Another fun summer of Environmental Learning!

2008 is the second year that BMMRO has partnered with Friends of the Environment to offer educational summer camps to the children of Sandy Point, Abaco. Formerly, it was known as Sandy Point Environmental Camp (SPEC), and now falls under the umbrella of FRIENDS Environmental Camp. Last year FRIENDS expanded BMMRO's camp model to Marsh Harbour and Cooper's Town, greatly increasing the opportunities available for Abaco's youth. A total of 166 children participated!

This year both Junior and Senior Camps in Sandy Point were held during the month of July. A total of 24 campers participated in the Junior Camp, with three Senior Camper Assistants and a record number of 15 volunteers! Twenty-eight campers participated in the Senior Camp, with 9 volunteers. Overall, there were 21 camp sessions which included field trips and classroom work. At the end, a combined Open House was held to display camper's work for the community and to present awards for participation.

The basis for FRIENDS Environmental Camp is hands-on education, where campers learn about a particular eco-system or species, then go out into the environment to experience it first hand. Sandy Point is an ideal location for this camp because all major Bahamian ecosystems are within easy distance: Mangrove creeks, Pine Forest, Coppice, Coral Reefs and Seagrass beds. Topics that were focused on this year were Recycling and Litter Prevention, Mangrove Ecosystems, Marine Mammals and Research, Coral Reefs, Queen Conch, Spiny Lobster, Bahama Parrots, Sea Turtles, Blue Holes and Fossils. Campers learn how to identify important Bahamian species and why they are valuable. Each year, the camps do a community project - this year a Beach Clean-Up. The campers persisted, picking up as much trash as possible - even during a rain shower!

Highlights this year included: seeing a Bahama Parrot nest, exploring mangroves in Sandy Point, seeing Bottlenose dolphins at Gorda Bank, more campers learning to swim, snorkel and kayak, and a visit to the BMMRO research station.

Sandy Point's Camp was lucky to have special guest presenters and field trip leaders sharing their expertise with us. We'd like to thank:

Lucine Edwards, St. Vincent Fisheries Officer - Sea Turtles
Nancy Albury, Antiquities, Museums and Monuments Corporation - Blue Holes and Fossils
Kendria Ferguson - Swimming and Snorkeling Lessons
Paul Pinder - Boat Captain for our dolphin survey and snorkeling trip
Thomas Brown - Marine Mammal Research

What I learned about Blue Holes - Mikee Consulta

I learned that Blue holes are an adventure every time you dive in. When you go in you will find new fish and also dead animals like bats, tortoises, birds, crocodiles and even Lucayan bones. The blue holes go about 100 feet deep or more. There are some unknown rocks, unknown dead species of animals and unknown animals that are still alive. What we have to do to save Blue Holes is not to throw garbage in and around the blue hole and not destroy the vegetation around it.

Thank you Mikee!