by Caciques Jack and Kate

We started the day with a long morning exercise (all the guys were late because no one set an alarm in boys dorm). After morning circle we separated into our tracks. I (Jack) did swim track and we swam from the boathouse, up to the current cut, through the current cut to the second bridge and back about a total of two miles, during the swim. I (Kate) did run track and we did an out and back to Deep Creek. We ran as far as we could for 36 minutes and then turned around. I ran with Jane, and we ran as fast as we could on the way there and then planned to slow down on the way back. Within the last minute, we came around the corner and saw the old Deep Creek airport, which is the 4 mile mark. We were both so excited to reach the old airport because neither of us had made it that far yet. We were also able to reach the flagpole (where we end each run) at around 1 hour and 12 minutes, which meant that we basically kept the same pace on the way back. Although we both felt good about that run, the upcoming half marathon still seems very ambitious. After long morning exercise, we had Literature, Math and Marine Ecology class. Continue reading →

by Cacique Carter

Community meetings are my favorite part of the week. On Monday, the groups ofIslandSchoolstudents (K1 andK2) and faculty on campus gathered together to discuss, reflect, and acknowledge recent events, feelings, and actions. Having just been reunited together after our separate kayak trips, we all had so much to catch up on. For me, the best and most memorable part of this meeting was when we shared with the rest of the community our favorite part of our kayak trip. It was incredible how, when one person shared their own story, the eleven other people in their group were equally as entertained and inspired. Anika recalled a moment when K1 was dragging their kayaks through a mangrove swamp, and when all hopes were down, Zeeke brought out candy and cookies, which he shared with the rest of the group! As Anika shared her story, the rest of K1 laughed, moaned, and cheered for Zeeke in unison. Continue reading →

by Cacique Zeke

Today, the Island School students remaining on campus, those done braving Eleuthera’s treacherous waters with kayaks made a trip to Princess Cays, a popular resort destination for passengers traveling on the Princess cruise ships. The resort was jam-packed full of swimsuit-wearing tourists, enjoying its beaches, waters, and refreshments under the warm Bahamian sun. First, we received a tour of the resort, which ended at the buffet. Everyone’s eyes widened when we gazed upon all that good-looking food: as much as we wanted provided graciously by Princess Cruise lines! We then proceeded to pile our plates with hamburgers, hotdogs, fruits, and desserts, and then ate ourselves into oblivion! The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around Princess Cays, collecting interviews for our history projects where we asked about different perspectives on tourism.  We also checked out the specialties of local vendors stationed in the resort. We all had fun a fun and interesting time at Princess Cays. We left the resort at 2:15 and got back to The Island School in time for exploration time.

by Cacique Jane Drinkard

Seeing the blue roofs ahead of us while driving in the van after 8 long days of kayak was both exciting and sad. It marked the end of our kayak journey and the beginning of the rest of our semester here at The Island School. I thought back to the feeling I had the first time I saw the campus and I recognized that same sense of freshness. It was almost unfamiliar now that we had been through kayak. It was almost as if entirely new students had arrived to take on bigger and better roles at The Island School. If there’s one thing I learned on kayak its appreciation. Appreciation for the food I shovel into my mouth without tasting, the warmth of a hug, and for the things we are able to accomplish when everyone works together. On the fourth day of kayaking, during the crunch of the midday heat, we decided to turn our kayaks into a sailboat. Honestly the first thought that came into my mind was no way this is going to work. Continue reading →

by Cacique Tessa Tracy

Today was a busy day of Island School life! On Sunday we had a routine school day, so today was our free day for the week, but with more Kayak andDownIslandgroups leaving tomorrow, the day was packed. Last night, when I was on my night dive, the first kayak group to finish their 8-day came home. I was excited to hear that they all had an amazing time, and a bunch felt it was the best part ofIslandSchoolthus far. But still, they were reluctant to tell us too much, especially in terms of our 48-hour solo. After a long day of packing and logistics I am at the edge of my seat in anticipation. Part of me is nervous, because I know it will be long and hard, but most of me is excited for bonfires and beautiful sights. My group, K3, is changing it up by having some students hiking along shore while other students are kayaking. Between kayaking through the windy weather we have been getting, and snorkeling stunning reefs, this will be an action packed trip. Every challenge I have faced here so far has proven to be for the best, so I have no doubt that I will gain something from this adventure. I can already tell these will be eight days that I will remember forever.

by Cacique Grace

Skimming over clear blue water in the setting sun, we raced towards Tunnel Rock before dark set in. After several attempts thwarted by bad weather, several students finally got the chance to go night diving. Excited chatter and worries about man-eating sharks filled the boat ride to the reef. Before we knew it, we had plopped backwards off the boat into darkness. Slowly, we made our way to the seafloor forty feet below. Swimming around the base of the reef, we watched coral polyps filter the water with tiny fingers, fish hide in crevices for the night, and stingrays dodge our bright lights. The reef at night is a completely different world than in the daytime. The purple and yellow fairy basslets and colorful parrotfish were replaced by small, translucent fish, crabs and squirrelfish that darted in front of our lights. Through the water, glowing lights from other divers pierced the darkness, illuminating tiny circles of sea fans and coral.

Following each other’s lights through a tunnel in the reef, we felt like aquanauts exploring a new world as we swam through the tight pass. Continue reading →

by Caciques Helen and Harry

With K3 and K4’s academic weeks coming to a close, we are also passing off our Human Ecology Projects to our friends in K1 andK2, who will be picking it up when they’re done with their Kayak and Down Island expeditions. For the last few days, we have been hard at work, studying osprey, agriculture, mangroves, and bees. My group, the remaining half of Coconut Palm, was hard at work trying to get bees back to The Island School campus, both for the pollination of our orchard and so we can get fresh honey into our kitchens. After doing some research, the team, including Claire, Brian, Frankie, Erik and I, realized that in order to successfully start a hive we’d need to a get a queen honeybee to make The Island School its home. And as simple as that sounds, its really not. Groups had done it in the past, but the hive never stayed for more than a few months. We decided that we would be the group to change the future of The Island School bee issue. Continue reading →