside UVI faculty, research staff, and undergraduate and graduate students, to gain in-depth experience in restoration science—including field methods, nursery techniques, and outplanting strategies. The module not only helped participants build technical skills and scientific knowledge, but also fostered stewardship, near-peer mentorship, and meaningful connections with UVI’s restoration science community.
The training concluded with a field day at Hull Bay, where students participated in both coral and mangrove outplanting activities, followed by a graduation ceremony hosted at The Shack at The Hideaway at Hull Bay. The event served as a meaningful capstone to a summer of learning and exploration.
This summer’s expanded programming reflects UVI’s continued commitment to building accessible pathways into science for local youth—rooted in the unique environmental challenges and opportunities of the Virgin Islands.
