Our educational programs offer immersive educational experiences for students of all ages to learn about tropical marine and terrestrial sciences, sustainable living and design, aquaponics, and resource management.
The Short Courses team offers middle school and high school students the ability to step outside of their comfort zones and become immersed in our diverse island community. During their program, students are encouraged to give up their cellphones in order to remove unnecessary distractions and promote mindfulness of their surroundings and experiences.
Students participate in morning exercise and leap, both physically and mentally, into new areas of personal development. While here, students engage as intentional members of our community by participating in dish crew, adopting daily sustainable-living practices, volunteering with our local community, and much more.
Our programs range from one to two weeks in length and focus on sustainable energy, ongoing environmental research, marine ecology, local outreach, and various aspects of personal development. The students and chaperones are accommodated in our seaside dorm facilities that can house up to 40 individuals total.
Our team also offers programs focused on camping, expeditions, and scuba diving for both certified and uncertified groups.
Reviews (5)
Sense of Place
Reviewed
on Dec/03/2015 by Phoebe
It is the wilderness of South Eleuthera that sets the tone of this place. The ability to pick a guava off a tree in passing or the opportunity to see more fish in an hour than one could see spending a whole day at an aquarium. However, this abundance of life is a privilege. It is evident in the contrast of abandoned houses and resorts, and the Casuarina trees collapsed on their sides, roots sprawling, that this is a place only for those with the strength to bow to the tides of the Earth.
I have experience with the wilderness, but wilderness, I thought was only existent in the deep woods in Maine or in the snow covered mountains of Vermont. It never crossed me that I would find that unmistakable feeling of Earth's omnipotence in the tropics, where the warmth of the ocean only seemed too comfortable to be natural. Even though the perpetual chill in the pit of my stomach is absent; I am still in the wilderness. Instead, of nippy breezes, here Earth asserts her mastery over us by wringing our bodies' dry of fresh water. However, it is this slight discomfort that puts us in our natural place.
To grow as a person, a society, a world, one cannot be comfortable. Comfort inhibits growth because it blinds one to the need for reform, for progression. Here, on Eleuthera we have taken away the perceived comforts of long showers and napkins. However, I no longer perceive these as discomforts because they have taught me to value our ever-shrinking supply of freshwater and to sacrifice clean hands in order to insure oxygen for future generations and myself. That being said, being too uncomfortable also prevents growth. Like many natives of South Eleuthera, they do not have the means to fish and harvest sustainably. If a fisherman can catch a juvenile conch illegally, then he has dinner for his family. If he instead decides to be sustainable and not harvest that conch, then there is potential for more food in the future. However, his family would starve that day.
It is a fragile balance between living in the present and planning for the future that everyone, no matter their socio-economic class or country they inhabit must reflect upon. It is a decision that each person must make individually and I hope that as a world, as a global community, that we can all find comfort in our wilderness.
Gap Year Program
Reviewed
on Nov/10/2015 by Molly
The Cape Eleuthera Island School Gap Year Program changed my life! There is not one part of this program that I didn't absolutely love. As a gappers, our entire group was welcomed into the community with open arms. I have never been around so many passionate and inspiring people all in one place! The positive energy at CEI and IS is catching. This program gave me the confidence and framework to continue my education. I would recommend this program to anyone who is looking for adventure and to bring themselves of new levels of success!
Love the gap trip
Reviewed
on Nov/04/2015 by Rillia
The gap year program here is amazing. It's full of real world experiences, and having just graduated high school, real world experience was just what I was looking for.
It was truly exquisite to study the systems in the ocean and see them up close. Learning about the animals and helping with research was inspiring and very real.
The people were also wonderful. Everyone was supportive and helpful, and fun to work with.
I'm glad the CEI gap program was the first thing I did for my gap year, now I'm moving forward with a sense of purpose, and an appreciation and love for marine life and the ocean.
Best experience of my life
Reviewed
on Sep/29/2015 by Katlin
The Gap year program is one of a kind experience that has changed the way I view the world. It was the most incredible time of my life and I will never forget the lessons i leant while over there. Not only did I gain knowledge on environmental systems but also learnt about myself and how I want to live in this world. I would strongly recommend this program for anyone interested in environmental sustainability, keen to try new things or just looking for a great experience.
Ocean lovers dream!
Reviewed
on Sep/28/2015 by Ronnie14
Not only do you get to live by the ocean, but you get to explore it extensively! If you love living sustainably, this is the place for you too! I arrived knowing barely anything about composting and all things sustainable, I can say that I know how to live sustainably now. I also arrived not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. I am now a college freshman. Every since the first day of the program I have decided to be a marine biologist. The opportunities to do real science are amazing. I mean I would never have been able to hold a cuban dogfish if I had not done this program. It is a challenge. You will have long days and maybe stressed but then you look out into the ocean and its all worth it! I recommend going in the "winter" January to March. The weather is best at this time of year. You have to do this program!!!
It is the wilderness of South Eleuthera that sets the tone of this place. The ability to pick a guava off a tree in passing or the opportunity to see more fish in an hour than one could see spending a whole day at an aquarium. However, this abundance of life is a privilege. It is evident in the contrast of abandoned houses and resorts, and the Casuarina trees collapsed on their sides, roots sprawling, that this is a place only for those with the strength to bow to the tides of the Earth.
I have experience with the wilderness, but wilderness, I thought was only existent in the deep woods in Maine or in the snow covered mountains of Vermont. It never crossed me that I would find that unmistakable feeling of Earth's omnipotence in the tropics, where the warmth of the ocean only seemed too comfortable to be natural. Even though the perpetual chill in the pit of my stomach is absent; I am still in the wilderness. Instead, of nippy breezes, here Earth asserts her mastery over us by wringing our bodies' dry of fresh water. However, it is this slight discomfort that puts us in our natural place.
To grow as a person, a society, a world, one cannot be comfortable. Comfort inhibits growth because it blinds one to the need for reform, for progression. Here, on Eleuthera we have taken away the perceived comforts of long showers and napkins. However, I no longer perceive these as discomforts because they have taught me to value our ever-shrinking supply of freshwater and to sacrifice clean hands in order to insure oxygen for future generations and myself. That being said, being too uncomfortable also prevents growth. Like many natives of South Eleuthera, they do not have the means to fish and harvest sustainably. If a fisherman can catch a juvenile conch illegally, then he has dinner for his family. If he instead decides to be sustainable and not harvest that conch, then there is potential for more food in the future. However, his family would starve that day.
It is a fragile balance between living in the present and planning for the future that everyone, no matter their socio-economic class or country they inhabit must reflect upon. It is a decision that each person must make individually and I hope that as a world, as a global community, that we can all find comfort in our wilderness.