One of our pioneer, pre-semester students, Cameron McDowell, is the proud father of a beautiful baby boy name Finn Williams McDowell. Finn was born on July 12, weighing 7lbs 14 oz. Congratulations to Cameron and Jen and we can’t wait to get Finn down on the Cape!
–The Island School Family
Hannah Druckenmiller (F07) is back on Eleuthera, this time as an intern at CEI. She joins the aquaculture team this summer in between semesters at The Leland Stanford Junior University, where she is a rising sophomore. There she studies earthsystems, which is an interdisciplinary major encompassing environmental science, economics and politics. Following her semester at The Island School, Hannah knew she wanted to return, and decided on an aquaculture internship after hearing a lecture on the subject.
This is not her first trip back since she was a student, as she was on island for the 10-year reunion. The difference this time is that she’s getting her hands dirty. She’s also gotten close to some sharks since she’s been back, including watching a lemon shark rip a carcass off of a bait cage and spotting a hammerhead.
Her work here gives her a new appreciation for the Cape, and she’s enjoying being down here with the freedom to explore more than she could as a student. In the work she does, she’s also been given quite a bit of freedom to figure things out independently, “I didn’t know the first thing about oxygen generation equipment, but now I’m making recommendations on which systems to buy,” remarked Hannah.
When Hannah leaves in August, she’ll be headed back to California. She is looking forward to a 3-week camping trip to learn about the natural history of Monterey, before going back to class.
The following are two experiences written by Olivia and Julian, describing their experiences down island and kayaking last week, respectively.
After a tiring but exciting three days of kayaking and road tripping, twenty four students arose from their peaceful sleeps to begin a new adventure for the next three days. After morning circle, each group started preparing for a new adventure.
The DIRT (Down Island Road Trip) Team set out for a vigorous run/swim to energize us for the day. After a nice breakfast, we set out for their adventure. First stopping at Princess Cays and learning about the cruise ship industry, we explored the resort and its beauty. Next up was Governor’s Harbor. There we explored the small shopping center asking locals questions about the food and where it came from. Some students ate some local burgers and conch from a stand on the beach. Piling into the van, we headed for the abandoned US navy base. There, while mesmerized by the crumbling building, we learned about how this base was used during the cold war. We learned that the old naval base church now housed meeting for Haitian voodoo and got to look at some of characters first hand. Extremely sweaty and hot, we changed and headed down to the navy beach where we got our first glimpse of the soft pink sand that we heard so much about. After splashing in the waves for some time, we changed and headed to James Cistern to eat at a local restaurant with great food. Tired and stomachs full we got into the van one last time for the night. After driving for a while we finally arrived at out camp site right outside of Preacher’s Cave. Flashlights in hand, we stepped into the engulfing cave and stared in awe at the structure of the site. After a long day, we set up our tents and went to sleep, dreaming of the next day’s excitement.
KAYAK 2 woke up Thursday morning we knowing the challenges ahead of us. A three-day trip that would include a long kayak journey, camping on the beach, and the 24-hour solo that we have heard about so much. Packing all personal and group gear we were all on the water. Kayaking long and hard we reached our destination of Red Bay. Here we loaded all gear on the boat and split up in group focusing on certain jobs so our pasta dinner could be successfully made. Pasta on the beach was a success and certain questions and concerns were addressed during our briefing around the bonfire about the solo. Packing or essentials for our time alone was completed and we all headed to bed early enough to get sufficient sleep to wake up at 5:30 and commence our 24 hours. We were all spread across the beach 100 yards away from each other. Theses spots are where we had to stay and spend the night. Everyone’s night was long, rough, hot, buggy, and lonely. These moments were all shared and told when we were back at base camp eating breakfast and preparing for another kayak back to campus.
The following blog was written by Caciques Blake and Adam from Sunday, July 17th.
The sun’s rays beamed onto my body as I stood with my peers together at dinner circle. The circle seemed perfect, reflecting how our student body has grown into an intricate community. While the sky turns orange around us, we await the new, approaching horizon in our 10 days we have left here. Ten days for Human Ecology projects. Ten days to complete our research projects. Ten days to continue the physical journey that will conclude with a challenging triathlon. As the community takes a moment of silence, my mind drifts away into how we spent our Sunday.
Our relaxing day began with some of us trickling through the dining hall for a casual granola and milk breakfast, or exploring the loop and having breakfast at the Marina coffee shop.
Others chose to sleep in and wake up for a special free diving session in the morning with founder Chris Maxey, while a few students ventured off to church in the local settlements. This time, we explored Cathedral, a common dive site reaching fifty feet in some places. The broad range of depths along the reef allowed everyone to have a great time: the more natural snorkelers could attempt to reach the sandy bottom, while others like myself were content exploring the top of the reef at a comfortable fifteen feet. Without our noisy SCUBA regulators and gear, we were able to swim within a few feet of any given fish.
After the noontime circle, we had an exemplary Sunday brunch with a wide array of delicious options such as scrambled eggs, bacon, pizza, toast, and pasta. After a hearty meal, students relaxed at Sunset Beach, discussing their experiences on the Down Island road trip as well as the solo on the Kayak trip. Some students participated in pick up basketball while others decided to get a head start on their “This I Believe” audio essays that expresses a belief that came from observations made during the Down Island trip.
As the moment of silence is suddenly broken, my mind turns back to our circle. All twenty four students and eleven faculty members can see each other, sharing a newly formed bond that has come from our daily challenges as well as relaxation time we all can afford on our Sundays off. As the circle physically breaks for dinner, I can only assume that this circle can never fully break in a place where the sun always seems to shine.
September 15, 2011 UPDATE:
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We last heard from Hannah before she left for China to study Chinese for 6 weeks through the NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth) a program run by the US State Department. Now that she has returned to the United States, she has sent along these pictures and this reflection:
“I truly had an amazing experience there, and I had the opportunity to try new things and push my boundaries just like at Island School but in a slightly different way. Even while in China Island School was still in my heart. I wanted to send along 2 pictures of me that I thought may be nice for the Island School Blog. The first is of me on the Great Wall sporting an Island School t-shirt (I am small in the picture but I think you can still see the mutton snapper). The second is a picture of me in the Beijing Hanban Center which is an organization committed to making the Chinese language and culture teaching resources and services available to the world. There I am standing next to the beautiful Bahamian Flag.”
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On the tip of Eleuthera, the Cape Eleuthera Island School is continuing to expand its Bahamian Apprentice programme. This summer, six Bahamians are joining teachers, researchers, mechanics and farmers to learn the tools of the trades. The hope is that they will take their skills and learning back to their home settlements and communities. Participants in this year’s programme are Nicoya Taylor of Deep Creek, Serrano Gibson of Wemyss Bight, Ted Hall of Rock Sound, Troy Williams, Stanchez Ferguson of Waterford, and Perry Ford of Wemyss Bight. The apprenticeships will run through the 19th of August.
This year the program has expanded to include biodiesel manufacturing, auto and boat mechanic work, permaculture (farming), educational programmes, culinary arts, and facilities maintenance. There are also research opportunities available to college students and recent college graduates offered through Cape Eleuthera Institute. Cristal Munroe, of Nassau and graduate of the University of New Brunswick, and Tika Penn, also of Nassau and currently studying Small Island Sustainability at the College of The Bahamas are the first of what stands to be a long line of scholars to go through the program.
Continuing to expand the program will be made possible, in large part, because of the generous support through donations and sponsorships made by local people and businesses. “What will allow this programme to continue reaching more young people is community support,” said Kalin Griffin, human resources director.
The aim of the programme is to teach students skills they can use in the real world, skills that supplement what they are learning in school. “They are learning to solve real world issues in the areas of renewable energy, sustainable development, environmental conservation, and food security. The transferrable skills and knowledge that they gain through this apprenticeship is incredible. I hope that more young persons will apply for these apprenticeships,” added Griffin. The Cape Eleuthera Island School and Cape Eleuthera Institute provide an ideal setting for a wide variety of apprenticeship opportunities because of the facilities and type of work that goes on there.
To learn more about the apprenticeship programme, or what you can do to support it, please contact the Cape Eleuthera Island School at 242.334.8551, or visit their website at http://ceibahamas.org/local-students.aspx.
After one night back on campus to swap stories and modes of transportation, Summer Term headed back out into the field to explore Eleuthera by kayak and van.
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The following cacique update was written by Miya and Henry as they reflected on their experience on the 3 day kayak/ solo trip. This week, the Island School campus (and blogosphere) is quiet as Summer Term is off on expedition. Miya and Henry dropped off this post in between trips.
The silvery light dances along the water, gracing the gentle waves with its ethereal beams of lights. The sky around the almost perfectly round moon radiates a soft white glow. The wind gently whispers through the trees, accompanied by the calming chirping of more insects than I could count in a lifetime. Our solos varied greatly, some capturing a magical day that can never be forgotten, some a demanding challenge, and all of the places between. The past three days marks a number of firsts for me. I have never been away from people for an entire day. I have never slept away from my bed as long as our three-day kayak and solo trip.
Our escapade began with a lengthy kayak journey against the winds and currents to Red Bay with a brief stop at Broad creek for lunch – a preferential place for me, as it is one of our research sites for the Flats team. After arriving, we set up camp and cooked some delicious homemade pizzas, with Bazl’s onion, peppers, and cheese mountain of goodness taking home the first place prize in my humble opinion. The next day went by in a blur for me – the legendary solos. Twenty-four hours of time to put our tarps, food, sleeping bags, dromedaries, bug nets, and minds to good use. John Schatz collected us in the morning, bleary eyed and slightly mosquito bitten in some cases, and led a brief circle of reflection on our respective days. The remainder of our day involved a much easier and briefer paddle with the wind back past school (and a blue hole) to the picturesque white sand and turquoise water of the sandbars just offshore of campus, where we enjoyed a well earned lunch of PB&J Tacos. After a short trip back to school and a frenzy of unpacking, cleaning the boats, and showering, we reunited with the other half of the class that had returned from their Down Island Road Trip, which we leave for tomorrow morning.
[slideshow]Here’s another installment of “spot the mutton” sent to us by an IS Alum:
Brandon Gell (Island School Fall 2010) recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, with his sister and father. Brandon brought Island School stickers to place along the climb. The first picture is a sticker on a rescue hut at about 15,000 feet; the second picture is of Brandon with an Island School sticker in the background at Uhuru peak, 19,340 feet, the highest point in Africa!
For more information about Brandon’s experience, visit this site.
Congratulations Brandon!
Perry Forbes is from Wemyss Bight and is a student at St. John’s University in Minnesota. His major is environmental management, and he is back at CEI this year to participate in the Apprentice Programme. He shares his thoughts on working at the Cape Eleuthera Island School below:
My name is Perry Forbes and I am currently in the summer apprenticeship at the Island School. I am working in the boat house under Jessie Pearce who runs the boat house. In the three short weeks of working with him I have learned how to perform basic of maintenance on boats, how to inspect and repair SCUBA equipment, as well as how to drive boats the correctly.
In addition to working in the boat house I also work with the educational programmes at the school. When working in this department I would usually give tours to parents and their children, supervise and be an active part of summer camps, as well as informing children about their environmental responsibilities.