Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2025 REEF Educator in the Field Fellowship. This is an exciting professional development opportunity for formal and informal educators to gain hands-on experience with ocean citizen science. The Fellowship will enable a qualified educator to participate in a REEF Field Survey Trip. They will join other citizen scientist volunteers to learn about marine life and conduct REEF fish surveys while scuba diving or snorkeling as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project.

The Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP) is REEF’s cornerstone citizen science program. Started in 1993, the VFSP engages SCUBA divers and snorkelers to collect and report information on marine fish populations, as well as sea turtles and select invertebrate and algae species (in temperate regions only.) One of the most effective and powerful ocean citizen science programs, it has generated the world’s largest database of marine fishes. The data are being used to better understand and protect ocean ecosystems worldwide.

The 2025 REEF Educator in the Field Fellowship recipient will join the REEF Field Survey Trip to Roatan at CoCo View Resort from June 28 to July 5, 2025. REEF will cover the total cost of the Field Survey Trip for all inclusions listed on the Trip webpage and will provide a travel reimbursement of up to $1,200 for meals and air transportation.  Click here for complete trip details.  The recipient may also earn continuing education credits from University of California at San Diego.

REEF Educator in the Field Fellowship applications are now open, and close January 1, 2025.