Ocean Development

             Of Children

Through responsible interaction with the marine environment we will develop stewardship in children who are the primary stakeholders of  tomorrow. 

OceanDOC.com 

Many people are becoming disillusioned with our public school system. Under funding, violence, crime, drugs, unrealistic goals, outdated curriculum and dissatisfied teachers are just part of the problem our children pay the price for.  Many students drop out or attempt a GED while in reality they are simply hanging with friends with no real goals or ambition.  

We are the solution you have been looking for. Utilizing the latest technologies, Ocean DOC provides a stimulating environment where learning and responsibility are developed interacting with the marine environment.  

Our mission is to use ocean discoveries to heighten awareness of the full range of ocean issues and inspire the next generation of ocean scientists and explorers.  People are naturally drawn to the oceans by their beauty, power, and infinite possibilities.  Their inspirational power is demonstrated in centuries of literature, art, and music. Yet relatively few people understand the complex relationship between the oceans and the Earth's atmosphere, or grasp the magnitude of human impacts on the fragile World Ocean.

A recent governmental report states: "Oceans are critical, not just to our economy; not just to our food supply; not just to America's trade and security; but to the fabric of life itself. Those dark-blue waters are perhaps the single greatest natural treasure on God's Earth." White House 2000  

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, created by Congress in 2000 and appointed by President Bush (news - web sites), concluded that human actions have seriously jeopardized the health of the oceans, from huge and toxic algae blooms to depletion of fish stocks. Only a major overhaul of federal policy could reverse the trend, the commission found in its 413-page report.  "If our report is adopted, the payoff will be great," said retired Adm. James Watkins, committee chairman. "It's now obvious that ocean resources are not limitless, nor are ocean waters capable of continual self-cleansing. The point is this: It's up to us to find ways to use and enjoy the oceans in a sustainable way."

Continuing intensification of human activity near the coasts presents complex issues about marine and coastal ecosystems and societal choices. Comprehensive ocean awareness is critical to effective citizen participation in decision-making processes. Citizens have increasing needs for informal education and lifetime learning, as well as basic scientific literacy, to be capable of making sound choices. It is recommended children in particular need to be engaged in ocean and coastal marine science. Young students have been motivated by hands-on experiences, such as the National Ocean Sciences Bowl® , aquarium programs, GLOBE, Sea Partners, and Sea Camps. The ocean science community has the opportunity to make the oceans a major context in which to study the interactions of science, technology, and society.

Our mission is to be part of the solution.  We create an ocean education environment where awareness of the complex and fragile marine world is emphasized.  Utilizing experiential marine studies, critical thinking and informed decision making skills are developed.  Each students is exposed to demanding academics tied into education, water safety skills, aquatic interaction, and meeting new friends. 

During the School Year.

During the school year we act as ambassadors of the World Ocean. We provide free Multi-Media presentations to public, private and home schools. Presentations include introduction to the marine environment, live interviews with ocean scientists, oceans in peril and what you can do, ocean related careers, introduction to our OceanDOC summer camps including scholarship information, and handouts. Accompanying teacher lesson plans are available.

Homeschool students can participate in experiential learning in actual marine environments. These hands-on field trips provide experimentation and gathering of real-world samples. Certification may be earned in SCUBA, CPR, 1st Aid and O2 Administration.

During Summer we offer Sea Camp.

It doesn't matter whether you are just beginning or have some experience under your belt, you will have a great time at our camps.

Summer camps are open for 12 to 17 year-olds.               

What do I need? Bring a towel, something to drink, a comfortable bathing suit and plenty of sunscreen. We have made arrangements to have plenty of sunscreen on hand in case you forget.  In addition, bring your personal dive gear and any personal floatation device (PFD) you may want to use.  We provide these but some campers prefer their own.  At Ocean DOC Sea Camp we take the health and safety of all our campers into consideration and will always make sure that everyone is protected. 

If there is inclement weather at any time, we have nearby facilities prepared away from the water so that we can avoid exposure to Florida's afternoon thunderstorms.  

    All instructors are certified lifeguards and/or divemasters.

Our sea camps have been filling up several weeks in advance. If you plan on taking lessons or enrolling in camp, please contact us soon in order to ensure we have enough space for you. Why? The feedback we have been getting from our past campers and our current students has been outstanding. If you happen to meet one of our students ask them about the quality of our instruction and you will see that we are your best choice for aquatic adventure in Florida!

Your safety comes first:           

At Ocean DOC Sea Camp, your safety is our first priority. If there is inclement weather at any time, we have nearby facilities prepared off the water so that we can avoid exposure to Florida's afternoon thunderstorms. Don't worry, there is still plenty we have planned. We have discussions about water safety, environmental etiquette, weather, other training and career options. We also get further in depth with out coastal marine awareness discussions as you learn how to care for and conserve the beaches fragile ecology.

Camp runs May - Sept. from 9 am to 4 pm.

This is a Day Camp only.

Pricing for the camp is $250 per week (Corporate sponsored scholarships available).  This includes rentals, admissions and transportation.

All staff are certified lifeguards and/or divemasters.

Monday: Intro to Water Safety, Snorkeling and Kayaking
9:00 am Water Safety lesson/Marine Life awareness/basic beginner techniques. Water Safety and Water etiquette (do's and don'ts) Snorkeling with instructor.
11:30-12:30 lunch.
12:30 - 2:30 Intro to Kayaking

2:30 - 3:30 Reading/understanding Weather maps/ Hurricane Tracking Charts and Internet Surf Forecasting.
3:30-4:00 equipment return & clean up.

Tuesday: Kayaking Beach Day
9:00 review water safety. Kayaking with instructor.
11:30-12:30 lunch.
12:30 Kayak repair and care.
1:00 - 3:30 Environmental experience.
3:30 - 4:00 equip. return and clean up.

Wednesday: Snorkeling Day Trip
9:00 Snorkeling with instructors.
11:30-12:30 lunch.
12:30 1:00 Intro to Scuba
1:00 Environmental  interaction.
3:30 - 4:00 equip. return and clean up.

Thursday: DPV & ROV Day
9:00 Remote Operated Vehicles assembly and in water flight.
11:30-12:30 lunch 
12:30 activities resume with Diver Propulsion Vehicles and in water use.
3:30 - 4:00 equip. return and clean up.

Friday: Ocean Education Field Trip

7:00 -  8:00 Depart for destination.

11:30 -12:30  lunch

12:30 activities resume

2:30 pack up and return

4:00 - 5:00 certification awards and parent pick-up

What to bring to camp: All students MUST bring :
1. Shoes (flip flops)
2. Sunscreen (We recommend  Sport SPF 50)
3. Towel.
4. Lunch or money to buy lunch. ($5.00)
Ocean DOC does supply cold water everyday to all students but we also recommend that students bring a snack and a drink for breaks.

Dudes and Dudettes, DON'T EVEN THINK OF USING DRUGS, ALCOHOL OR EXHIBITING UNMANAGEABLE BEHAVIOR, OR YOU WILL BE EXPELLED AND NO REFUND WILL BE GIVEN!!

Please Sign Our Guest Book for free updates and discounts  

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Management Team

Executive Director

Capt. Don Draper

20 + years as certified scuba instructor

30 + years diving experience

25 + years commercial diver

20 Years Licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain

Florida Teacher Certification in Science and Educational Leadership

Master Degree in Educational Administration

PhD Candidate in Ocean Policy

CFO/Secretary

Kori Reneke

20 + years experience in educational & judicial administration

Florida Teacher Certification in K 12 Guidance

Masters Degree in Counseling

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Resources and Rational

"We need to do something, and we need to do something fast, or we are going to spend many times more to clean up existing messes," Davis said, but "a report like this can't mandate political will. At the end of the day, that's what we need more than anything else."

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, created by Congress in 2000 and appointed by President Bush (news - web sites), concluded that human actions have seriously jeopardized the health of the oceans, from huge and toxic algae blooms to depletion of fish stocks. Only a major overhaul of federal policy could reverse the trend, the commission found in its 413-page report.

Citing increasing pressures from pollution, overfishing and residential development, a federal commission on Tuesday called for sweeping changes in how the U.S. manages the oceans, including allocating billions of dollars in gas and oil royalties for ocean preservation.

"If our report is adopted, the payoff will be great," said retired Adm. James Watkins, committee chairman. "It's now obvious that ocean resources are not limitless, nor are ocean waters capable of continual self-cleansing. The point is this: It's up to us to find ways to use and enjoy the oceans in a sustainable way."

To attack the problems, the commission said the federal government must work to streamline ocean management, which is spread among "a confusing array of agencies at the federal, state and local levels."

"We need to do something, and we need to do something fast, or we are going to spend many times more to clean up existing messes," Davis said, but "a report like this can't mandate political will. At the end of the day, that's what we need more than anything else."

• mandatory curricula and are highly variable in quality.
• Teacher education is critical, yet opportunities for it are limited.
• Federal agencies often have very specific educational responsibilities, such as boater education, safe handling of seafood, conservation, and pollution prevention. Many of these can benefit from and contribute to basic ocean educational materials and programs.

Recommendations

• Establish a nationally coordinated effort to improve and promote ocean science education.
• Make ocean science education materials widely available to educators and the general public.
• Develop partnerships and networks with education groups, such as the National Marine Educators Association, the National Science Teachers Association, and the American Zoo and Aquaria Association, to facilitate interaction between the ocean community and educators.
• Develop model programs, such as the Model Congress program, that bring students together to debate and create solutions to current ocean science and policy problems.
• Expand efforts to create discovery-driven, interactive Web sites for all federal ocean programs to engage children and adults in a lifetime of ocean discovery.
• Expand partnerships between the federal government and private entities, such as the National Geographic Society, to leverage resources and increase ocean and coastal educational opportunities for the public.

For more information

http://www.marine-ed.org/
http://www.vims.edu/bridge/
http://www.globe.gov
http://core.cast.msstate.edu/
http://www.aza.org/

Send mail to webmaster@extremewet.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: February 8th, 2008