Mission Statement


    Stay-Focused (S-F) offers mobility-challenged persons the opportunity to become certified SCUBA divers, and through that experience to learn lasting lessons about life and achievement. It promotes empowerment, discipline, and focus in helping young adults achieve personal goals. Also, Stay-Focused is committed to supporting medical research that explores the beneficial aspects of water sports on persons with mobility issues.


    Purpose

Stay-Focused is best described as a learning organization, with both academic and experiential components. While it is intended to provide young adults an opportunity to challenge themselves and learn valuable lessons, it is also important that each participant enjoys a positive, achievement-oriented experience. During the six days of the Stay-Focused program, participants take part in a full SCUBA certification program, as well as a complement of workshops and academic sessions that relate diving experiences to challenging themselves, building confidence, and thinking differently about their own potential. Student-divers also have the opportunity to learn about the marine environment and fish behavior. And after the program, participants remain part of a broad and supportive network of like-minded diving enthusiasts!		 Goals

Beyond learning to dive, and the deeper lessons of the Stay-Focused curriculum, one of the primary goals of Stay-Focused is to maintain lifelong connections with the young adults who participate in the program. Participants in the program become alumni of the Stay-Focused experience, and will always be part of the Stay-Focused network.

Participants who choose to come back for a second Stay-Focused program will have the opportunity to do so. The first S-F Reunion trip took place, June 28 - July 3, 2005. In addition to doing more recreational diving, divers in their second program take part in learning experiences that build on the concepts introduced during the first program - including overcoming challenges and long-term achievement planning.

Importantly, Stay-Focused recognizes the need to support medical research to better describe the physical and psychological benefits of SCUBA diving, as well as other water sports, for mobility-challenged persons. We are engaging in partnerships with the medical community to drive research and provide case studies.