High School Marine Studies Courses

The Prescott College Kino Bay Center designs individualized marine studies courses for high school groups. These courses are run for small groups of ambitious high school students motivated to learn about the marine environment. Tailored to compliment each individual school's curriculum, the Marine Studies courses foster self-direction and personal growth through experiential learning and exploration of the Gulf of California coast. Courses range in duration from 4-8 days and focus on the different coastal habitats of the region. These include mangrove estuaries, rocky shores, islands, rocky reefs and mudflats. Curriculum is designed to address topics including sea floor topography, ocean zonation, marine mammals, shorebirds, wind, waves and tides, taxonomy, island ecology, invertebrate phyla, deep-sea biology, fishes and more. Students participate in a variety of experiential field activities, discussions, library research projects and presentations. Through this program students gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of marine and coastal environments.

The High School Marine Studies Courses are based at the Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies, Prescott College's field station in Sonora, Mexico. The Kino Bay Center is located on the edge of the Central Gulf Coast Subdivision of the Sonoran Desert, and on the shores of the Midriff Island region of the Gulf of California. The surrounding desert, marine, and island ecosystems are incredibly rich, diverse, unique, and ecologically important. The cultural landscape has a long and troubled history that is inextricably interwoven with the natural endowments of the region. Our field station is an ideal base to provide students with the work space, computers, and library facilities a school group would desire while researching the marine environment. Living and working 100 yards from the shoreline ignites personal creativity, motivation, and learning.

Please go to Visitors | Kino Bay Center, Mexico | College Highlights | Prescott College for further information on fees and reservations,  Cost varies depending on program duration and content. For more information please contact Lorayne Meltzer (lmeltzer@prescott.edu).