2016 trip updates
Wed- today we started off with some beach combing on Summerset beach and found some shells and learned about gastropods, mangroves, and had a review of the major Marine phyla. Then we went to Androsia to learning about their world famous textile dying and purchased a few gifts for loved ones. We snorkeled Fresh Creek and saw some eels! Then we went to a freshwater blue hole and had a blast jumping in and enjoying the cool fresh water. We finished our baskets and had an Invertebrate lecture. Another great day in the Bahamas!
Tuesday- a day or snorkeling and sun. We snorkeled at Dave's patch reef, Kevin's patch reef and snorkeled around Pigeon Day. We also did a geology hike around Pigeon Day and dissected a red algae cluster and found lots of small crabs, shrimp brittle stars. We encounter some sting rays, spiny lobster, scrawled filefish and spotted sea hares among other awesome creatures. Had a lecture and geology and continued to work on our baskets.
Monday- yesterday we had the experience of learning about the people of Red Bays. So we got to see into the lives of the people including how they live, make a living, their attitude toward life. We learned about the sponging industry, basket weaving, and would carving and had the opportunity to purchase some souvenirs. Then we went to Conch sound and got to explore an oceanic blue hole and saw the ii invasive lionfish for the first time. We also got to leap into Charlie's blue hole, which was freshwater. This was a good day and a little bit of a break from the sun for those who were a little red from Sunday. We had a coral lecture in the evening and a basket weaving lesson afterwards! Great experience but we definitely appreciate the skills of the weavers we visited today.
Sunday- our first day of snorkeling the reefs near Standard rock. Got our first dose of seeing beautiful corals and fish! Afew of us saw a sea turtle! Had a nice lunch and played some 4 square on 2 mile Beach with a great lesson on beach ecology and plants. A great first day on the water. A lecture on Marin fish in the evening followed by work on fish and marine life identification in their field journal. Several settled down with puzzle building and many had a rowdy game of around the world ping pong. Red Bay tomorrow. Again, what a great group of kids!
Saturday - Hello parents!! We all arrived safe and sound!! It has been an awesome trip so far. The internet is very spotty and sometimes does not work. I will try to update daily but that may not happen. Today was the introduction to Forfar Field station and we got to go for a short snorkel to try everything out in the ocean. We got to play volleyball and now, 9:25 there's a group playing a rowdy game of around the world ping pong. Some have already headed off to bed (we have had very full days).
What a great group of students! I have had several people come up to me in Florida to tell how kind and respectful the group is. The students are having a great time so far with lots of learning and laughing in this group. Tomorrow we are going out on a boat for a great day of snorkeling on the water. I'll keep pestering them to drink lots of water and reapply sunscreen. The cool creature of the day was the spotted trunkfish!!
Wed- today we started off with some beach combing on Summerset beach and found some shells and learned about gastropods, mangroves, and had a review of the major Marine phyla. Then we went to Androsia to learning about their world famous textile dying and purchased a few gifts for loved ones. We snorkeled Fresh Creek and saw some eels! Then we went to a freshwater blue hole and had a blast jumping in and enjoying the cool fresh water. We finished our baskets and had an Invertebrate lecture. Another great day in the Bahamas!
Tuesday- a day or snorkeling and sun. We snorkeled at Dave's patch reef, Kevin's patch reef and snorkeled around Pigeon Day. We also did a geology hike around Pigeon Day and dissected a red algae cluster and found lots of small crabs, shrimp brittle stars. We encounter some sting rays, spiny lobster, scrawled filefish and spotted sea hares among other awesome creatures. Had a lecture and geology and continued to work on our baskets.
Monday- yesterday we had the experience of learning about the people of Red Bays. So we got to see into the lives of the people including how they live, make a living, their attitude toward life. We learned about the sponging industry, basket weaving, and would carving and had the opportunity to purchase some souvenirs. Then we went to Conch sound and got to explore an oceanic blue hole and saw the ii invasive lionfish for the first time. We also got to leap into Charlie's blue hole, which was freshwater. This was a good day and a little bit of a break from the sun for those who were a little red from Sunday. We had a coral lecture in the evening and a basket weaving lesson afterwards! Great experience but we definitely appreciate the skills of the weavers we visited today.
Sunday- our first day of snorkeling the reefs near Standard rock. Got our first dose of seeing beautiful corals and fish! Afew of us saw a sea turtle! Had a nice lunch and played some 4 square on 2 mile Beach with a great lesson on beach ecology and plants. A great first day on the water. A lecture on Marin fish in the evening followed by work on fish and marine life identification in their field journal. Several settled down with puzzle building and many had a rowdy game of around the world ping pong. Red Bay tomorrow. Again, what a great group of kids!
Saturday - Hello parents!! We all arrived safe and sound!! It has been an awesome trip so far. The internet is very spotty and sometimes does not work. I will try to update daily but that may not happen. Today was the introduction to Forfar Field station and we got to go for a short snorkel to try everything out in the ocean. We got to play volleyball and now, 9:25 there's a group playing a rowdy game of around the world ping pong. Some have already headed off to bed (we have had very full days).
What a great group of students! I have had several people come up to me in Florida to tell how kind and respectful the group is. The students are having a great time so far with lots of learning and laughing in this group. Tomorrow we are going out on a boat for a great day of snorkeling on the water. I'll keep pestering them to drink lots of water and reapply sunscreen. The cool creature of the day was the spotted trunkfish!!