The second half of GWUOHS’s time here on the Cape was filled with adventures in and out of creeks and bays, down island, and – most challengingly – along our very own loop! Wednesday morning, students joined The Island School Summer Term to complete part of the Monster Run Swim course. Having no real mental or physical preparation for such an intense morning of exercise, it was incredible to see all 7 push themselves in ways not even they believed they could, and all were extremely satisfied, elated – not to mention relieved – to come back to campus and touch that flagpole. Not to have it seem their efforts were a fluke, they were back in the water on Thursday, running and swimming through Current Cut while completing a Govia– we tip our swim caps off to them!
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After brushing off the sand and salt on Wednesday, the group made their way to both Cotton Bay and Jack’s Bay for a day spent seining for juvenile bonefish. They must have been good luck, as our flats team was able to haul in a few where they normally can’t find many, in addition to a number of other fish! In similar style, the better part of Thursday was spent first seining for bonefish in Broad Creek, and then measuring and tagging them. While several students honed their skills with a tagger, others nailed down the perfect way to handle a sneaky, slippery bonefish. In all, we were able to bring in about 75 fish – quite a large catch for the day!
As a reward for their weeklong efforts, students were given the chance to explore the rest of Eleuthera on their last day here. This involved seeing the Glass Window Bridge, lunch in Gregory Town, climbing the Banyan Tree, and jumping into the Rock Sound Ocean Hole. They returned Friday evening to give a presentation on their work, and it is safe to say that they succeeded in being sponges and embracing all there is to know at CEI and The Island School in such a brief amount of time. They left here Saturday morning with – hopefully – a newfound sense of confidence and stewardship that they can carry forward with them as they embark on their next year of schooling. We wish them well and hope to see them back on the island in one way or another!