REEF's education team recently collaborated with college professors Amy Jean Horner Reber, Ph.D., from Georgia State University, and Austin D. Heil, Ph.D., from University of Georgia, along with the Undergraduate Student Experiences with Citizen Science (USE CitSci) network to develop two new teaching units designed for science and non-science majors’ college-level courses.
REEF's location in the Florida Keys comes with many perks, including the opportunity to scuba dive, snorkel, kayak, and see marine life up close during an Expedition! These programs range from two days to a full week and combine field activities with classroom sessions.
The brand-new REEF Ocean Exploration Center set to open the weekend of World Ocean Day, June 7-8. Based in Key Largo, the Center will be a hub for ocean discovery, environmental awareness, and hands-on learning. It will feature immersive exhibits and activities, plus a state-of-the-art classroom to support our education programs.
GROUPER MOON PROJECT: A LESSON IN NATURE'S SURPRISES
We are excited to welcome Chelsey Davis to the REEF team. Chesley is based at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, where she will be helping to lead REEF’s education team. Originally from Georgia, she received her BSA in agricultural communications from the University of Georgia. She worked with the 4-H Youth Program in Georgia and South Carolina for 17 years, where she developed, implemented, and evaluated educational programs and managed volunteers.
REEF is now accepting applications for the 2026 Educator in the Field Fellowship! Through the Fellowship, educators can gain hands-on marine conservation experience and tools to bring REEF programs into their classrooms and communities. One outstanding educator will join the REEFField Survey Trip to Bonaire on July 11–18, 2026. The Fellowship covers all trip inclusions plus up to $1,200 in travel reimbursement. During the Fellowship, the educator will gain experiential knowledge in fish identification, while learning about citizen science, data collection and survey methods.
Congratulations to the 2025 REEF Educatorin the Field Fellowship recipient, Stephen Kos, a science and STEM educator for New York City Public Schools. In June, Stephen joined the REEF Field Survey Trip to Roatan, Honduras, where he learned about fish ID and citizen science, and conducted fish surveys as part of the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. He is now a Level 2 Surveyor in the Tropical Western Atlantic survey region. Way to go, Stephen!
The Junior REEF Explorer program offers a fun and educational experience for kids visiting the new Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo, FL. As they step inside, children can grab their very own Explorer Guidebook and begin an exciting journey led by Sammie the Sea Turtle, REEF’s friendly explorer mascot. The eight-page booklet is filled with interactive activities that take children on a hands-on tour through the Center’s exhibits, encouraging discovery and engagement.
The Great Annual Fish Count for 2026 has come to an end! Thank you to everyone who participated, and to all of our amazing partners who hosted events in their own communities.
This year, we had a total of 1,042 surveys submitted by 222 people throughout the month of July. We also had 18 events organized by volunteers and partner organizations all over the world, from Bonaire to the Maldives, and many places in between! These events actively engaged hundreds of community members in marine conservation.
If your dream dive vacation includes colorful coral reefs, incredible marine life, and the opportunity to support ocean conservation, REEF's 2027 Field Survey Trips offer something for every underwater explorer. Each trip combines unforgettable diving with citizen science, giving participants the chance to collect valuable survey data while exploring some of the Tropical Western Atlantic's most spectacular destinations. Best of all, these trips are just a short journey from the U.S.