Please check your email and your student portal periodically as these are the places where you will be notified when required forms are available for you to complete. Additional requirements may be added throughout the cycle. 

Important Dates

Be sure all of your forms and payment are completed by their assigned deadline:

• Wednesday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET: BELL Meet and Greet (optional) - Register Here
• Wednesday, April 9: All medical forms and waivers due and payment deadline
• Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m. ET: BELL Florida Keys Pre-Departure Orientation (required) - Register Here

Students registered after these deadlines are expected to complete form requirements and make payment within 48 hours of registration.

Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation Session

As stated above under Important Dates, there will be a required online program orientation for you and your parents/guardians on Sunday, May 18 at Noon (12 p.m.) ET, so please plan accordingly to be able to attend. Register here for this required session. To participate in this orientation, you will need access to a computer or smartphone (no webcam is necessary, but useful if you’d like to use it).

Checklists

You should log in to your student portal to complete your pre-program requirements. Parents/guardians also receive a checklist of items to complete, sent via email, so please remind them to check their email accounts for this important information that requires action.

The usernames and passwords associated with your Brown email address will be needed prior to and during your course time. Please be sure to document all usernames and passwords.

Forms

Forms are available through your student portal and are submitted electronically through DocuSign, an electronic signature provider where you can digitally complete and sign your required forms and waivers, as well as upload your required physical and immunization records. Most forms include sections for both students and parents/guardians to complete.  Please note that additional requirements may be added throughout the cycle. Check your portal periodically for new requirements. 

Accessibility Services

If applicable, you may request accommodations based on a learning, psychological and/or physical disability, including medical conditions, temporary injuries and food allergies. Please be aware that all accommodation requests will be considered, however, there may be limits as to what can be provided without sufficient notice. Be sure to submit your requests using the required BELL Dietary Support Form and Medical Authorization and Health History Form by the Wednesday, April 9 deadline. On these forms, you will be asked to indicate all dietary preferences, including vegetarians and vegans, to allow us to plan accordingly. We will work with the staff to make accommodations for dietary restrictions and food allergies if we are notified before the April 9 deadline. Please email accessibility@brown.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

BELL Course Orientation and Pre-Work

Two weeks prior to your course start date, log onto Canvas to complete your course orientation and pre-work prior to arriving on site. 

Directions:

• Go to canvas.brown.edu
• Login using your Brown username and password
• Navigate to your BELL: Rhode Island course page to begin

Important Packing Tips

• There is limited space in the dorm rooms: bring only what you need. Soft-sided bags are best for fitting in small spaces. Reminder: most airlines charge extra for luggage weighing over 50 lbs.
• Weather can vary. Check the weather in Key Largo (zip code: 33037) before packing. 
• Rain gear is important. We will be spending time outdoors rain or shine. 
• It is important to cover up as much as possible to avoid the risk of sunburn. Long-sleeved shirts or rash guards are recommended for times students are on or in the water.
• Consider bringing reef-safe products.
• Snorkel gear is provided by MarineLab. However, we do encourage you to bring your own mask and snorkel if you have a high-quality set. Fins take up a lot of packing space so feel free to leave yours at home and use ours instead. DO NOT BRING FULL-FACE MASKS as we have determined they are unsafe in our program. 

What is Provided

You will reside in a shared dorm space at MarineLab. You will have a bed and each room is air conditioned. You will use private, shared bathrooms.

What to Bring

Required Items

• A laptop, tablet, or phone and charger that you can use for Action Plan project research (i.e., must have web browsing and WiFi capabilities)
• Sleeping bag or twin bed linens
• Pillow
• Two towels – one for showering, one for the boat
• Rain jacket (waterproof)
• Light jacket 
• 3 to 6 pairs of shorts (quick-dry are best)
• 10 to 14 T-shirts
• 2 to 3 long-sleeve t-shirts
• Pair of lightweight pants
• Travel clothes for departure day
• Sleepwear
• Underwear 
• Socks
• Swimwear
• Rash guards or long-sleeved shirts for sun protection while snorkeling
• Sturdy, close-toed walking shoes (no need for hiking boots)
• Sandals/tennis shoes to wear around MarineLab
• Flip flops/shower shoes
• Toothbrush and toiletries, period hygiene products 
• Any prescribed medications in their original bottle with a copy of the prescription
• Preferred over the counter medications, including motion sickness medicine if needed
• Bandaids
• Prescription glasses or contacts (if needed) and back up pair of glasses if lost or broken
• Journal or notebook and writing implements
• Reusable water bottle
• Hat for sun protection
• Sunglasses (with an eyewear retainer strap)
• Sun block (30+ SPF, no oils or sprays)
• Insect repellent
• Handkerchief, bandana or reusable napkin
• Reusable snack bags (at least 2)
• Plastic bag to carry wet items home

Optional Items

• Sketch pads or art supplies
• Wristwatch (waterproof)
• Inexpensive camera separate from cell phone
• Musical instrument 
• Book to read/independent leisure activities
• Your favorite board game

Spending Money 

All program activities, excursions and meals during the program are included in the program fee. However, if you want to make purchases at the airport or at the MarineLab gift shop, you may want to bring some spending money. You will have one or two occasions to purchase souvenirs if you so choose, and those can be purchased with cash or, in most cases, credit or debit cards.

Flight Purchase

Please consider purchasing travel insurance along with your flight. Please check in with your airline well in advance to confirm that you have the proper documentation and identification necessary to travel.

Pickup/Drop-Off Airport

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Strict Arrival and Departure Times

As you make travel arrangements please note the following three important requirements:

1. Program staff are only able to meet students at the airport during the arrival and departure windows noted below. Booking travel during stated windows will ensure that you are able to participate fully in the program, including arrival day orientation activities as well as closing activities.
2. Program staff cannot serve as the designated adult for unaccompanied minors.
3. Please check in with your airline well in advance to confirm that you have the proper documentation and identification necessary to travel.

This program has strict arrival and departure windows for airport pick-up and drop-off. Please keep in mind that our staffing model does not accommodate student travel outside of our arrival and departure windows. If you are on a flight outside of the provided time windows, you will need to arrange for your own transportation to meet up with the group upon arrival/or depart for your flight at the conclusion of the program. Students who arrange travel within the provided time windows will be included in all group transportation to and from the program site.

Flight Delays

If you experience a delay while traveling, call or text the BELL: Florida Keys On-Site Director with your new arrival time. Please note: This number will be shared during the required pre-departure orientation session and will be sent to students and their parents/guardians but will not be active until a few days before the program starts.

You will meet BELL: Florida Keys staff at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Baggage Claim between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, June 22, 2025. 

BELL staff will only be at the airport to meet you during the scheduled arrival window. Staff will be wearing red “Brown University Pre-College” T-shirts. Once everyone has arrived, the group will travel together to the MarineLab in Key Largo, Florida.

If a program address is needed for customs purposes, please use the following address. You cannot receive mail or packages while in the program.

MarineLab
51 Shoreland Drive
Key Largo, FL 33037

Communication 

To contact us in an emergency, parents/guardians may call the BELL: Florida Keys On-Site Director. 

At the beginning of the program, staff will send out an email to confirm that all students have arrived safely in Fort Lauderdale and have started to build community together at BELL. 

At the end of the program, after students have departed, the program staff will send out another email to confirm that students have started their journeys home.

Please note that these emails will be sent out to the parent/guardian email address that we have on file. If you have an alternative email address that you would like included in this list, please contact the On-Site Director to share an additional email address.

Safety and Supervision

You will have clear guidelines regarding where you can go alone or with a peer. Staff are available for support and assistance 24 hours a day. Despite many students being experienced and competent travelers, the BELL staff expects all students to stay with the group at all times and provide notice if you need to separate from the group for any reason.

Cell Phone Policy

You will be asked to leave your cell phones in a secure location (e.g., your dorm space or a bag that you can carry with you) for many parts of the BELL program. Unless a phone is used for a part of a lesson or field trip, we expect you to have the phones secured and away during all program lessons and activities. This will include field trips where you might want to take photos, so it’s important to prepare in advance and bring a camera that is separate from a cell phone. The main goal of the BELL cell phone policy is to allow you to stay tuned into each other, the program and your natural surroundings. BELL students benefit from letting go of the frequent connection to technology, as it often helps to adjust to a new environment more quickly and form a stronger community. While some spaces or parts of the day at BELL will be entirely cell phone free, you will still have opportunities to keep in touch with friends and family at home who you lean on for support. Continued violation of the BELL cell phone policy will result in a call to your parent/guardian.

Community Living

You are encouraged to come to BELL with an open mind to meeting new people with diverse and varied perspectives. Each student admitted to BELL brings with them their own experiences and the cohort comes together to create a fascinating community. 

At BELL, each student also contributes to day to day community life by assisting with tasks like keeping the living and learning spaces clean and taking on leadership roles among the group. BELL Staff will expect you to step up as leaders, take good care of your physical spaces, take good care of yourself and respect others. 

Photos

You are encouraged to upload photos to a shared Google folder once the program begins. You will gain access to this folder closer to the program start date.

Housing

The BELL: Florida Keys program is hosted by the MarineLab environmental education center in Key Largo, Florida. Students and staff will reside in MarineLab dorm rooms for the duration of the BELL program.

Personal Health and Medical Emergencies

The BELL: Florida Keys program is a physically taxing program involving significant time spent outdoors. For your safety and comfort during the program, we expect you to fully disclose any and all pre-existing medical conditions on required medical forms.

In a medical emergency, you will be transported to a nearby hospital. For minor issues, we have a well-equipped first aid kit and staff trained in Wilderness First Aid.

Prescription Medications

You are responsible for safely storing and taking your own prescription medication. If you are not accustomed to managing your own medication, you should work with your parents/guardians to determine the best approach to do so during the program. All students who are taking prescription medications should bring their prescribed medication in its original container and a copy of their prescription (which can be an electronic copy). Having a copy of the original prescription will enable us to replace medication if needed. Students with life-saving asthma and anaphylaxis medications (e.g., inhalers and epi-pens) must keep them on their person at all times. If your medication requires refrigeration, we will provide access to a refrigerator for the duration of the program.

Illness 

You should inform program staff as soon as you are not feeling well and may be asked to self-administer tests for specific infectious illnesses and/or take your temperature, among other actions. If you are ill, you will need to be separated from others in the program to lower the possibility of any illness spreading and it is possible you may be asked to make plans to depart the program. Please note that there may be additional or different protocols implemented by a partner lodging site, field trip or local airport and are dependent on public health guidelines at the time of the program.

BELL Action Plans

With support from instructors and peers at BELL, you will create an Action Plan to apply your new leadership knowledge to an issue in your home community. Creating an Action Plan is an opportunity for you to reflect critically on what you’ve learned and to delve deeper into issues that you find particularly compelling. There are many types of Action Plans, but what is most important is that you identify a project that: addresses a need, interests you and seems feasible given your personal circumstances. While you do not need to prepare anything prior to arriving at BELL, you may want to think about some issues related to your community and come to BELL with some ideas for Action Plan topics. At BELL, you will participate in Action Plan workshops that guide you through a step by step approach to developing your project. See examples of Action Plans from previous years here.

Itinerary

You will receive a detailed schedule upon arrival. You must attend all days of the program in order to qualify for the Course Performance Report and digital CeCertificate of Completion. In addition to three meals per day, some free time and transportation to and from site visits, the schedule below provides an idea of what the program will entail. Please note: This schedule is subject to change.

Free Time

Please note that you are expected to prioritize the experience for the benefit of yourself and your peers. You will have one or two hours of free time dispersed throughout each day at BELL, but the free time is not always predictable and does not occur at the same time each day. Additional coursework, including online courses for Brown or other programs, is not feasible. 

Curfew

Our days are busy, requiring a lot of your energy and attention throughout the day. You are required to check in with residential staff every evening at 10 p.m. ET and remain in the residential space until 6 a.m. ET the following morning. The residential staff will place a call to the parents/guardians of any student who is late for curfew. Local authorities will be informed after an appropriate interval of time if a student has not checked in, and a protocol will be initiated to ensure the safety of the student.

Adhering to the curfew policy is your responsibility. While residential staff will take reasonable measures to ensure that you adhere to the curfew, once you have been verified as being within the residence halls at the designated time, you will be in violation of policies should you choose to leave your residence hall area. If we become aware of a curfew violation, you will be referred to our student conduct process. Repeated and/or serious violations of the curfew could result in dismissal from the program.

You are responsible for abiding by all pre-college policies and guidelines while participating in the program. These include policies listed on the policy page as well as any policies shared with you by Student Life staff and instructors. Please also review the financial policies, including payment and refund information.

In addition to Brown University’s pre-college policies, you will also be required to follow guidelines and policies of all of the BELL partner sites, including lodging facilities, museums, transportation companies and other venues hosting your BELL cohort.

For departure, staff will accompany and help you check in to your departing flights at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Staff will help you find the security checkpoint. Once you are through security, you are responsible for communicating with your parents/guardians and managing your flight home.

You will receive a Course Performance Report from your instructor and you in turn will be asked to complete a course evaluation upon completion of the course. If you successfully complete your program you will also receive a digital CeCertificate of Completion. The Course Performance Report and CeCertificate will be sent out in September. The CeCertificate will be sent via a secured link to the email address you have on file and the Course Performance Report will be made available in your Student Portal.