Getting our Feet Wet

Its 6:30 am, rise and shine! After a nice relaxing rest after being up for up to 48 hours, we threw on our bathing suits and headed outside. Wow! What a relief to be wearing a wetsuit instead of a snowsuit!

quite the view

 We headed down to the boathouse with our CEI instructors, Galen and Casey, to pick out our MFS (mask, fin, snorkel). Lucky for Meredith, she brought her own! Getting our feet wet was a bit of a struggle, but once we dove in for the swim test, we didn’t want to get out. Thankfully, we didn’t need to because we all passed our test and were able to snorkel. The first step was to learn a few things about snorkeling. From screaming ‘taco’ to get the water out of the snorkel to symbolling a unicorn horn when using Earth’s natural bathroom, we learned all the rules of the sea. We’ll have to admit, it was hard at first to breathe through our mouths. But, at the sight of our first Jelly, we were excited and eager to stay under. 

Getting ready to head in!

Waving hello from Eleuthera!

After a quick and hearty breakfast (oceanside, we may add) where we could now identify a Bananaquit, Galen and Casey took us on a tour of our 2 week paradise. Our first and favorite stop was the Hallig House where research students can live. Not only was the house beautiful, it was sustainable. The house had countertops made from recycled marine materials, insulation made entirely from old denim, solar panels, and Galen’s favorite, the most advanced toilet we’ve ever seen. This toilet had a sink on top! If you flush the toilet the sink automatically turns on, using the toilet water before it even becomes toilet water. We then toured the rest of the campus, seeing the Early Learning Center, Biodiesel Shed (where they make their fuel), and the farm. Everyone was so excited to see all the chickens and giant pigs.

Just a mama pig with her kids

getting our hands dirty

After all this walking, we worked up an appetite and went o lunch. Once we finished, we split up into two groups, one going to APON and the other going to CSD. At APON (or Aquaponics), we caught and weighed the Tilapia they were monitoring and worked on harvesting the garden. Most of the fish we caught weighed around 1000 grams, yet there were a few as small as 300 grams. While harvesting, we got to try some kale and other greens growing there. At CSD, we worked with Joe, agricultural specialist, and he gave us information about bio-charcoal which is made at the island school to support the growth of various plants. After, we worked to help build a system to recycle food waste as animal feed and also clear up the chickens’ pens. We picked up rocks and along the way, realized Isaiah loves to play with chickens (His favorite being chicken number 3, Sassy Susan). William and Isaiah were catching any loose chicken that escaped while cleaning their pen. Before we had to leave, we got say our proper goodbyes to the chickens by feeding them. To finish off our afternoon, we had some free time where everyone laid out in the sun and explored the beach.

Converting wooden pallets into new usable equipment at CSD

who ever thought using fish waste to grow plants could be so much fun?!

making new friends

After dinner, we gathered in the boathouse to do some teambuilding activities with Trinity College School, a Canadian boarding school that is staying at the Island School as well. From sharing our favorite memories to carrying our new friends, we had an amazing time meeting new people.

It was an adventurous first day here at the Island School, and we can’t wait to see what Casey and Galen have in store for us tomorrow!

Sun kissed,

Meredith and Sara