Florida Reef Experience
Spend your summer in the warm waters of Florida as you learn about the vital importance of conserving coral reefs from the experts at The Reef Institute.
You’ll join the research team in Palm Beach County as they work on several ongoing conservation projects, doing everything from in-water monitoring to diagnosing & treating Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.
Prepare for the future
- Data collection runs to monitor coral and fish conditions and perform coral tagging
- Time in the land-based nursery to learn about the latest innovations in coral conservation like gene banking
- Excursions to Peanut Island, a natural habitat that promotes the growth of several healthy coral colonies
By attending the Florida Reef Experience, you can earn up to 30 research hours, which can be included alongside an application to vet school.
2025 Program Dates & Tuition
- 7 Days
- July 27-August 2
- $3,599
What’s Included
Daily Breakfast & Lunch
Comfortable Accommodations
15:1 Teaching Vet-to-Student Ratio
Up to 30 research hours
Program Highlights
Data Collection
You’ll receive on-the-spot training in data collection as you perform in-water monitoring of stony and soft corals and fish populations. You’ll then analyze your data in the lab or right there on the research boat.
Peanut Island
Home to at least 20 different species of corals, the lagoon at Peanut Island is also home to eels, fish, turtles, sea horses, manatees, and even the occasional shark. You’ll spend several days here exploring, tagging coral, and identifying fish species.
Next-Gen Technology
The Reef Institute currently houses over 329 colonies of coral in their land-based nursery. You’ll go behind-the-scenes of this cutting-edge research facility to learn about the latest innovations in conservation technology.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
This barrier island habitat protects rare and endangered plant and animal species from the elements. You can look forward to exploring the beautiful beach and the thick mangrove forest on your hunt for diverse flora and fauna.
Your Adventure, Day by Day
Day 1
Arrival in Florida
Day 2
Introduction to Coral Restoration
Day 3
Coral Restoration Efforts
Day 4
Fish Behavior and Reef Ecosystems
Day 5
Ocean Identification
Day 6
Final Day at Peanut Island
Day 7
Departure
Image Gallery
What some of our students and their parents are saying…
This was the best, life changing experience. I loved the staff and other students. Overall, I learned many useful skills.”
This program allowed me to not only gain more career experience but social experience as well. I was able to learn so much while I was here while also having fun. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone interested.”
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For the safety of students, staff, and animals, not all animals may be touched or handled by participants. The teaching veterinarian and other professional staff members will advise students of the proper time, place, and method to handle animals when it is safe to do so.