ENVIRONMENTAL day-camp programmes for teenagers will be offered by Waterstart Ltd. and the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (BBSR) in the upcoming summer holidays.

Waterstart is a local non-profit company with charitable status formed four years ago which teaches water safety and skills as well as environmental awareness through educational field trips and activities island-wide.

Teaming up with the BBSR will allow Waterstart to strengthen its already popular camps using BBSR's facilities and expertise.

"This is an exciting development for Waterstart students," said JP Skinner, BBSR's education officer and the director of Waterstart.

"BBSR will give us access to unique resources and will provide the students with the opportunity to receive first-hand knowledge of our marine environment and how it affects our everyday lives."

Waterstart's programmes involve a balance of aquatic skill instruction, environmental investigation and team building.

The day camps are broken into fun practical skill lessons as well as classroom sessions. Activities in past camps have included lessons in diving, field trips to mangrove swamps and caves, kayaking excursions, coral reef research, plankton tows and snorkelling trips.

The ultimate goal of Waterstart is to teach skills that will prepare teens for safe recreation and possible future employment by thorough exploration and discovery.

Despite the new connection, Waterstart Ltd. will remain a separate charitable and corporate entity.

The programme is open to all children over the age of 12.

"Students only need to have a keen interest in exploring and learning about our environment, and be very good swimmers to take part," said Mr. Skinner.

Apart from the camps, this summer's programmes will feature alumni classes for former students who wish to pursue more challenging SCUBA diving instruction and earn advanced PADI certification.

Mr. Skinner founded Waterstart in 2000 while teaching at the Bermuda High School. His students became the inspiration behind his idea that a new, hands-on education programme was needed to get young people involved in Bermuda's marine environment.

"I knew that many local teenagers were interested in our environment, but didn't have the opportunities outside of the classroom to express their interest and get involved," said Mr. Skinner.

"The success of our first few years has proven that Bermuda's youngsters are enthusiastic about our natural environment, which bodes well for the future."

For more information and applications for Waterstart summer camps, visit BBSR online at www.bbsr.edu or call Mr. Skinner at 297-1880 (extension 241).