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Adventures in Human Ecology

By Heather Seeley

During this week’s exploration in Human Ecology class, we were able to experience the process that sustains the livelihoods of countless Bahamians: fishing. We were lucky enough to learn from Nehemiah, a Bahamian fisherman who grew up in a fishing family and claims that he could “be out on the water all day, just looking at the ocean floor.” The main theme that we discussed this week in class was the spectrum of environmental ideologies, which ranges from unrestrained instrumentalism – the most anthropocentric ideology – to transformative ideologies, which are the most ecocentric beliefs and practices. I struggled to connect this spectrum idea with the purpose of our fishing trip; that is until I heard Nehemiah’s personal concerns about the depletion of fish populations and economic depression of the fishing industry in Eleuthera. Continue reading

Fritter Sleeping Places

We’re all different here at The Island School.  Some of us were born to run; some of us enjoy a refreshing swim.  There are those who delight in Mondays and Fridays, days on which alternative exercises are scheduled: team sports, biking the inner loop, or yoga.

It’s all about finding the right AM pick-me-up.  What does Fritter suggest?  Sleep track.

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.

Cacique Update September 30, 2010

“Our Month-iversary “

September 30, 2010                                    

By Caciques Margaux Burnham and Liam Donovan

Today, as everyone leisurely started the morning exercise, our good friend Tropical Storm Nicole introduced herself to the Island School community. While we had heard news about the storm the night before, we were not fully prepared for its strength. The howling wind accompanied with buckets and sheets of powerful rain came upon us during Run/Swim Tracks. Fortunately, there was no sign of lightening, so we were able to continue. The tired runners were blown sideways with heavy spears of rain darting into their faces. The swimmers were woken up by the sudden frigid water of the Current Cut and the blistering precipitation on the run there.

After the grueling, but fun, morning exercise Continue reading

The Perfect Change of Plans

by Meaghan & Marianne

High winds and a strong current did not stop our patch reef research group from collecting data this past Friday. A shift in plans from going out on Kenny T resulted in a group bike ride to Fourth Hole beach. There, the eight of us geared up with our masks, snorkels and dive slates. As soon as we made it to the reef, we began to record the species we had just learned in class. Only three weeks into the program, we are able to identify over Continue reading

Cacique Update September 29, 2010

“Ecology Class Adventures”

September 29, 2010

By Caciques Scott Endzel and Catharine Pirie

As half of us met in the boathouse nervously waiting for what our scuba instructors Ian and Kristen were going to teach us, we set up our equipment. As we sat awaiting instruction, they began teaching us how to maneuver with our compasses. They laid out lesson plans for the class, so that we could achieve our Advanced Open Water certificates, which consist of many underwater adventures. We headed out on the Red Rising and Kenny T to triangle cut. As we back rolled into the murky water we were swarmed by jellyfish. The stings in the face and through our rash gaurds did not stop us as we slowly descended with our buddies and began our underwater navigation. The small harmless jellyfish, though shocking, barely made a mark as we navigated through the water. We split up into buddy pairs and had to navigate ourselves in a 50 by 50 square. Continue reading

Cacique Update September 28, 2010

“The Island Community”

September 28, 2010

A Poem Update by Caciques George Giannos and Meagan Kachadoorian

Community meeting brought us all together
To discuss leadership and escape the rainy weather
We were all ecstatic to enjoy each other’s thoughts
And listened while we gave appreciations for the good deeds they had brought

As homework built up, so did a tad bit of stress
Our “Older Leaders” were there to help us through the mess
With our community growing stronger and though it was sappy
We ended dinner circle with our quote, “don’t worry, be happy.”

Scuba duba doo, where are you…GOBIES

by: Team Acult Research: Lea Luniewicz, Nate Smith-Ide, Gian Paul Graziosi, Catharine Pirie and Augi Cummings

This was serious. This was by no means meant to be a fun dive. Dropping underneath ol’ blue, we were there for a purpose. We had one goal and one goal only…to catch some Gobies. Diving down like navy seals, we hunted around Cathedral Rock for our prize. For thirty minutes we searched high and low for those pesky fish. Hiding within the brainy coral, we scavenged like dogs the underwater realm. Spotlight gobies, commonly confused for Continue reading

Cacique Update September 27, 2010

“Wait…How Much Time Is Left?”

September 27, 2010

By Caciques Nate Smith-Ide and Hunter Foote

Mondays at the Island School mean we made it through yet another week; we added another notch onto our belt. Entering week five here feels unreal. Our first phone times with parents feels like only two days ago, but at the same time, orientation feels like ages ago. Time is tricky here; it never seems to make sense. What we want to draw out and enjoy, like our favorite classes or Saturday nights, feels like milliseconds. The belt of time is tightening down on us. We don’t have that much time left. It is constantly said in the girls’ dorm, “Don’t count down the days. Make the days count.” Five weeks down, nine short weeks to go. Continue reading

FA10 Deep Water Shark Research!

Attaching a satellite tag to a gulper shark

Written by Aubrey, Taylor, Dorothy, Ally, Clay, Liam

Not many are aware that little to no information is known on 90% of the ocean. Our goal as the Deep Water Shark research team is to collect data on deep-water shark species, and maybe even discover new species. Through use of 1100 meters of line and extensive deep water surveying, we are catching and tagging deep-water elasmobranchs. After in depth analysis, we hope that this new data will provide a basis for future Island School semesters, but more importantly it will provide knowledge and data for fisheries of the Bahamas, and other researchers.

measuring a shark that got eaten by something bigger while on the line

With little knowledge on what we were doing, we spent our first day out on the water with Dr. Dean Grubbs, an experienced shark researcher and professor from FSU, hauling up the line from the depths of the ocean. Our first day was very successful, as we caught two Big-eyed sixgill sharks, and two Continue reading

Cacique Update September 26, 2010

“A Relaxing Day on the Cape”

by Caciques Clay Bales and Allegra Rumbough

Today we had the entire day to explore the Cape. Many of us took advantage of our sleep in, and then were off on adventure. Some of us found ourselves exploring the old abandoned clubhouse in the innerloop, but many of us headed down to the coffee shop. The coffee shop is only open to the Island School students on Sundays, so everyone is always looking forward to the weekend. The coffee shop has the same buzz as any other coffee shop in the States. There is always a nice waft of coffee beans and cinnamon in the air. Not to mention the air conditioning! Some people enjoy quality time for themselves while others chat and Continue reading