Terra created a unique and exclusive partnership with the Gerace Research Center (GRC) in San Salvador, Bahamas, to offer marine biology research opportunities to high school teachers and students.

The GRC is a center for marine biology, geology, and archaeology studies located on the island of San Salvador, approximately an hour-and-a-half flight from Miami. Typically, the center caters to undergraduate and graduate programs and research, but in cooperation with Terra, it will now actively work with high school groups to offer a unique research experience.

This is a two-step program for US Schools: Initially, the teachers are trained by completing the actual program themselves. Later, Terra will help teachers who complete the training set up research trips to the Bahamas for their own students. Teachers trained by Terra may bring students from their schools every year. Terra may provide additional guides to teacher-led student trips if requested. All trips entail extensive snorkeling in Bahamian reefs as well as other scientific and cultural activities. Terra will schedule the program with GRC and book the flights from the US to the GRC site.

This is a one-step program for International Schools: For international schools, Terra will help teachers to be trained when they travel with their students for the first time and help them run the program. Terra staff will not in charge of students. All trips entail extensive snorkeling in Bahamian reefs as well as other scientific and cultural activities. The cost of teacher training will be additional, and details are given under the student trip section.

Teachers’ Bahamas Trip Training Program

Bahamas research trips involve two steps: the teachers themselves complete the actual program so that they are prepared for step two: leading students through the program.

The teacher training program will involve a one-week in-service workshop at the field station. During your training, you can expect the following:

  • A guide to booking and setting up the trip with Terra
  • Training and materials to recruit students
  • Guidance and materials to teach an academic program
  • Twice daily snorkeling trips to select sites on the island
  • Cultural experiences
Participating teachers will leave this experience fully equipped and certified to set up and run a student trip confidently and professionally.

TRAINER
George Wolfe, who has taken yearly trips to San Salvador since 1975 with as many as 62 students, will conduct the training. George will walk you through every step of the process, from booking to dive site selection. Days will be spent in the field, and evenings will be spent in the classroom, mirroring the trip as it will be run for students.

COST
Terra is able to offer this experience for the cost of the program: $1,600 per USA-based teacher. The meals at the hotel (if there is a layover), and taxis between the airport and hotel (Nassau or Miami) are NOT covered by Terra, nor is the fee. The program fee will cover:
  • Round Trip airfare to San Salvador, Bahamas. (From one of the major US airports, such as JFK, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Dulles, or Philadelphia. Additional fee may apply if flying from another airport within the US. Terra may not cover the cost of rebooking flights if flight cancellations occur.
  • Room and Board while on the San Salvador Island (it will be shared rooms)
  • GRC-sponsored limited accident and sickness insurance (with a $25 copay)
  • Terra-sponsored liability insurance
  • Suggested materials to use in recruitment, pre-trip orientation for families and students
  • Academic materials to use while on the island
  • Certificate of Completion for in-service credit and possible reimbursement from the school district. (Terra will accept payment from school districts, including PO).
A nonrefundable deposit of $150 (included in the $1,600 teacher fee) is required to secure your spot during the application. You may pay with checks or a credit card. The checks, payable to Terra Science and Education, should be sent to 835 West Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13204. Please ask for a payment link for credit card payments.

SCHEDULE
Trips are scheduled when and if we have seven or more teachers registered for the trip. Teacher trips are typically scheduled during winter, spring, or summer breaks. We usually schedule an early July trip during summer breaks. We can schedule a private teacher training program if a group of seven or more teachers apply together.

APPLICATION
If you are interested in and would like to apply for the program, please send an email to [email protected] with the following information:
Full Name:
Address:
Country:
Cell Phone (international participants should have WhatsApp for communication):
Email:
School Name:
Subjects taught:
Closest Airport:
What do you hope to achieve with this training program?
Did you talk to your school leader about possible future student trips after this training?

For more information, please email Rick Beal at [email protected].

Terra Science and Education is proud to be the official trip coordinator for high school student trips to GRC in the Bahamas. Terra will reduce the teacher workload by handling much of the logistics, and communicating with GRC on your behalf.

The base fee per student is $1,650 plus the cost of travel per student. The cost of travel will depend on the departure city/country, the time of purchase, etc. A minimum of 8 students must attend the trip to receive this pricing. One trained chaperone will be free with parties of 8 students (additional free chaperones for every additional group of 8 students).

A nonrefundable deposit of 10% of the student fee per student is required at the time of application before Terra books the flights. The deposit is included in the per-student fee. The rest of the student fees are due at least 30 days before the trip. Student fees can be paid directly to Terra by the parents via credit card or checks.

The Student Trip to the GRC includes:

  • Room and board at GRC "San Salvador, Bahamas", 4-5 students in a shared room
  • GRC technology fee
  • Educational materials fee
  • GRC-sponsored limited accident and sickness insurance (with $25 copay)
  • GRC Vehicle fees
  • Terra-sponsored liability insurance
  • Terra travel management (Flights, lodging, GRC paperwork). Note that travel costs will be an additional cost to the base fee and will be determined at the time of purchase. Terra will NOT be responsible for missed or canceled flights; however, it will help rearrange travel.

Additional Options and Their Cost
  • Hotel stay in Nassau or Miami (if layover is needed) – ~$140 per participant per day. Layover, hotel, meals and taxis are not covered in the base pricing.
  • Air conditioners – $15 per night per room
  • Content expert-Terra Staff (if available) – $3,500
  • Living Jewels Dive Tags – $15 per person (Donation to Living Jewels Educational Program)
  • Additional adults as chaperones or parents – $1800 + travel costs
  • A trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, can be arranged at the end or before the Bahamas trip for an additional cost (A minimum of 2 days at Universal Studios is highly advised). Please request a quote for this.
  • FOR INTERNATIONALS: Terra will provide an invitation letter with an itinerary for visa applications if needed. If you are flying in and out of the Bahamas, check to see if your country requires a visa. If you plan to fly through or visit the US, make sure to check the US visa requirements for your country (transfer and visits).
  • FOR INTERNATIONALS: If the teacher leading the group has never been trained, the content expert is required to train the teacher during their student trip. The content expert fee will be added to the cost of the trip and base fee. However, they are not required to have content experts for future trips as long as the same teacher leads the group and does not ask for it.

Terra Science and Education is proud to act as the official trip coordinator for international high school student trips to GRC in the Sal Salvador, Bahamas. Terra will reduce the teacher workload by handling much of the logistics, and communicating with GRC on your behalf.

The student trip cost is $3,000-3,500 per student for a 6 days trip in GRC. A minimum of 10 students must attend the trip to receive this pricing. One trained chaperone will be free with parties of 10 students (additional free chaperones for every additional group of 10 students).

A non-refundable deposit, 10% of the student fee per student, is required at the time of application, as a deposit before the flights are booked by Terra. The deposit is included in the per student fee. The rest of student fees are due at least 30 days before the trip. Fees can be paid directly to Terra via credit cards by the parents.

The International Trip to the GRC includes:

  • Round trip airfare to San Salvador, Bahamas from Nassau, Bahamas. The international flight to Nassau, Bahamas is NOT included. It is possible to arrange the trip from Miami Florida to San Salvador Island, however please check for this option, since the flights from Miami may not be available all year around.
  • Room and board at GRC "San Salvador, Bahamas", in a 4-5 beds shared room.
  • GRC technology fee
  • Educational materials fee
  • GRC-sponsored limited accident and sickness insurance (with $25 copay)
  • Terra sponsored liability insurance
  • Terra travel management (Flights, lodging, GRC paperwork)
  • Vehicle fees

Additional Options and Their Cost
  • Hotel stay in Nassau or Miami (if layover is needed) depending on your international flight – ~$125 per participant per day. Meals and taxis are not covered.
  • Air conditioners – $10 per night per room
  • Living Jewels Dive Tags – $15 per person (Donation to Living Jewels Educational Program)
  • Additional adult as chaperones or parents – $2,500
  • Additional Universal Studios in Orlando Florida can be arranged for an additional cost (Minimum of 2 days at Universal Studios is highly advised)
  • Terra will provide an invitation letter with an itenary for visa applications, if needed.
  • Group has to arrange and purchase their international flight to Nassau, Bahamas and get Bahamas Visa if needed. If planning to stay in US, the group must also get a US visa.