Over 100 Students Participate in Marine Industry Immersion Summer Camp
The Summer Camps provide the students with an introduction to the local recreational marine industry through field trips, guest speakers, and hands-on marine industry projects. MICF proudly works in conjunction with Children Services Council of Broward County, YMCA of South Florida, and Hispanic Unity of Florida (HUF) and Broward County Public Schools to offer the camps free of cost as a venue where students can meet, hear from, and ask questions of marine industry professionals while also undertaking fun projects, such as designing, building and racing propellers, and building and understanding underwater remote operational vehicles (ROV).
This year guest speakers Sean Smith of MIASF and SaltyJobs, Don MacRae of Frank and Jimmie’s Propellers & Simo Sbihi of Global Satellite USA visited the schools and spoke to the students about their careers in the Marine Industry, what their companies do and the wide variety of opportunities in the industry. Students toured Maritime Professional Training, Frank and Jimmie’s Propeller Shop, Bahia Mar Yachting Center & National Marine Suppliers in Fort Lauderdale for a first-hand look at marine industry businesses in operation.
Students had a blast seeing the facilities where crew and maritime professionals are trained and exploring the interactive virtual simulators that MPT use to train their students. They enjoyed a guided tour through the shop at Frank and Jimmie’s, exploring the many facets of the marine propeller business, before spending the day actually building and racing their own propellers. And, at Bahia Mar they were given a briefing on marina operations by Charles Walker and Megan Lagasse, along with an overview of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show set up, its economic impact, and examples of the types of opportunities in the marine industry. Students toured the Feadship office and saw videos of how their yachts are designed and built and also had a meet and greet oportunities with yacht crew onboard megayachts docked at Bahia Mar. Yacht Broker Shannon McCoy from Worth Avenue Yachts also took time to tell students about her job as a broker and answer all their questions about here experiences the marine industry.
Be sure to check out the photo gallery on MICF’s website and read feedback from the students. Thank you to all who support MICF events throughout the year, as the funds raised go back into producing these programs and others for children and families in our local community.