Exciting Activities for all Skill Levels:

1. Live on a man-made island that serves as a floating research station.

2. Snorkel coral reefs, rock walls, mangroves, and drift snorkel.

3. Trek pristine islands and beaches.

4. Participate as a active Eco Island Team Member with rotating duties and leadership roles in all aspect of the weekly programming, daily responsibilities, and research projects.

5. Ocean kayak to explore islands and reach remote snorkeling sites.

6. Photograph Caribbean fish and invertebrate species for personal and research station field catalogs.

7. Participate in field data collection for conservation organizations.

8. Earn 10 hours of community service on the 1-Week Adventure or 30 hours on the 2-Week Adventure.

9. Collect rare shells and other beach treasures.

10. Interact with friendly locals and participate in cultural activities.

Dive into a one-of-a-kind, life changing adventure no aquarium, text book, or zoo tour could ever provide!

Education, Environmental Awareness & Personal Growth:

1. Identification and natural history of local plants and animals.

2. Earn college credit from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (additional fees apply)

3. Introduction to marine biology and tropical island ecology.

4. Learn about Bahamian culture and history.

5. Learn about local environmental issues and work as part of a team to better island communities.

6. Introduction to oceanography.

7. Introduction to geology of the Bahamas.

8. Participate in scientific data collection for ongoing research projects about coral reefs and fish populations.

9. Develop your team leadership skills.

Eco Island in the Exumas

Wild Studies Eco Island is a pioneer project to teach participants about what it means to live on a remote island. Team work, participant centered learning, problem solving, community service, environmental issues investigation, research studies, and natural resource management are concepts experienced throughout the program. The overall mission of this adventure is for participants to learn through instructor led facilitation and personal discovery and investigation. Eco Island participants will see a connection with Eco Island and Earth as an island. As national boundaries become less defined, and natural resources become fewer in a growing population, Earth is going to feel like a smaller place. Enrollment in Eco Island will give participants the foundations necessary to thrive as active citizens in a changing world.

We have transformed a barge into a floating research facility and our goal is to be 99.9% sustainable and to blend into the pristine environment of cays and islands. Because many of the islands in The Exumas are reachable only by boat, the Exumas provide a perfect setting to explore these habitats with little evidence of human impact. In addition to studying some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Bahamas, here is the only place to find the famous swimming pigs of Staniel Cay and one the few places to see Bahamas rock iguanas.

The Exumas are an archipelago of 365 cays and islands, beginning just 35 miles southeast of Nassau and stretching over 100 miles. From the air, these cays look like jeweled stepping stones surrounded by a shimmering emerald sea giving this chain the distinction of being one of the prettiest in The Islands of The Bahamas. The bright white sand of the deserted beaches is a striking contrast to the aquamarine and jade hues of water. The topography doesn't vary much, as the islands are only 7½ miles across at the widest point, but the splendor of the pristine beaches, the crystal-blue waters and the lush tropical greenery attract people from around the globe.