Monthly Archives: October 2010

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Staff Spotlight–Meet Skylar!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFCIF-1YS6g

Skylar Miller came to CEI this Fall, to work with the Flats Ecology team and to lead the Patch Reef/ Lionfish IS research project.  As a spring 2003 Island School alumna, Skylar is excited to be back on Eleuthera getting to experience The Island School from the other side.  She grew up in upstate New York and bounced around a bit during her undergrad work – starting in Hawaii, studying for year abroad in Australia, and eventually graduating from Oregon State University in 2008 with a B.S. in Biology with a Marine Science concentration.  Most recently Skylar was living in the Florida Keys teaching marine science field programs and working as a guide on ecotour boats.  At Cape Eleuthera Institute, Skylar is hoping to gain valuable research experience while preparing to attend graduate school.

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Who eats Lionfish?? … We do!

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[slideshow]

By Chris Pibl and Jackson Rafter

The Red Lionfish is an invasive species in the Southern Atlantic, originally from the Indo-Pacific waters, and was first sighted in the Bahamas in 2006. In the Caribbean, the lionfish has no natural predators, and has been found to prey on many ecologically and economically important species. There have been up to 20 juvenile fish found in the stomach of 1 average sized lionfish! Lionfish have venomous spines which give it a feared reputation,  and thus, many local fisherman avoid these fish for harvesting and consumption.  However, we know that their meat is safe to eat and think they are actually quite a tasty fish!

In an attempt to bring awareness to the local community, the patch reef group gave a presentation on the lionfish during the Wemyss Bight homecoming. We demonstrated the proper way to handle and prepare Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update October 11, 2010

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“Off with a Bang”

October 11, 2010

By Caciques Julia Rew and CJ Easton

Today started off with a bang…literally. It was our second timed run-swim of the semester and the south sides of the dorms went first. Everyone was eager to discover if they improved on their last time. This would be a test of the training that we have been doing for the first half of our semester. This exercise would not only show running or swimming skills, it would portray both. This morning the north students had it easy, instead of testing their abilities, they cheered on the other community members. The support team was made up of groups of north dorm students, who took positions all around the course. Watching and cheering on our fellow community members was exciting and nerve wracking. Continue reading →

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Bahamas Minister of the Environment gives The Island School a shout out!

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The Bahamas National Trust is led by Eric Carey, former member of the board of directors of the Cape Eleuthera Foundation.  Eric has energized the Trust, and with the support of parliamentarians including the Hon. Earl Deveaux, sought to make changes to increase the ability of that organization to protect the land and the sea in th Bahamas.  Minister Deveaux’s speech in Bahamian parliament was recently published, and The Island School got a shout out! We stand ready to assist BNT in its long tradition of research, conservation, and education.
“Through the work of the Bahamas National Trust more Bahamians become aware of the need to conserve our  natural resources for themselves, and future generations.  Equally significant is its work with partners both national and international. The list of conservation national partners available to BNT to assist in the execution of its mandate is ever growing and includes Friends of the Environment (Abaco); Andros Conservancy and Trust (ANCAT); the Bahamas Reef Environment and Educational Foundation (BREEF); San Salvador Living Jewels; The Island School, Perry Institute for Marine Science, Nature’s Hope for Southern Andros; and others.  Notable international organizations include the Pew Charitable Trust, Bird Life International and the Nature Conservancy (the only international Conservation Organization operating an office in the Bahamas).

 

Mr. Speaker

There is much work to be done in conservation in The Bahamas.

Let us debate how we wish to develop our national consciousness about protected areas, funding them, managing them, identifying them and keeping them.”

Events

350 on Eleuthera: Clean, Green and Pristine

[slideshow]

On 10/10/10, people around the world organized Global Work Parties to help recognize climate challenges and solutions in their community. It’s called 350; 350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.

On 10/10/10, we, members of The Island School, Cape Eleuthera Institute, Deep Creek Middle School, and the Deep Creek community, celebrated climate solutions by working together to clean up Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update October 10, 2010

“King Bacon”

October 10 2010

By Caciques Marianne Foss-Skiftesvik and Augie Cummings

Sunday. A bonding day for all us students here at the island school. The majority of us spent the morning sleeping. As people snored and tossed, the sun implored and started to boss. “Wake up wake up!” its rays called upon us from our dorm windows. Some were weaker than others and gave up the fight with Mr. Sun, and groaningly ate granola. Others braved it out till king bacon, jelly, egg, toast and home fry, beckoned from their steaming thrones, resting among metal castles. North and south face off in a battle of the brave on the football field Continue reading →

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Cacique Update October 9, 2010

Students dance to local music at Wemyss Bight Homecoming

“How many activities does it take to exhaust 47 teenagers?”

October 9, 2010

By Caciques Chris Pibble and Sarah Francisco

We started our day with an extra early circle.  Everyone arrived groggy eyed and tired as we loaded up the bus on our way to Wemyss Bight for a race in honor of Olympic silver medalist, Chris “Fireman” Brown, the man who came in second to Hussein Bull in the 400m race.  The race was 4 miles long and it went in a large rectangle and returning to the start at the softball field.  Everyone was really pushing their limits on the run and as we rounded the second turn, I found myself (Sarah) running past Chris “Fireman” Brown who was walking.  I felt immensely proud of myself until about two minutes later when he flew past me.  This pattern continued until the end of the race when I ended up finishing ahead of an Olympian!  As people were coming in strong for their finish, everyone else lined up along the road and cheered them through the last turn and final few feet.  Once everyone was back, all of our individual success stories began to be shared. Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update October 8, 2010

“Sand and Smiles”

October 8, 2010 

by Caciques Jack DeVries and Megan Osborn

Instead of normal run or swim track as our morning exercise we split up into team sports this morning.  The choices were yoga, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, and water polo.  Volleyball was held on boys dorm beach during sunrise.  We dove into the fluffy sand as we reached for the volleyball flying through the air.  Cheers of encouragement rang through the morning air and the sun rose with our intensity for the game.  The end of our match covered us all in sand and smiles.   This was a refreshing change of the morning routine, which got everyone excited and ready to start the day.  After breakfast, we all went off to math, histories, and literature for our morning classes.  Histories class was especially interesting today due to our class activity of broadening our cultural perspectives.  Continue reading →

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A Fishing Story

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By Tucker B

The early morning sun beat down on Emmanuel’s back as he struggled to start the outboard motor on his small fishing boat. The weathered Boston Whaler was older than he was, but it had taken the years better than he had. The satisfying roar of the battered Yamaha engine brought him down to his seat on the gunwale with a smile. With a gentle twist of the throttle, the prow of the boat lifted clear of the water and he aimed it toward the mouth of the bay. The small metal craft bounded over the calm ocean, sending light jets of spray back on its wake. He relaxed in his seat and let the warm Continue reading →

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Fritter Sleeping Places

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Shoes are an important, but underrated, piece of daily Island School attire.  They shape your preparedness for any situation that comes your way – and at The Island School, that situation could be anything.  It’s not surprising that one may feel confused, if not overwhelmed, when choosing appropriate footwear in the morning.  Flip flops?  Sandals with ankle support?  Run-swims?  Swim-swims?  Run-runs?

What would Fritter do?  Sleep on it.  You’ll figure it out.

As always, “Fritter Sleeping Places” will be updated weekly for your visual enjoyment and personal enlightenment.  Can’t wait a week?  Sorry.  Fritter is asleep somewhere and is not currently accepting messages.  Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Fritter, whose only concern is with the time of dinner.