Island Times Blog

Aloha again, everyone! My name is Angie (aka. “Dr. Chippy”), and I’m the Director of Marine Science and Intern Coordinator for SeaTrek. It’s hard to believe but in two short months SeaTrek’s hard-working staff will be back in our home away from home, the British Virgin Islands (BVIs), preparing for our first group of students for the 2014 season.

With this being my eighth year working for SeaTrek, I feel this family connection more than ever – not only with SeaTrek’s long-time staff, but with many of our returning students as well. In fact, as the coordinator of our internship program, ShIP, I’ll be spending much of my time this summer working with our 12 awesome interns, all of whom have been on at least two SeaTrek voyages as students. Watching them grow in their leadership and develop into SeaTrek’s future scuba instructors, captains, and biologists is a truly rewarding experience.

 As we work to prepare them for this new role and the responsibility of being a staff member, many of them have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity. For them too, SeaTrek has become like family and the waters of the BVIs like a second home. They are not only excited to further their own skill set and accomplish personal goals, but they look forward to “Paying it Forward.” Just as SeaTrek’s dedicated staff helped make their time as students a fun, learning-filled, and life-changing experience, they hope to do the same for the next generation of SeaTrekkers.

 But you don’t have to take my word for it… Here are some of our 2014 ShIP interns’ responses to the question, “Why do you want to be a SeaTrek intern?”

Caitlyn: My first summer with SeaTrek was a life changing, unforgettable experience that helped spark my immense love for marine science and scuba! I want to be a part of the team that enables students to have these amazing experiences as well as help grow their love and appreciation for the ocean!

Dakota: SeaTrek fostered my love of the ocean, both above and below the surface of the water. The BVI’s are a spectacular place, brimming with life. When I was a camper, interns helped me understand how amazing the BVI’s are. I want to share that with the next generation of campers.

Serenity: I want to be an Intern to be a part of SeaTrek in a much bigger way then being a student! For the past two years I have watched the interns and staff members and all I could think was… ” I wanna be them when I grow up.” And now I get a chance!

Emily: I want to be an intern because I want to have the same impact on students that previous interns have had on me. SeaTrek has played a vital role in my life by allowing me to explore my passion for marine science. The SeaTrek interns and staff members greatly aided me in this discovery through their enthusiasm and general desire to transfer their own knowledge. I hope to help students find the same excitement in learning.

Carson: SeaTrek to me is an opportunity to make a possible influential impact on the next generation of water lovers. It also is a second home and family to me and being a part of what I love and making experiences here is much more rewarding than anything tangible.

Madison: I want to be a SeaTrek intern because it gives me experience doing what I love that I couldn’t get anywhere else! I absolutely love SeaTrek and I hope to help the students learn and have fun, and strive to give them the incredible experience that I had at SeaTrek. Can’t wait!!

 And there you have it – our next generation of SeaTrek staff members “Paying It Forward.” You can find out more about our ShIP internship program here. Thank you all for taking the time to read my humble ramblings and for your continued support of SeaTrek BVI. We look forward to sailing and diving with you in 2014 and beyond!