Case Senior Ocean School
CASE Junior Ocean School
Ocean Exploration for Young Adventurers
Students will visit Brisbane and Cairns, participating in adventure-based activities allowing students to feed their curiosity and find their path. CASE aims to create a wave of passion in students to pursue a future in STEAM and become more focused and inquisitive.
Learning Outcomes
- Cultivate the interest of STEAM in the context of ocean science
- Agile and adaptive to a fast paced learning environment
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Be effective in collaborative teamwork
- Develop a multi-cultural awareness and global perspectives
- Pursue personal values and set life goals
- Be inspired to learn and take efforts to fulfill the potential
Program Framework
Built on the foundation of the 7 Survival Skills by Harvard Professor, Tony Wagner, the program offers three key pillars of learning: engaging ocean STEAM activities, inspiring personal and leadership development, and immersive cultural experience.
CASE Junior Ocean School will create a wave of passion in students to pursue a future in STEAM and give them the skills to make it a reality.
The Ultimate Ocean STEAM Experience
International Academic Credentials
All CASE International Study Programs are academically accredited and approved in the USA as recognised Honors Level College Preparatory courses. University of California (UC) approval demonstrates these courses are of high academic standard to prepare students for university-level studies. It ensures that CASE study program graduates are identified by leading universities as high achieving, university-ready students.
In the competitive landscape of university applications both domestically and internationally, students who complete CASE Ocean School International Study Programs will differentiate themselves from other applicants giving them a distinct advantage.
CASE ocean school is in the process of obtaining UC approved 5.0 GPA honors course status.
Seeing and Learning
Discovering marine biology and ocean ecology is the key focus where students explore ecosystems, food chains, adaptations, habitats and biodiversity. Students will learn unique transferable STEAM skills which they otherwise couldn’t do in their everyday life and will make an impactful personal connection with the natural world.
Doing and Acquiring Skills
Through engaging and hands-on experiential learning, students will experience exclusive, once in a lifetime activities, including ocean ecologist fieldwork, marine life DNA analysis, marine mammal observations, organism identification and lab work like a marine biologist. Inquiry base learning and problem base learning will enable students to find untapped passions and talents within themselves to succeed in their future studies and endeavors.
Cultural Immersion
Witnessing and experiencing how different cultures uniquely express themselves, encourages students to see things from different perspectives. In addition to participating in modern Australian lifestyle activities such as surfing and beach volleyball, students will also learn from the world’s oldest living civilization, the Australian Indigenous Aboriginal people. This develops a more culturally aware individual and prepares students for life in the 21st century.
Amazing Locations
A ‘classroom’ like no other awaits all CASE Junior Ocean School participants. Students will visit islands including Fitzroy and North Stradbroke, jump into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and discover the mysteries of the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree. Brisbane offers students the vibrant metropolitan lifestyle and Cairns is a seaside escape with the Coral Sea at their feet. A visit to the Queensland University of Technology offers an insight into a world class learning environment.
Inspirational Speakers
An unforgettable experience awaits all CASE Junior Ocean School students. During personalised presentations and special events, students hear directly from guest speakers including ocean researchers, conservationists, educators, entrepreneurial minds and explorers.
Nicole Stott
Ms Nicole Stott, former NASA Aquanaut and Astronaut, is the Special Adviser to CASE. Nicole holds a world record for living underwater for 18 days, and is a veteran of two space flights and 104 days working in space on both the ISS and Space Shuttle.Nicole is a believer of the inner space/outer space connection and its power to encourage appreciation and action for our planetary life systems.
Michael Aw
Tom Denniss has a PhD in Mathematics and Oceanography and has been involved in the wave energy industry for more than 25 years. Tom invented the technology of Wave Swell Energy, the world’s leading proprietary technology that converts the energy in the ocean waves into clean and zero emission electricity.
Tom Denniss
Tom Denniss is an Australian athlete, inventor, scientist, and entrepreneur. A Doctor of Mathematics and Oceanography, he invented a technology to convert energy in ocean waves into electricity, founded
Edwina Tanner
Dr. Edwina Tanner is the Project Manager for the World Harbour Project and coordinator of the Marine Studies Institute at the University of Sydney. Her research in climate science focuses on carbon emissions, budgets, and dynamics in estuaries as well as hydrodynamic modelling. Edwina works in different locations across global harbours and ports that all have similar water and sediment quality issues.
Brett Lewis
Brett Lewis is a PhD Student at the Queensland University of Technology, science communicator and council member for the Australian Coral Reef Society. Brett’s work uses advanced imagining and sampling techniques to capture unique and previously unknown coral science and behavior that otherwise could not be discovered.
Personal Development
Throughout the expedition students engage in mPOWER modules aimed to provide principles and guidance for their future endeavours. Students will learn the growth mindset, a concept developed by Prof. Carol Dweck of Stanford University.
Students will learn to:
- Embrace challenges
- Believe talent and ability can be developed
- View failure as a chance to grow and persist despite obstacles
- Understand effort leads to success
- Be inspired by the success of others
- Adopt a “I want to keep improving” attitude
- Learn from criticism
CASE Junior Ocean School Program
Location: Brisbane, Cairns Australia
Duration: 12 Days in country
Open to Students: Years 7, 8 & 9
Dates: July
Program Schedule*
Day 1
The adventure begins with a flight into Brisbane, Australia. Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland, also known as the sunshine state. Students will stretch their legs discovering the wonders of Australia at the Queensland Museum. Students take part in a welcome ceremony performed by Australia’s traditional owners, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Day 2
Today the ocean adventure becomes reality. Students will spend the day on North Stradbroke Island. Researchers affiliated with the University of Queensland will guide students to collect, record and analyse scientific data on marine mammals and shoreline ecosystems. Their curiosity will be ignited, and they will gain new skills which will help them navigate their ocean journey.
Day 3
Each day the students are empowered through the mPower program module. The concept of a growth mindset will be the foundation for personal development training. Students visit the Queensland University of Technology, working in teams using a digital simulator to discover the impacts affecting the ocean. The day ends with an up close and personal encounter with Australia’s favorite fluffy and furry wildlife.
Day 4
Students will board a research boat and explore Moreton Bay. Using specialised technology, they will deploy underwater cameras to explore the sea floor; take water samples; and use microscopes to see the marine organisms which are keeping humans alive! Stopping at a small island students will explore the important mangrove ecosystem. In the evening, a motivational guest speaker will present on their STEAM related topic, with plenty of question time.
Day 5
It’s time to hit the beach. Students will take part in beach research to help scientists understand one of the major threats effecting the oceans, micro-plastics. Questions will be raised, and students will be challenged to think critically about future initiatives to eliminate this issue. After a rewarding morning students will give surfing a try. Qualified guides will teach them the secrets to catching the perfect wave. To finish their day, students will cheer their favorite Australian football team on at a vibrate sports stadium.
Day 6
Students embark on a flight to Cairns, Queensland. Upon arrival a short ferry ride will take students to Fitzroy Island. This tropical paradise is a hub for marine science and the perfect place to be immersed in the field. A resident marine biologist will give an evening presentation on the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, its importance, and threats it is facing.
Day 7
Students wake up to the sound and smell of the ocean, a full day of exploring the island awaits. Learning to snorkel, a guide helps students to meet the marine life. Students will also participate in a government research project to collect data used by industry leaders to better manage the oceans surrounding Australia. They will visit the patients in the turtle rehabilitation centre and learn about their road to recovery.
Day 8
A full day of adventure exploring the largest coral reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef awaits. A floating pontoon is equipped to host the students and experience the reef by snorkeling, visiting the underwater observatory, riding the semi-submersible or the glass bottom boat. Students will appreciate the beauty of the natural world by the end the day.
Day 9
After the morning mPower session, students will explore the city of Cairns. A favourite local activity is to challenge friends to a game of beach volleyball. Located in the city centre is the Cairns Aquarium, a place of learning, fun and discovery. Students will walk through the rainforest to reef display and put a name to a fish face from yesterday’s Great Barrier Reef adventure. The evening finishes at the bustling Cairns night markets.
Day 10
Students will time-travel 180 million years back and visit the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, the World Heritage Daintree. A drive north of Cairns will place them in the heart of the rainforest. Students will explore a 23-metre high canopy tower and an aerial walkway. On board a boat students will float down the Daintree River spotting the largest reptiles in the world, the Saltwater Crocodile.
Day 11
The morning begins with students presenting their STEAM expert presentations, bringing together their newly discovered expertise in STEAM. The graduation ceremony takes place with the traditional owners of Cairns, the Tjapukai people. Students will be immersed in the ancient culture, throwing boomerangs and hearing dream-time stories and finishing with a buffet dinner featuring indigenous local Australian food.
Day 12
Expedition completed! Departing from Cairns International Airport, students will have time to reflect on their journey and share stories and memories with old and new friends they have made along the way.
*Program itinerary subject to change
Parent Testimonials
“We can’t thank the whole team of Actura enough for the way you treated our daughter like she was your own. Your professionalism with timely communications, all logistics and ensuring our daughters experience was nothing short of amazing was beyond anything we or she could have ever imagined.
She loved being with her school buddies and has made some new life long friends with girls from other schools. The programs delivered in all areas of experiences, leadership, exposure to STEM, inspiration and personal development.”
“My daughter had a wonderful time last December. It was certainly worth the money we spent on . So much more than we expected. She found the group leaders and event instructors caring and helpful. Whole program very exciting and fun. She could not stop talking about it for weeks afterwards. It was nice to see their daily progress on photos and videos via Actura as well. Highly recommend it!”
“Everything was well organised and communicated. Flynn had a ball and had his eyes opened to very many new experiences. He benefited greatly from the immersing experience and made new friendships.”
“My Daughter came home with many stories to tell and is still telling them. This trip exceeded my expectations as I was slightly concerned how she would cope being so far away from home and for such a long time, but she loved every minute of it and it has definitely shaped her motivation for what she would like to do in the future with her studies! Other than the obvious learning aspect she has also learnt resilience and independence, made new friends (whom she is continuing to keep in touch with) and a sense of confidence that she did not have prior to the trip.”
“Venice rated the experience 10/10 and her description of the different activities she was involved in sounded very rewarding for someone of her age both from a STEM perspective but also having the confidence to participate in such a program at a relatively young age”
“Thank you to Amy for fielding all our queries and request. Thanks to the two AMAZING group leaders who took the boys on every step of their journey. I would certainly recommend you (and have already) to anyone seeking to send their child on a quest for new learning experiences and one which promotes independence of thought. Well done to all concerned and thank-you!”
“I appreciated how thorough the organisation of the expidition was and the excellent communication with parents throughout the whole experience.”
Student Testimonials
“I had an excellent experience. I made new friends and strengthened old friendships, met amazing people and had so much fun in all of the activities.The leaders (especially Chris) were so supportive and encouraging. I’ve learned not just about the wonders of space exploration but I’ve also learned about how to approach any challenging situations with a positive attitude. I have applied these skills already in this camp which allowed me to try a variety of new activities.”
“From the beginning to the end, there were fun activities, amazing people and supportive elders. All of the experiences made you realize how lucky we are to be on this trip. Some of these opportunities are once in a life time and you must take these opportunities with both hands and try your hardest. I have learned never to give up on your dreams and must work hard no matter what others say. Anything is possible no matter how hard your dream may be. We may think we have it all but then there is always more to learn.”
”I had a lot of chances to experiment with leading – what to do and what not to do – that really helped me grow as a person.”
”I have had such an amazing time, I have learnt so much here and have done things I thought I could and would have never done without this trip.”
Cooperative Program Partners
CASE Junior Space School
Training for Young Explorers
In an engaging hands-on adventure, students learn about the development of space-related technology and are lead through several simulated missions where they must work together to overcome challenges and adversity. The inspiring leadership and personal development will motivate students to possess the right attitude and passion for life.
Learning Outcomes
- Development of critical thinking and problem solving
- Foster interests in STEAM related subjects
- Effectiveness in collaborative teamwork
- Application of STEAM in challenging scenarios
- Greater initiative, responsibility and leadership through influence
- Curiosity and imagination
- Pursuit of personal values and long-term goals
Program Framework
Built on the foundation of the Seven Survival Skills, the program offers three key pillars of activities including enriched space and earth science activities, inspiring leadership development, and engaging personal development.
CASE Junior Space School aims to deliver students a once in a lifetime, ultimate STEAM experience, at the most inspiring organisation NASA. Returning from the expedition, students will become more focused and more inquisitive to pursue the subjects they are interested in.
The Ultimate STEAM Experience
All CASE International Study Programs are academically accredited and approved in the USA as recognised Honors Level College Preparatory courses. University of California (UC) approval demonstrates these courses are of high academic standard to prepare students for university-level studies. It ensures that CASE study program graduates are identified by leading universities as high achieving, university-ready students.
In the competitive landscape of university applications both domestically and internationally, students who complete CASE Ocean School International Study Programs will differentiate themselves from other applicants giving them a distinct advantage.
CASE ocean school is in the process of obtaining UC approved 5.0 GPA honors course status.
Seeing and Learning
Discovering marine biology and ocean ecology is the key focus where students explore ecosystems, food chains, adaptations, habitats and biodiversity. Students will learn unique transferable STEAM skills which they otherwise couldn’t do in their everyday life and will make an impactful personal connection with the natural world.
Doing and Acquiring Skills
Through engaging and hands-on experiential learning, students will experience exclusive, once in a lifetime activities, including ocean ecologist fieldwork, marine life DNA analysis, marine mammal observations, organism identification and lab work like a marine biologist. Inquiry base learning and problem base learning will enable students to find untapped passions and talents within themselves to succeed in their future studies and endeavors.
Cultural Immersion
Witnessing and experiencing how different cultures uniquely express themselves, encourages students to see things from different perspectives. In addition to participating in modern Australian lifestyle activities such as surfing and beach volleyball, students will also learn from the world’s oldest living civilization, the Australian Indigenous Aboriginal people. This develops a more culturally aware individual and prepares students for life in the 21st century.
Amazing Locations
A ‘classroom’ like no other awaits all CASE Junior Ocean School participants. Students will visit islands including Fitzroy and North Stradbroke, jump into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and discover the mysteries of the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree. Brisbane offers students the vibrant metropolitan lifestyle and Cairns is a seaside escape with the Coral Sea at their feet. A visit to the Queensland University of Technology offers an insight into a world class learning environment.
Inspirational Speakers
An unforgettable experience awaits all CASE Senior Space School students. During personalized presentations and special events, students hear directly from guest speakers including astronauts, NASA scientists, engineers and CASE Special Adviser Ms Nicole Stott.
Nicole Stott
CASE Special Adviser, NASA Astronaut, aquanaut, engineer, and currently an Artist and SciArt education advocate. Ms Stott completed two space shuttle flights, and 104 days living on-board the ISS. Nicole is the first astronaut to paint watercolour in space and is the Special Adviser to CASE.
Michael Aw
Tom Denniss has a PhD in Mathematics and Oceanography and has been involved in the wave energy industry for more than 25 years. Tom invented the technology of Wave Swell Energy, the world’s leading proprietary technology that converts the energy in the ocean waves into clean and zero emission electricity.
Tom Denniss
Tom Denniss is an Australian athlete, inventor, scientist, and entrepreneur. A Doctor of Mathematics and Oceanography, he invented a technology to convert energy in ocean waves into electricity, founded
Edwina Tanner
Dr. Edwina Tanner is the Project Manager for the World Harbour Project and coordinator of the Marine Studies Institute at the University of Sydney. Her research in climate science focuses on carbon emissions, budgets, and dynamics in estuaries as well as hydrodynamic modelling. Edwina works in different locations across global harbours and ports that all have similar water and sediment quality issues.
Brett Lewis
Brett Lewis is a PhD Student at the Queensland University of Technology, science communicator and council member for the Australian Coral Reef Society. Brett’s work uses advanced imagining and sampling techniques to capture unique and previously unknown coral science and behavior that otherwise could not be discovered.
Personal Development
Throughout the expedition students engage in mPOWER modules aimed to provide principles and guidance for their future endeavours. Students will learn the growth mindset, a concept developed by Prof. Carol Dweck of Stanford University.
Students will learn to:
- Embrace challenges
- Believe talent and ability can be developed
- View failure as a chance to grow and persist despite obstacles
- Understand effort leads to success
- Be inspired by the success of others
- Adopt a “I want to keep improving” attitude
- Learn from criticism
CASE Junior Ocean School Program
Location: Brisbane, Cairns Australia
Duration: 12 Days in country
Open to Students: Years 7, 8 & 9
Dates: July
Program Schedule
Day 1
The adventure begins with a flight into Brisbane, Australia. Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland, also known as the sunshine state. Students will stretch their legs discovering the wonders of Australia at the Queensland Museum. Students take part in a welcome ceremony performed by Australia’s traditional owners, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Day 2
Today the ocean adventure becomes reality. Students will spend the day on North Stradbroke Island. Researchers affiliated with the University of Queensland will guide students to collect, record and analyse scientific data on marine mammals and shoreline ecosystems. Their curiosity will be ignited, and they will gain new skills which will help them navigate their ocean journey.
Day 3
Each day the students are empowered through the mPower program module. The concept of a growth mindset will be the foundation for personal development training. Students visit the Queensland University of Technology, working in teams using a digital simulator to discover the impacts affecting the ocean. The day ends with an up close and personal encounter with Australia’s favorite fluffy and furry wildlife.
Day 4
Students will board a research boat and explore Moreton Bay. Using specialised technology, they will deploy underwater cameras to explore the sea floor; take water samples; and use microscopes to see the marine organisms which are keeping humans alive! Stopping at a small island students will explore the important mangrove ecosystem. In the evening, a motivational guest speaker will present on their STEAM related topic, with plenty of question time.
Day 5
It’s time to hit the beach. Students will take part in beach research to help scientists understand one of the major threats effecting the oceans, micro-plastics. Questions will be raised, and students will be challenged to think critically about future initiatives to eliminate this issue. After a rewarding morning students will give surfing a try. Qualified guides will teach them the secrets to catching the perfect wave. To finish their day, students will cheer their favorite Australian football team on at a vibrate sports stadium.
Day 6
Students embark on a flight to Cairns, Queensland. Upon arrival a short ferry ride will take students to Fitzroy Island. This tropical paradise is a hub for marine science and the perfect place to be immersed in the field. A resident marine biologist will give an evening presentation on the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, its importance, and threats it is facing.
Day 7
Students wake up to the sound and smell of the ocean, a full day of exploring the island awaits. Learning to snorkel, a guide helps students to meet the marine life. Students will also participate in a government research project to collect data used by industry leaders to better manage the oceans surrounding Australia. They will visit the patients in the turtle rehabilitation centre and learn about their road to recovery.
Day 8
A full day of adventure exploring the largest coral reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef awaits. A floating pontoon is equipped to host the students and experience the reef by snorkeling, visiting the underwater observatory, riding the semi-submersible or the glass bottom boat. Students will appreciate the beauty of the natural world by the end the day.
Day 9
After the morning mPower session, students will explore the city of Cairns. A favourite local activity is to challenge friends to a game of beach volleyball. Located in the city centre is the Cairns Aquarium, a place of learning, fun and discovery. Students will walk through the rainforest to reef display and put a name to a fish face from yesterday’s Great Barrier Reef adventure. The evening finishes at the bustling Cairns night markets.
Day 10
Students will time-travel 180 million years back and visit the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, the World Heritage Daintree. A drive north of Cairns will place them in the heart of the rainforest. Students will explore a 23-metre high canopy tower and an aerial walkway. On board a boat students will float down the Daintree River spotting the largest reptiles in the world, the Saltwater Crocodile.
Day 11
The morning begins with students presenting their STEAM expert presentations, bringing together their newly discovered expertise in STEAM. The graduation ceremony takes place with the traditional owners of Cairns, the Tjapukai people. Students will be immersed in the ancient culture, throwing boomerangs and hearing dream-time stories and finishing with a buffet dinner featuring indigenous local Australian food.
Day 12
Expedition completed! Departing from Cairns International Airport, students will have time to reflect on their journey and share stories and memories with old and new friends they have made along the way.
*Program itinerary subject to change
Parent Testimonials
“We can’t thank the whole team of Actura enough for the way you treated our daughter like she was your own. Your professionalism with timely communications, all logistics and ensuring our daughters experience was nothing short of amazing was beyond anything we or she could have ever imagined.
She loved being with her school buddies and has made some new life long friends with girls from other schools. The programs delivered in all areas of experiences, leadership, exposure to STEM, inspiration and personal development.”
“My daughter had a wonderful time last December. It was certainly worth the money we spent on . So much more than we expected. She found the group leaders and event instructors caring and helpful. Whole program very exciting and fun. She could not stop talking about it for weeks afterwards. It was nice to see their daily progress on photos and videos via Actura as well. Highly recommend it!”
“Everything was well organised and communicated. Flynn had a ball and had his eyes opened to very many new experiences. He benefited greatly from the immersing experience and made new friendships.”
“My Daughter came home with many stories to tell and is still telling them. This trip exceeded my expectations as I was slightly concerned how she would cope being so far away from home and for such a long time, but she loved every minute of it and it has definitely shaped her motivation for what she would like to do in the future with her studies! Other than the obvious learning aspect she has also learnt resilience and independence, made new friends (whom she is continuing to keep in touch with) and a sense of confidence that she did not have prior to the trip.”
“Venice rated the experience 10/10 and her description of the different activities she was involved in sounded very rewarding for someone of her age both from a STEM perspective but also having the confidence to participate in such a program at a relatively young age”
“Thank you to Amy for fielding all our queries and request. Thanks to the two AMAZING group leaders who took the boys on every step of their journey. I would certainly recommend you (and have already) to anyone seeking to send their child on a quest for new learning experiences and one which promotes independence of thought. Well done to all concerned and thank-you!”
“I appreciated how thorough the organisation of the expidition was and the excellent communication with parents throughout the whole experience.”
Student Testimonials
“I had an excellent experience. I made new friends and strengthened old friendships, met amazing people and had so much fun in all of the activities.The leaders (especially Chris) were so supportive and encouraging. I’ve learned not just about the wonders of space exploration but I’ve also learned about how to approach any challenging situations with a positive attitude. I have applied these skills already in this camp which allowed me to try a variety of new activities.”
“From the beginning to the end, there were fun activities, amazing people and supportive elders. All of the experiences made you realize how lucky we are to be on this trip. Some of these opportunities are once in a life time and you must take these opportunities with both hands and try your hardest. I have learned never to give up on your dreams and must work hard no matter what others say. Anything is possible no matter how hard your dream may be. We may think we have it all but then there is always more to learn.”
”I had a lot of chances to experiment with leading – what to do and what not to do – that really helped me grow as a person.”
”I have had such an amazing time, I have learnt so much here and have done things I thought I could and would have never done without this trip.”