Current Volunteer Needs are: 

  

Volunteer Math Co-Teacher for 2011/2012

 

We are looking for a volunteer Math teacher for next school year.  Math is definitely a challenging subject for many students, and we need someone who has the ability to explain concepts using a variety of strategies (hands-on learning, analogies, repetition etc.).  We have created Math Workshop time blocks to allow for differentiated learning and extra instruction time.  A volunteer Math teacher would work alongside the staff Math teacher both in the classroom and in after-school tutoring sessions, and also take small groups aside for individual attention.  This is a non-renumerated position for a minimum of one semester and housing is the applicant's responsibility.  Perks include small class sizes (largest is 15), chaperone field trips and free participatation in aquatic PE (scuba, windsurf, kayak), environmental volunteerism (mangrove restoration project, composting),beautiful island setting, innovative staff and pedgagogical approaches. This is an ideal position for a new, energetic Math teacher looking for work experience to develop their teaching credentials and skill set.  All interested and qualified volunteers please contact us.

 

Volunteer Biology/Marine Biology Co-Teacher for 2011/2012

 

We are looking for a volunteer Biology co-teacher.  We are looking for someone who can work alongside our Science teacher to organize and equip biology labs, co-teach upper-level biology courses, and lead experiential local marine biology field trips.  Ocean Academy is a member of FAMRACC (Forest and Marine Reserves) and assists with the Mangrove Restoration Project, fish surveys and native plant surveys.  This is an ideal work experience for a new Biology teacher looking to expand their resume skills, a field researcher who has an interest in teaching hands-on tropical ecology, or a recent college graduate.  This is a non-renumerated part-time position and housing is the applicant's responsibility.  Perks include small class sizes (largest is 21), chaperone field trips and free participatation in aquatic PE (scuba, windsurf, kayak), environmental volunteerism (mangrove restoration project, composting),beautiful island setting, innovative staff and pedgagogical approaches. All interested and qualified volunteers please contact us.

 

Volunteer Painters Needed for School Beautification Project

We opened in 2008 and have been going full tilt ever since.  Past volunteers painted various walls and rooms, but now we'd like to really complete the job so our students are studying in an aesthetic enviroment that elevates the spirit as well as the mind. Unfortunately we don't have the supplies or funding to undertake these improvements.  We are looking for volunteers - families or groups - to help us buy the paint and building supplies.  Ocean Academy students will join volunteers in the beautification work parties.

  • All 3 upstairs  classrooms, halls and lockers need fresh coats of paint on all walls and pillars, as does the small downstairs classroom 
  • Buy tiles and hire a professional to tile the bare cement floors  for all 4 classrooms and the new library room downstairs
  • Buy materials and build a fence to create the feeling of a campus
  • Buy materials and build an outside, shaded eating area for students
  • Buy plants and soil, and landscape the campus with shade plants

 

Social Media Co-ordinator (Virtual Volunteer)

We need is someone who is savvy about how to build our social media presence when it comes to asking our supporters to vote online for us in competitions.  Ocean Academy has been a finalist in 3 competitions now, where the winner is determined by popularity votes, and each time we fall short in numbers. Someone with a big twitter following perhaps?

 

How to Create Fundraising Networks in your Community

 

Ocean Academy is a non-profit community school.  Our supporters and donors truly are the foundation of our current sustainability.  Here are just a few examples of how folks, like you, organized their friends and colleagues to make collective donations to Ocean Academy. 

 

Mackenzie Yaryura, Sarah Stevens,  Meg Rivera and Julia Nordhausen are grade 9 girls in Bradenton, Florida, USA.  They have been fundraising for Ocean Academy as a group project.  They presented their fundraising plans and won the state Future Problem-Solving Conference, and then won 4th place at an international conference.  Both Mackenzie and Meg have already travelled to Caye Caulker to donate cash and school supplies.  Read a front page newspaper article about these amazing youth volunteers in Florida.  Read their project report and fundraising ideas that they submitted for the competition.

 

Linda Bovard of Oregon, USA, decided to celebrate her 60th birthday by requesting a donation of 60 new books for the students of Ocean Academy, in lieu of gifts.  She got 94!  Linda's generous friends from Oregon, Washington, Connecticut and Virginia  chose the books off Ocean Academy's wishlist on amazon.com.

 

Tammy Barnett from Goliad, Texas, USA is a teacher who is selling Ocean Academy's "Shop Green" recycled shopping bags in her community as an Ocean Academy fundraiser.  Shop Green bags are made from recycled rice and flour sacks by a local woman in her sewing room in San Ignacio, Belize.   If you're interested in buying/selling bags, contact Joni.  Read more about Shop Green Belize here.

 

David and Kathy Holscott from Ohio return every year to spend a few months volunteering with Ocean Academy.  They have guest lectured computer, life skills and science classes (Kathy worked with NASA and David with vocational education).  They have helped with a school composting business, afterschool tutoring, beach cleanups, program development and raffle sales; and also tutored children at the primary school.  Their many friends in Ohio show their support of the Holscotts and Ocean Academy, with cash donations that the Holscotts bring down to Belize.

 


Group Volunteer Experiences

 

We really enjoy welcoming student and church groups to volunteer on Caye Caulker.  Our volunteer coordinator, Joni, can help you organize meaningful volunteer project work, have intercultural experiences with our students, book hotels and arrange tour bookings.   You can see photos of past groups with the photos link. You can see Joni's qualifications here.

 

This is a sample  one-week fully organized group tour.  Please note that we are in the process of reviewing our pricing/placement fees.  We are also expanding the variety of volunteer projects we offer to include environmental work such as the Mangrove Restoration Project. 

 

Here is a CBC article about Volun-tours, and questions to ask before you decide to participate.


If you are interested in more information, please email Joni.