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The Panama City Marine Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to redirect and motivate at-risk youth to accept responsibility for their actions, develop respect and become productive members of the community. We strive to impact as many youth as possible and work to change the lives of the youth through an experiential learning environment.

Description:
We provide day treatment services for at-risk youth ages 14-18, using the natural marine environment along with a tough love philosophy. Students are referred to our program through the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Bay County School Board.

We offer middle and high school students GED preparation, as well as accredited high school courses. Our students are offered pre-vocational and pre-employment training in marine and life skills management. Students who complete our program are offered scholarship opportunities.

Our students are also offered an exceptional array of extracurricular programs such as sailing, wood shop, seamanship, scuba, challenge courses and other programs that encourage and challenge youth to build confidence and trust in themselves.

Our students also learn to give back to the community through service projects with Habitat for Humanity, Visual Arts Center, YMCA, St. Andrews State Park, and many other organizations.

History:
Panama City Marine Institute opened its doors in 1974 on Beach Drive in Panama City. We are part of the Associated Marine Institutes, Inc family of non-profit educational institutions. The first AMI program began in 1969 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida that began working with at-risk youth in marine related educational settings. In 2004, we celebrated our 30th anniversary. We have successful partnerships with the Department of Juvenile Justice, Bay County School Board, United Way of NW Florida, and many other agencies in the community.

Contact people:

Kathy Edwards, Business Manager, (phone), (email) Rusty Russell, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (850) 785-6880

Address:

200 East Beach Drive Panama City, FL 32401 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

Take Harrison Avenue south to the Beach Drive intersection. Turn left on to Beach Drive. PCMI is about two blocks down on the right side, directly across from Hawk's Nest Restaurant.