| Imagine spending a portion of your summer on a | | | | kids come home safe. We travel all across the US to |
| yacht sailing the crystalline waters of the British Virgin | | | | meet parents in person prior to each trip. We hire |
| Islands - learning tropical sailing, scuba diving, and | | | | the best sailing, diving, and biology instructors |
| marine biology - from some very experienced, | | | | available. Every student receives personal instruction |
| knowledgeable and friendly folks. | | | | through every aspect of the voyage from raising the |
| This is a different kind of summer camp - a moving, | | | | sails to tying up your hammock at night," said Monk. |
| "live-aboard" camp - called SeaTrek. Here, high school | | | | No experience is necessary, in fact, most Trekers |
| and college aged students live and play onboard one | | | | have never sailed or scuba dived before. To be |
| of several 45-foot catamaran sailing yachts equipped | | | | eligible, students must be at least 13 years of age |
| with the latest safety equipment and onboard | | | | and want to learn. "We offer programs for those |
| technology for 21 days. | | | | who have never set foot in the ocean all they way |
| Under the watchful eyes of a professional staff, | | | | up to programs for those who have logged hundreds |
| SeaTrekers take full control of their live-aboard | | | | of dives or days under sail." Programs range from |
| yachts while learning seamanship, sailing, scuba diving | | | | introductory scuba, sailing and marine biology for |
| and marine science. This hands-on instructional | | | | those with no prior experience, to highly advanced |
| approach continues throughout the voyage ensuring | | | | training for the most experienced "Trekers." |
| a thorough understanding of safe yacht operation, | | | | Alex Cohen, age 18, has been sailing with Monk going |
| proper scuba diving procedures, and basic marine | | | | on four years. "I've learned more in those summers |
| science. | | | | than I've learned anywhere. I cannot think of a |
| Captains Monk and Kat, owners of SeaTrek | | | | better way to spend my summers - it's a great life |
| Adventures, bring a wealth of knowledge of the sea, | | | | experience." Now an employee of SeaTrek, Alex |
| scuba diving and youth education to the students | | | | says the leadership skills he has developed through |
| they work with each summer. | | | | his experience sailing with Monk have prepared him |
| Captain Monk has 10 years experience on live-aboard | | | | well for his professional goals, which include a career |
| dive vessels, having worked in the Bahamas, the US | | | | in medicine. |
| and British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, | | | | While learning to scuba dive, students are also led by |
| Honduras, Mexico, Florida, Australia, Costa Rica and | | | | the onboard naturalist and marine biologist on a |
| Hawaii. He has developed and directed several school | | | | variety of learning experiences. "We have a full time |
| age diving programs in conjunction with Texas | | | | biologist that works to introduce kids to biology. We |
| A&M University and San Jacinto College. Monk | | | | offer a unique program where students can obtain |
| worked extensively with Texas A&M's Biology | | | | school credit for completing a project while on the |
| Department and The Flower Gardens National Marine | | | | expedition," said Monk, of the program that offers an |
| Sanctuary as a research diver and dive supervisor. | | | | impressive 2:1 student teacher ratio. |
| Captain Kat currently teaches Environmental Science | | | | The culmination of the journey is when all students |
| at the University of Michigan. She is an expert on | | | | actively participate in operating the yacht themselves. |
| island formation and geology, a photographer and a | | | | "One of the biggest goals of each journey is that the |
| bit of a historian. She is an avid sailor, having led three | | | | students will be able to operate the 45-foot |
| previous adventure voyages, as well as having three | | | | catamaran for 6 hours by themselves - this is the |
| years experience with world class live-aboard dive | | | | ultimate level of excitement and learning." |
| vessels. Kat has ten years experience diving the | | | | To add to this exciting adventure, each SeaTrek |
| Great Lakes, Mexico, the British Virgin Islands and | | | | vessel comes fully equipped with a kayak, |
| Hawaii. | | | | windsurfer, kneeboard, wakeboard, water skis, and |
| Monk and Kat Both hold United States Coast Guard | | | | speedboat in tow. Although their programs are |
| 100ton Masters Licenses and are both Instructor | | | | centered on water-based activities, each Trek also |
| Trainers for the National Association of Underwater | | | | includes ample adventures ashore. SeaTrekers hike |
| Instructors, CPR/1st Aid Instructors, and Divers Alert | | | | through old-growth rainforests, explore rocky |
| Network (DAN) Oxygen First Aid Instructors. | | | | inter-tidal areas, learn island culture from the locals, |
| ""Our biggest thing is safety - making sure that the | | | | play beach volleyball, and even dance into the night. |