Hello from Eleuthera!

Today was just another day in paradise down in the Islands. It’s crazy to think that in less then 10 days are parents will be down here to experience our new home.  The memories, knowledge, and laughs we have made already are priceless and we will never forget them.  New memories were made during our action packed day.

We started the day off with a taste of adventure when most of us went free diving at 6:15 this morning.  It was amazing to see my classmates improving their free diving skills and reaching depth of 50 feet with a single breathe.  Everyone was encouraging each other to go deeper and push their limits.  During this single experience you were able to see all of us stretch ourselves in new ways.

After free diving we lost some of our community to the down island trip.  They will begin to explore the impact of tourism and development in the Bahamas. As I experienced they will have the chance to interact with locals and tourist and learn about their views on tourism and how it impacts the culture and land in the Bahamas.  They will also be met with surprises around every corner and will experience the true beauty and history of Eleuthera. Even though it was sad to see them leave I know they will make memories down there that will last a lifetime.

Today during my sustainable system class our class learned all about aquaponics.  Aquaponics is a system that uses fish waste to help grow vegetables that we eat here on campus. We got to work with one of the interns who is working on the system and help her out with her work.  We picked lettuce, basil, and mint that will be used in our meals later this week. We also got to harvest fish to fillet, so we could have them as a meal one day.  Many of us learned that is much harder to fillet a fish then you think and you mostly end up with fish guts all over your hands. Overall, it was a great experience to see how we are using to resources that work together to help us give locally grown food.

As each day goes by it’s sad to think that our experience at the Island School is almost over.  I know we will continue to make new experiences here and continue to grow into young adults.  This place has truly become our second home and we have all been deeply affected by this place in every positive way.

The caciques

John Esposito and Emma Murphy

Greeting from Eleuthera!

As we woke to the sunrise, with smiles on our faces, but no shoes on our feet we kicked off our day with our fifth run swim. While others claimed not to be sore enough from past workouts Jason promised that wouldn’t be the case to day. After workout, we went off to chores to start the rest of our day. With full stomachs from breakfast we head off to our second day of new classes. Some will be researching exploring flats and catching turtles, while others dive deep into the separate world of the sea and others make sustainable Biodiesel fuel.

During sustainable systems, we learned all about the chemistry and process of the making of fuel from vegetable oil, which powers the schools vans and cars. While this happened, marine ecology went to a really amazing coral system called Tunnel Rock, where they observed and took notes on the surrounding coral and fish.

The research team went out to look for sea turtles; after seeing three turtles thy finally caught one. We followed the turtle to tire it out. Then Jessie jumped in swam after it and pulled it up to the boat. Once the green sea turtle was on the boat, we flipped its body over to measure and attach a tracking signal to it. Once we were done, we released the turtle back into the sea, we were sad to see it go, but happy to see it free. The little turtle gave us a glimpse of the life of a researcher, which created a unique experience for us. As we are almost half way through our second week of classes, we are happy to be cacique because the weeks are short, but the days are long.

So long from your caciques,

Michael and Taylor 

Hey everyone!

Today was our first day of our second academic week, so we got to begin a new adventure in Tourism and Development, while the other two groups dove into Marine Ecology and Sustainable Systems. The Tourism and Development group separated into two groups; one researching sea turtles and the other exploring Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) in the mangrove forests.

In the REA group, we set up seining nets to trap in all organisms within the mangroves. We trekked up the mangrove flat in order to note all of the species living within the ecosystem, and with the help of the CEI researchers, we laid out a 50 meter transect line and used quadrats to measure which organisms were in each area. At first, the work seemed very tedious, but after spending hours with our masks and snorkels submerged in the water, face to face with stingrays, baby lemon sharks, many species of fish, and the occasional lionfish, we learned all about the diversity that the mangroves have to offer. We became engrossed in our work and enthusiastically splashed down the creek in an attempt to corral the species in the net. Unfortunately after a tiring journey, nothing was captured… and after a small moment of defeat, we realized the amazing diversity of species we encountered upstream made our experience completely worth it and that sometimes the best experiences are the ones you don’t see coming.

Similarly to the REA group not everything in the turtle research went as planned but that’s just fieldwork. We were divided into two research groups one which joined the REA group with the seining nets and another that would track and tag turtles in the open water. My group ended up doing a little of both but since the turtles seemed to be a little shy today, we got to bait and set a number of video traps down Eleuthera’s coast. Surprisingly this was one of the most exciting experiences I had that day. Diving down and baiting the traps was much harder than I expected. Not only this but while we were baiting the traps it ended up attracting a 6 foot nurse shark! At fist I was I was frightened by its large size but after observing unthreatening presence I realized it was more afraid of us than I was of it as it quickly swam away.

From these experiences we have learned that not everything in life goes as planned and also keeping an open will help you be ready for anything life throws at you.

Your daily Caciques

Jessie & Graham

Hello from Eleuthera!

What a week it has been! Our first academic rotation comes to an end, and we are all amazed at the amount of knowledge we received from our different classes. From learning to fillet a fish, to discovering a myriad of underwater creatures, to exploring and understanding the culture of Eleuthera, this week has been full of excitement and overwhelming discoveries. Finally the Island School community is complete again, with our fellow students having returned from their down island trip.

Last night was a whirlwind of excitement and emotion. Dressed in our best dinner attire, the family that has developed here at the Island School gathered in the boathouse for a wonderful event called coffeehouse. Everyone was amazed by the first performance: an a capella arrangement sung by Annie, Pablo, Maggie, and current cacique Nirina! The enthusiasm grew as we witnessed faculty performances, including a wacky skit from Liz. We saw fantastic guitar performances from Wyatt, Jimmy, Megan (who also sang), and interns Ryan and Brandon. Wild card Emma Murphy sang to Scarlet’s Ukulele and amazed us all with her unknown talent. Maggie blew us away with a fun rendition of Jackson 5’s “I want you back.” We closed coffeehouse with an Island School dance party, in which many of us tried line dancing for the first time. The feeling of community that comes from dancing wildly with great friends is unrivaled by any other. Finally, to settle us down, Liz and Whit lead a meditative and relaxing activity, where we laid down in lines with our feet pressed against the feet of a friend and silently listened to calming music. Who knew so much bonding could occur in one evening?

As we left the boathouse, we were awed by the stunning array of stars that glittered in the night sky. I (Nikki) have never beheld such a beautiful sky; the lack of excessive light pollution made for an intensely clear view of the numerous constellations. I (Nirina) did an amazing chase of shooting stars with Pablo, Annie, Claire, Ben, Graham, and Matthew Lapuck (see photo taken by Graham). The pure vibrancy of the nature above us was comforting and offered us pleasant dreams in the surprisingly cool night air.

While some of us attended morning yoga led by Tori before breakfast on our second day off of the term, others enjoyed a well-deserved sleep in. We hope we can safely say that we all woke up feeling accomplished and proud of all the hard work and “stretching” that we have completed this week. Today brings the promise of relaxation and reflection as we attempt another long Querencia. Our sense of place continues to develop as we feel more and more connected to this place we have begun to call home. We can’t wait for all the surprises and experiences the coming week will bring!

Your caciques of the day,

Nikki Taylor and Nirina Randrianarisoa

Hi from Cape Eleuthera!

Its funny how time works here in Eleuthera. Everyday is packed with so many adventures that it feels like a month, but when you take a step back to look at all you have accomplished, it seems like only a day has gone by. Today, the final day of the first academic rotation, marks the halfway point in the Summer 2015’s journey at the Island School. After only a short sixteen days we have stretched ourselves in so many ways—from jumping off high rock, to scuba diving, and making friendships that will last a lifetime.

Following circle this morning, students split up for the usual morning exercise. Except today was different. Under the rising sun, some of us challenged ourselves to find out more about our sense of place through a rejuvenating yoga session in the boathouse (which was much needed after the intense martial-art training last night)! Others made their way to a nearby cut for an epic game of water polo! The final score was 4-4! Who knows? They might just have to finish the game during the free day tomorrow!

This afternoon the Queen Triggers suited up for our last dive in Marine Eco. Focusing on the diverse fish life on the patch reefs, we took out our dive slates and began to explore. While on the reef, we saw Yellowtail Snapper, a school of Blue Chromis, and even a giant hermit crab! Probably the best part of the dive was having the opportunity to explore around Tunnel Rock—one of the best dive sites near the Island School. Today’s dive was a great way to end an exciting and informative week of class.

Meanwhile, the Blue Tangs finished off their Sustainable Systems class by presenting their final projects. We heard that there were a bunch of cool and innovative ideas that could really make an impact if brought to the Island School campus! Oh! The Sargent Majors have returned from their adventures down island! This means that for the first time in two days, we have a full Island School community once again!

Hearing the amazing stories from the Down Island Trip and sharing stories of our own, simply heightened everyone’s excitement to begin the next academic rotation on Tuesday. Tomorrow we have our second day off (everyone is looking forward to a sleep in after the busy week)! Then we will begin our second academic rotation with Queen Triggers on Tourism and Development, Blue Tang on Marine Eco, and the Sargent Majors taking on Sustainable Systems! But before we get to that, the community will be sharing their widespread talents tonight at coffee house!

I (Emily) cannot believe how much I have grown over the last two weeks. Not only have I faced my fear of heights, but I have begun to gain an understanding of what my place in this world is and how my presence impacts the space around me. I have learned so much from this community that I plan to hold onto for the rest of my life. I can’t put into words how excited I am to compare the person I was at the beginning of this journey to the person I will be by the end. I (Ben) am in awe of how much I have grown as a person and as an individual in this short time. In the beginning I was hesitant to step outside my shell, talk to new people and explore the world around me. Today I feel like I have known this community for a lifetime and all the worries and hesitations have evaporated. The first sixteen days have truly been the best of our lives; we can’t wait to experience all that the next sixteen have in store!

Your Caciques of the day,

-Ben Crandall and Emily Yeager

Greetings From Eleuthera!

As the first academic rotation comes to a near close, we are amazed at the knowledge we have learned. Whether we have been wiring an off-grid system at the Center for Sustainable Development, snorkeling through mangroves or heading off on the Down-Island Overnight Trip, these past days have been transforming for us. It is amazing how fast time here on Eleuthera is flying, so it is important for us to cherish the time that we have left together. From laying under the magnificent starry sky, to stretching by the sunrise for our community run, our sense of place on Eleuthera and the bonds we have made with each other are stronger than ever.

This morning’s exercise through the Inner Loop challenged many of us, as we were told to run for twenty minutes, turn around, and run twenty minutes back to campus. Forty minutes of running sounded impossible to achieve, but as the smell of fresh rain wafted in the air, we all set out and did it. Whether we took a minute to walk, ran slowly or sprinted the entire way, every one of us finished with a smile on our face and a feeling of accomplishment.

During the morning class, a group of students in the Sustainable Systems rotation watched a documentary about Cuba’s response to a cut-off of energy resources when the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990’s. After watching for a while, we gathered around a large table and jumped into discussion about whether or not an energy cut-off could occur in the United States, and if so, how we would respond to it. Many in the group had varying opinions and points to make, which only made the discussion richer and more intriguing. It is amazing how eager the students here at the Island School are to learn and to talk about ideas that get us excited.

This afternoon, the Marine Ecology class traveled to Tunnel Rock for scuba diving, in attempts to find and study invertebrates on the reef. As we approached the site, the usual nerves and excitement hit as we strapped our gear on and rolled backwards off the boat into the calm, warm water. While descending into the ocean, our dive leader pointed out to our immediate left a two- foot long barracuda menacingly watching us go down. After descending into the extensive sea, we broke off into groups and swam around the reef. The silence of the ocean put us in the present moment, and reminded us to stay connected to where we are.

As these last few days have flown by, we are amazed that we have learned so much about ourselves and about the world in such a short time. We are eager to keep learning, to keep asking questions, and to solidify the bonds that we have started to cultivate.

Your Caciques,

Isabel and Tyler

Hello Island School Blog Readers!

Here at the Island School we are given the opportunity to learn through hands on experiences. We often learn about a topic in the classroom and then move outside to see it in person. There is no better way to understand a topic than to physically do it yourself.

One group of students has been working with research teams from the Cape Eleuthera Institute for the past two days. Yesterday one of these small groups was sent out to help collect tanks with the deep sea research team. While we were out we lifted up two traps from below 1200 meters! Seeing the creatures that we had caught come up from the depths was an experience that I will never forget. Once we had brought both of the traps in the boat we came back to the institute to get a much better look at the isopods. Most students dissect frogs or pigs but here we dissect Giant Isopods that live in waters that go below 4 degrees Celsius! These experiences help to connect us to our immediate environment and in this case a part of the environment that people know very little about. We are learning so much about not only our new Bahamian home we can see, but even the mysteries in the deepest depths.

A second group of students spent the day working with electricity. In the morning we were in the classroom learning all about electricity and how it works. We discussed everything from how the Island School gets their electricity to how much electricity costs in countries around the globe. After gaining this better understanding we moved to the Center for Sustainability Development building so that we could take electricity into our own hands. When we arrived we split into two groups and had two different projects. Once we finished one project we switched and took on the next. One project was to wire a light switch to a circuit breaker and the other was to wire an off-grid system that connected a solar panel to a car battery. Our group had some trouble with wiring the light switch but learned a lot in the process. We were successful with our solar panel and it was a great moment when we connected the final wires and saw the two lights start to shine!

After spending some time here at the Island School we are beginning to get a closer look at how things work. After learning about the electricity at the Island School we now understand why we conserve our electricity as well as what happens when we flip our light switches. By going out with the deep sea research team we learned about how research is conducted here at CEI. All of our hands on experiences here allow us to personally become part of our island community and gain a deeper appreciation for all that goes on here.

Your caciques,

Kelly G. and John M.

Hello everyone!!

After our early morning exercise (a psycho), we began our first day of classes; split up into three groups: Marine Ecology, Sustainable Systems and Tourism and Development. I (Hunter) was in Sustainable Systems. Our day consisted of harvesting and filleting tilapia and picking basil over at Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI). My experience with filleting fish allowed me to help my fellow dorm-mate, Pablo, effectively harvest as much meat as possible off of the fish. It was a new experience for most students but we all enjoyed learning what CEI has to offer. The new groups are filled with excitement and everyone is happy to dive into learning about the systems we have on campus.

I (Eleonor) dove into Marine Ecology. We started the day off at the floating gazebo observing different aspects of the mangrove ecosystem. From Bone fish, to puffer fish we saw a huge variety of marine life. We began piecing together how everything in the mangroves functions on a daily basis. We continued class that afternoon 40 feet underwater, scuba diving at Tunnel Rock. Paired up in buddies we observed a designated patch of coral to try and understand what parts different species play in the coral ecosystem.

The Tourism and Development group have been researching deep sea creatures and sting rays. Every day they come back from their expeditions with crazy stories ranging from pulling up traps for almost two hours to catching seven sting rays. Tomorrow they will depart on their Down Island Trip. We wish them luck as they set off to explore the rest of the Island.

The change in schedule has proven to be challenging yet exciting. We are all looking forward to what is to come in the next few days.

Your Caciques of the day,

Eleonor Bauwens and Hunter Salmon

Good Morning Everyone,

Here at the Island School, we are constantly pushed physically and mentally.  Every activity we do is meant to stretch our abilities and broaden our horizons.  We are often pushed to our limits but in doing so we discover things about ourselves we never knew and gain strength and support within our community.  One of the most challenging parts of the Island School experience is the exercises.  When describing the workouts to our friends and family, they often asked if we were going to a military camp.  Even though we do take navy showers, it is so much more than that.

The Island School approaches every activity with an optimistic, enthusiastic attitude that can turn any task into a valuable lesson.  The workouts are no exception.  This quote summarizes the community’s attitude towards morning exercises: “We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong.  The amount of work is the same.” –Carlos Castaneda. We are constantly challenged and pushed to try new things, and although this is often difficult as a community we persevere through it and become stronger.

Last night when Liz told us we would be waking up at 6 am to do a workout called “psycho”, we were all pretty nervous for the morning to come.  Sure enough, the next day we all awoke and gathered at circle to find out what they had in store for us.  After being divided by North and South wing, we were told that psycho was like “Simon says” on steroids.  Whatever our leader did, we did.  This meant if he dropped and did push ups, we dropped and did push ups.  If he sprinted, we sprinted.  If he challenged us to a plank contest, we beat him in a plank contest…or at least tried to.  So together, with the rising sun in the distance and the moon still hanging in the sky, we ran around campus following our ever “psycho” leader.

Despite the temptation to give up and go back to sleep in our dorms, we forged on through the workout, all of us supporting each other and at times metaphorically and literally carrying each other to the finish.  It was a challenge for all of us but we did it as a team and saw it not as a tedious experience but as an opportunity to grow and create a stronger community.

Jimmy & Annie