The 2004 Aquarius Project Team completes a day of SCUBA diving in the waters of the Florida Keys.

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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 Aquarius Project 2005 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.

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