This field-oriented program challenges young men to explore ecological and biological principles through an interactive approach to learning. Field and laboratory research, self-guided experiments, and educational simulations instruct students about the interaction among physical, chemcial, and biological components of the environment as well as the impact that human activities can have on it. Science is integrated with cultural and social studies to offer a well-rounded view of an island ecosystem. A dynamic community of scientists is built through team projects, instructional and recreational activities, and mentoring programs. Students interact with graduate and faculty scholars who are studying various aspects of science and explore diverse careers in environmental, biological, and physical sciences.

The University of Southern California offers this program in conjunction with the Wrigley Institute and The Sea Grant Program. The Summer Science program is designed to demonstrate, through a study of marine biology and oceanography, the effect that humans have on delicate ecosystems. The program is taught by scientists from the Wrigley Institute and the Sea Grant Program.

 

Exceptional Facilities

Located on Catalina Island, approximately 20 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, the USC Philip K. Wrigley Marine Science Center is the heart of the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies. Generous gifts from the Wrigley family have transformed the center into a stat-of-the-art laboratory and teaching facility. Catalina's proximity to an urban center and the island's protected status provide an excellent site for marine and terrestrial investigations. The USC Sea Grant Program, an integral part of the USC Wrigley Institute, provides public information about issues related to the marine environment. The curriculum for this camp was developed by Sea Grant as a part of the Island Explorers Program.