Teen Team Expeditions

Teen Team Surveys

Are you aged between 16 and 17 and want to pursue a career in marine biology or oceanography? This survey provides a fantastic opportunity to sail the Hebrides and collect data on whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans), as well as sea birds, litter, environmental variables, marine noise and creel buoys (as part of our Minke Whale Entanglement Project). Full training will be provided so no experience is necessary; the only requirements are good eyesight, hearing and balance and loads of enthusiasm!

“I’m interested in marine biology, especially cetaceans, and this was an opportunity to experience what it was like to work in this field. It’s impossible to choose (the most enjoyable part), I loved all of it”, Eilidh O’Brien, Teen Team Participant 2015

Participants will sleep, eat and work aboard HWDTs fully-equipped research yacht, Silurian. Volunteers will be involved in all aspects of the expedition, contributing to the domestic duties as well as the serious science – basically you become a marine mammal field scientist for the duration. Alongside collecting visual and acoustic data, presentations on local species and the application of the data collected in research results will be given by HWDTs on board experts. Each day will be spent monitoring a different area of the Hebrides, each night anchoring in a different location. Monitoring work will fill most of the day; however, there will be opportunities to venture ashore in the evening to explore some wild, remote places.

Teen Team dates for 2017 are as follows:

• 25th - 31st July; £950 (Only 1 Berth Available - must be a male in accordance with the Trust's Child Protection Policy and rules on same gender cabins with participants who are under 18)
• 5th - 11th August; £950 FULL

To read about how participating in a Teen Team kick-started Alistair's career in marine biology, please click here.

Participation costs £950 per person, covering the programme aboard Silurian and allowing HWDT to operate a sustainable monitoring programme, ensuring continued data collection in a most precious area for cetaceans. There are a maximum of six berths available on each survey, alongside other participants the teens will be joined by a Skipper, First Mate, Science Officer and Engagement Officer.

Participating in a Cetacean Research Survey will provide fantastic experience if you are thinking about a future studying in the marine conservation sector. If you are interested in joining HWDT aboard, please complete an online form and Morven, the Volunteer Coordinator, will be in touch with more information.