NOTE:  This survey will take approximately 15-20 mins to complete. It's possible that you may have completed our previous survey(s). Due to PSS schedule changes, this survey is new and separate from any of our others though some of the questions may be the same or similar to our previous survey. We request that you complete this new survey to update our records. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Friends of the Mariana Trench (FOMT) has created an ocean science program under a grant from the Administration of Native Americans (ANA) called Project HOPE - Healthy Ocean & People Empowerment. Our project approach is focused on the cross points of traditional cultural methods and STEM principles to promote ocean conservation stewardship with college students leading an exchange between ocean elders and 6th grade students. This project was inspired by the desire to facilitate improving CNMI’s 6th grader’s ACT Aspire test scores. Specifically, Project HOPE is designed to use experiential learning to increase understanding of experimental results, inferences, evaluation of models and analyzing data. Please visit our website to see more about Project HOPE at https://www.friendsmarianatrench.org/programs-projects/project-hope-2019-present/

As Project HOPE is funded by the ANA, there is no cost for student participation. Project HOPE is a program that focuses on the PSS 6th grade students. The main objective is to show an increase in their scientific aptitude by participating in structured ocean science club activities. We measure each student on their first and last day of our program to determine any changes.  

Our program consists of approximately 16 weeks of activities once a week on Mondays for 4 hours at the Guma Sakman in Susupe. Sessions include swimming lessons and sailing with 500 Sails and a stewardship. The last week is a 5-consecutive days "day-camp". In-campus activities will be on Mondays from 9:30am until 11:30am.

Registration begins November 15, 2021. Orientation will be on December 20, 2021. The Guma Sakman session will begin on January 10, 2022. The first in-campus session will be on January 10, 2022. These dates are subject to slight revision depending on total registration. A minimum of 15 students is needed to get started.

Our COVID-19 protocols are based on CDC, CHCC Public Health and PSS guidelines. The FOMT small group meetings and ocean camp are structured with appropriate social distancing protocols in place to protect everyone as much as possible. A copy of the Project HOPE COVID protocol is available upon request.

For questions, please email Project Coordinator Joe Villacruisis at jvillacrusis@friendsmarianatrench.org or send a message via WhatsApp at (670)483-3668.