Category Archives: Uncategorized

Staff Spotlight–Meet Skylar!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFCIF-1YS6g

Skylar Miller came to CEI this Fall, to work with the Flats Ecology team and to lead the Patch Reef/ Lionfish IS research project.  As a spring 2003 Island School alumna, Skylar is excited to be back on Eleuthera getting to experience The Island School from the other side.  She grew up in upstate New York and bounced around a bit during her undergrad work – starting in Hawaii, studying for year abroad in Australia, and eventually graduating from Oregon State University in 2008 with a B.S. in Biology with a Marine Science concentration.  Most recently Skylar was living in the Florida Keys teaching marine science field programs and working as a guide on ecotour boats.  At Cape Eleuthera Institute, Skylar is hoping to gain valuable research experience while preparing to attend graduate school.

Who eats Lionfish?? … We do!

[slideshow]

By Chris Pibl and Jackson Rafter

The Red Lionfish is an invasive species in the Southern Atlantic, originally from the Indo-Pacific waters, and was first sighted in the Bahamas in 2006. In the Caribbean, the lionfish has no natural predators, and has been found to prey on many ecologically and economically important species. There have been up to 20 juvenile fish found in the stomach of 1 average sized lionfish! Lionfish have venomous spines which give it a feared reputation,  and thus, many local fisherman avoid these fish for harvesting and consumption.  However, we know that their meat is safe to eat and think they are actually quite a tasty fish!

In an attempt to bring awareness to the local community, the patch reef group gave a presentation on the lionfish during the Wemyss Bight homecoming. We demonstrated the proper way to handle and prepare Continue reading

Bahamas Minister of the Environment gives The Island School a shout out!

The Bahamas National Trust is led by Eric Carey, former member of the board of directors of the Cape Eleuthera Foundation.  Eric has energized the Trust, and with the support of parliamentarians including the Hon. Earl Deveaux, sought to make changes to increase the ability of that organization to protect the land and the sea in th Bahamas.  Minister Deveaux’s speech in Bahamian parliament was recently published, and The Island School got a shout out! We stand ready to assist BNT in its long tradition of research, conservation, and education.
“Through the work of the Bahamas National Trust more Bahamians become aware of the need to conserve our  natural resources for themselves, and future generations.  Equally significant is its work with partners both national and international. The list of conservation national partners available to BNT to assist in the execution of its mandate is ever growing and includes Friends of the Environment (Abaco); Andros Conservancy and Trust (ANCAT); the Bahamas Reef Environment and Educational Foundation (BREEF); San Salvador Living Jewels; The Island School, Perry Institute for Marine Science, Nature’s Hope for Southern Andros; and others.  Notable international organizations include the Pew Charitable Trust, Bird Life International and the Nature Conservancy (the only international Conservation Organization operating an office in the Bahamas).

 

Mr. Speaker

There is much work to be done in conservation in The Bahamas.

Let us debate how we wish to develop our national consciousness about protected areas, funding them, managing them, identifying them and keeping them.”

Cacique Update October 9, 2010

Students dance to local music at Wemyss Bight Homecoming

“How many activities does it take to exhaust 47 teenagers?”

October 9, 2010

By Caciques Chris Pibble and Sarah Francisco

We started our day with an extra early circle.  Everyone arrived groggy eyed and tired as we loaded up the bus on our way to Wemyss Bight for a race in honor of Olympic silver medalist, Chris “Fireman” Brown, the man who came in second to Hussein Bull in the 400m race.  The race was 4 miles long and it went in a large rectangle and returning to the start at the softball field.  Everyone was really pushing their limits on the run and as we rounded the second turn, I found myself (Sarah) running past Chris “Fireman” Brown who was walking.  I felt immensely proud of myself until about two minutes later when he flew past me.  This pattern continued until the end of the race when I ended up finishing ahead of an Olympian!  As people were coming in strong for their finish, everyone else lined up along the road and cheered them through the last turn and final few feet.  Once everyone was back, all of our individual success stories began to be shared. Continue reading

A Fishing Story

By Tucker B

The early morning sun beat down on Emmanuel’s back as he struggled to start the outboard motor on his small fishing boat. The weathered Boston Whaler was older than he was, but it had taken the years better than he had. The satisfying roar of the battered Yamaha engine brought him down to his seat on the gunwale with a smile. With a gentle twist of the throttle, the prow of the boat lifted clear of the water and he aimed it toward the mouth of the bay. The small metal craft bounded over the calm ocean, sending light jets of spray back on its wake. He relaxed in his seat and let the warm Continue reading

Fritter Sleeping Places

Shoes are an important, but underrated, piece of daily Island School attire.  They shape your preparedness for any situation that comes your way – and at The Island School, that situation could be anything.  It’s not surprising that one may feel confused, if not overwhelmed, when choosing appropriate footwear in the morning.  Flip flops?  Sandals with ankle support?  Run-swims?  Swim-swims?  Run-runs?

What would Fritter do?  Sleep on it.  You’ll figure it out.

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.

Semester Schools Website Launched

While parents and alumni can attest to the power of the experience and transformation that being away from home for 3 months can have, sometimes it still seems like a new idea to school administrators, teachers, and colleges.  Why have they not heard of Semester Schools?  Since students have to work hard to convince their school and teachers that going away is more than a “vacation” from school, the group of academic semester programs banded together to help families take the leap, and spread the word.  What’s going on with that?
 
Well, from the beginning, when the Island School started in 1999, we adopted the traditions and lessons of other established semester programs that had been the pioneers of taking high school students out of their comfort zone of school and into a community experience.  We still share a belief in how important it is to get support for students who want to do this kind of thing, so we decided to speak up!  Check out the new website at www.semesterschools.net  We hope you’ll help us innovate and improve: tell us your story of how you busted through walls and overcame obstacles to make your semester at The Island School possible!  You can make a difference for those who come behind you – even just reassuring them that it’s hard and takes effort would make their path easier.

Adventures in Human Ecology

In the reading of The Omnivores Dilemma, I learned things about the food I eat that I never would have thought of. I’ve never sat down at Applebee’s, looking at the menu wondered “where is my food coming from?” I’ve never even thought to question it. I never questioned the chicken and steak I buy at Costco. It’s just from Costco right? Through this reading, I realized my Continue reading

Lemon Shark Research Update

[slideshow]

For the past month we have been catching juvenile lemon sharks in specific mangrove creeks around South Eleuthera. We do this to determine the relative abundance of sharks in each creek and gather data that will help raise awareness of the current threatening situation these sharks face today.  In many islands of the Bahamas, mangrove creeks have been dredged during coastal development for things like sandy beaches and seaside resorts. It is our hope that by collecting data Continue reading