Home Sweet Home!

We heard “Boys It’s time to get up” for the last time as we groggily arose from our abbreviated slumber. It was 4:15 and the stars were twinkling; however, nowhere near as spectacular as the night before. We got to work trying to shove our last items into our already over-stuffed bags. There was a war-zone of sheets, towels, blankets and an old buoy as we frantically shoved everything into our duffels. That odd pair of tennis shoes seemed to be the enemy this morning. To everyone’s surprise we managed to zip every last one.

            As we loaded the bags in the darkness we started to feel the emotions that we were desperately fighting off. The dorms had been cleaned out. Every grain of sand removed from the shower, every bat moth shooed, and all drying lines cleared. We stood in the doorway of the commons amidst the dark sunless sky hanging on to our rustic abode. The tabby cat Fritter sat by our feet trying to keep us with her.

            As we raised the flag for the last time we all took a deep sigh, our caciques slowly propelled the black, blue, and yellow towards the starry sky. We lifted up our heads in unison and harmonized the familiar anthem for the last time. As we sang a shooting star pranced across the sky, and we could all imagine the wishes that followed its tail.

            Thus ended one of the greatest two weeks any one us have ever experienced. Saddened, yet hopeful for the future, the Hawken Honors Marine Science class of 2013 left for the airport. Our brief wait at the airport was not without its quirks, however. We sat in front of a television set and in our dazed semi-conscious state, found some entertainment in the form of Bahamian public broadcasting. We also had an opportunity for some surprise last goodbyes at the airport.

            With hands waved, hugs had, and tears shed, we were ushered out of the Rock Sound airport and into our plane. Thoughts of the last two weeks played out in our heads as Eleuthera flashed under us. We arrived in Nassau with four hours to spare until we boarded our flight to Atlanta. Six hours after we woke up, most students found their next meal to be Wendy's, the first fast food they had had in two weeks. Having been used to healthy food, many upset stomachs were had.

            Our next two flights were very similar to our flights two weeks earlier. They were uneventful and without delay. We arrived in Cleveland and a few of us were greeted by family upon arrival. Most, however, would finish the intensive on the Lyndhurst campus. As Alex so eloquently put it, "our tans will fade, but the memories will last forever." Eleuthera and the Island School will stay in our hearts forever. But we all hope this will not be the last time we see Eleuthera. Many of us hope to return to the Island School in the near or distant future.

            Thank you very much for keeping up with our adventures this winter intensive!

The Best Last Day!

First thing this morning, we all reluctantly hopped into an ocean cut to play our final game of Water Polo.  Despite the cold water and early morning breeze, we had a great time and enjoyed our final team Osprey vs. Blue Crab rivalry match.  We warmed up and changed before a fantastic chocolate chip pancake breakfast! Then, we headed over to the Institute side of the campus for a morning workshop with the Aquaponics team.  Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics which means that they grow and breed both animals (tilapia) and plants in the same system.  We broke into three groups which each rotated to count fish in each size-graded tank, weigh groups of fish, and then work on and harvest in the aqua-gardens (where lettuce, chard, basil, etc. grow).  After that, we watched the Early Learning Center kids sing a few of their favorite songs at the end of their school Christmas show.  We all jumped straight into Dish Crew for our final lunch which was a huge spread of pastas, Philly Cheese Steak, fruit salad, birthday cake, and more!

Following this filling lunch, we all prepared for our final snorkel at our beloved 4^th Hole beach and reef.  We all saw a bunch of our favorite fish and invertebrates along with species that we hadn’t seen before including a peacock flounder and a mantis shrimp.  It felt great to return to the first reef we snorkeled 2 weeks ago and feel like pros! While still at the beach, we split back into the morning’s three groups to go see “ancient pottery” which was actually just a ploy to get us to head down the road away from everyone else.  There, we were given instructions in a container of GORP (our favorite Island School snack) that basically said that we may eat as much as we could in 30 seconds.  Each group interpreted this message quite differently, as some groups were considerate of the others that were to follow, but some just took all that they wanted.  We launched into a discussion on shared resources and thinking about those that will come after us.

We drove the short distance back to campus to pack some more and then have some free time to watch the sunset at the Marina, finish up our Secret Santa gift, or just enjoy the sites around the school.  The afternoon ended with evaluations for the school and then a really moving Blue Marble ceremony where we were given a shiny, blue marble to pass on to someone who we witness committing an act of “ocean kindness” anytime in the future.  We then had our last supper and last Dish Crew jam session (including a minor soap bubble fight…).  This was followed by our final flagpole meeting where we named the last Caciques for the travel day tomorrow and reflected with our Happies and Crappies for the last time. 

Onto much more high-spirited activities, we jumped right into our Secret Santa exchange around a pseudo Christmas tree (a baby invasive Cassarina tree) decorated with hairbands, floss, luggage tags, pop tabs, a watch, and other inventive ornaments.  We successfully presented our homemade gifts to each other in a complete circle (somehow we started with the perfect person to make the cycle work).  We ended the night with a bonfire full of song and dance ranging from traditional campfire songs to Jason Mraz.  Standing right by the ocean with the moon bright above as an entire group, we truly felt like a family while we ‘cinnamon-bun hugged’ as a whole group.  Bittersweet, we headed into the dorms to get ready for our early morning departure.  It will be a sad morning for all of us as we leave the Island School, but we are so very excited to see you all tomorrow night!

-Julia & Sarah

Lighthouse Beach!

This morning, the group started off the day with a highly competitive game of ultimate Frisbee. The wind was really blowing which interfered with the disc trajectory but not the fighting spirits of the competing teams. After this really close game, we headed over to one of the best breakfasts yet, banana bread and oatmeal (yum).

After breakfast we prepared for a day of fun and sun at Lighthouse Beach. It has a reputation for being, arguably, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. All together it took a 40 minute drive and additional 40 minute walk to reach the secluded destination. It was well worth it though. We threw our towels down and dove into the ocean, frolicking with joy. We played a few games in the ocean before drying out and playing more games in the sand. A few people teamed up to bury and transform Kevin Harkey into a beautiful sand mermaid. We ate lunch by the beach and afterwards enjoyed each other’s company some more. We then headed up a nearby cliff, overlooking the beautiful surroundings. Once on the cliff, we were all separated for 15 minutes of solo time which we used to reflect on our time in the Bahamas. Once the time was up, we came together and shared our insights. We also were instructed to choose a piece of nature from our solo spot and share with the group how it represented our time in the Bahamas. Many of the speeches grew sentimental and we all had a bittersweet feeling. We wrapped it up with a group hug and photo and headed home.

After showering, we hopped back in to the vans for a night out! We went to a nearby restaurant, Sheril’s, for a family-style dinner. We sat around a table like it was Thanksgiving and passed the delicious food around. We laughed, ate, and told stories. It was the perfect way to end a great second-to-last day in paradise. We are all sad to be leaving the Bahamas but are happy that we have one last day to spend together. 

- Lauren & Carly

Ocean kayaking & night snorkeling!

Today we woke up at the crack of dawn and hopped on our bikes to ride through a Bahamian jungle. After the bike ride we came back to the dorms, did chores and ate a delicious breakfast of French toast and bacon. After breakfast, we began to pack up our kayaking gear for an exciting day ahead.

After a lot of packing and learning kayaking skills, we finally set out to sea!! Sadly, the currents were extremely strong, so we didn’t make it to our intended extra exotic island destination. Instead, we made due with what we had closer to the Eleuthera shore and snorkeled, cliff dove and played some games about the information we’ve been learning about marine life (sharks and minnows, barracuda, etc).

After a great dinner, we got prepared for a night snorkel. We first had a short class explaining many of the biodiversity of the nocturnal animals we might see. At the snorkel we saw a lot of animals with bioluminescence. We also saw lobsters, spotted sea hares, octopi (again!!), candy cane shrimp, rays, and a big spotted moray eel. Ali even saw a nurse shark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are all getting tired, but no one is tired of this island paradise. See you in a few, Clevekland ;)

Xoxo Ali & Alex

Lionfish & Near-shore Ecology!

Today we rose to a tropical yet delicate sunrise over the horizon streaming through the palm trees.  We circled around the flagpole preparing for our second and final ‘run-swim’ of our time here.  However this run-swim quickly turned into a ‘swim-run’ as we conquered long open water channels, something we’ve never encountered.  During this exhilarating morning workout, we saw a splash out on the horizon, which drew our curiosity.  As we approached the disturbance, we were greeted by the fin of a bottle-nose dolphin. 

Once we came back, we were searching the horizon from the roof top of the dining hall and found a flock of ten massive spotted eagle rays near the shore.  As we ate our delicious breakfast on the roof, we saw them continuously circle back around the harbor.  During this time, we also observed more bottle nose dolphins breech the surface.  After the spectacle fluttered away from view, we quickly turned to our first activity of the day.  We met with the resident lionfish expert, Dr. Curtis-Quick, and discussed the lionfish invasion of the Bahamas. 

During our time with her, we conversed about the unwelcome presence they have brought to the Bahamas, as well as their history.  We also delved into how the community treats them.  We were stunned to learn that the local people will not hunt or eat them because they have fallen victim to the myth that they are poisonous, when they are really venomous and safe to eat.  We went further into their biology by conducting a dissection on two male, mature lionfish.  The first step we took was to de-spine the fish which made it safe for dissection because that is where their venom is excreted.  We also explored their tremendous mouth gape, which allows them to swallow almost anything they encounter that can be more than half their size.  They are able to expand their stomachs by 30 times to hold the unholy amount of food they consume. 

Sarah kisses the lionfish head!

After our lionfish dissection, we ventured over to lunch for another hearty, delicious meal.  Shortly after, we walked over to the boathouse for a brief discussion about near-shore ecology before we went out on the calm, wave-less ocean to see it for ourselves.  In our discussion, we talked about how the ocean is most vulnerable at the shore.  We chatted about how hurricanes, pollution, and other different stressors can lead to a trophic cascade which could potentially obliterate the ecosystems we find all throughout the ocean.  We ventured to three locations.  First, an area populated with turtle and manatee sea grass, a school of spade fish, and sponges.  Then we were off to an area filled with algae and echinoderms.  And finally, we made our way over to a patch reef where we discovered two lionfish, a moray eel, an arrow crab, and many other species of marine wildlife.  Finally we settled down after dinner with a group wrap-up on the day where we named over sixty different species we had seen today and started off our holiday festivities with the drawings of our Secret Santa.  We will be making homemade nature gifts! We are looking forward to tomorrow where we will be spending the day kayaking on the open ocean.  All in all, another fantastic day in paradise! 

- Graham & Kevin

                      

Ocean Holes & Ooids!

Today we awoke to embark on a rousing excursion to the Marina, full of dogs and soccer. The grueling match came down to a last minute goal by the ferocious forward, Kevin Harkey. This goal ended the match in a 5-5 tie and we cycled back to campus to carry on with our day. After a swift Sunday breakfast, we voyaged through Rock Sound to explore some caves and an ocean hole. The caves were dark, but bright with life and energy. Bats swooped through the air as birds chirped from the towering canopy above. The roots from the trees above flowed to ground like suspended drops from a waterfall. Then we hopped back into our vans to make the short trip over to see the magnificent Rock Sound ocean hole. Once there we had a lesson on its formation and the mythical being, the Lusca, whose half squid and half shark body is told to inhabit the ocean holes of the Bahamas. We then enjoyed a few jumps into the ocean hole before returning to campus for lunch.

After re-supplying our bodies with needed sustenance, we returned to the water. This next voyage was taking us to no hole or cave, but to the wide expanse of sand known as the ooidic sandbar. Ooids are a unique type of sand that is shaped like an egg. They only occur in certain special environments around the world. The chain of ooidic islands we were on are the third largest in the world. We spent the afternoon at this sandbar frolicking about in its shallow waters as vivacious echinoderms crawled about at our feet. We enjoyed lectures about ooids and invertebrates under the intense rays of sun. We took time to bask in the sight of another octopus. We were intrigued by the many movements and color changes the octopus underwent. This exciting afternoon slowly wound down as we devoured our final meal of the day and watched an informative movie on extreme cave diving in ocean holes.

We look forward to an action packed tomorrow. Good night!

-Chase & Max

Down Island Trip, Day 2!

The morning was an unpleasant one for the Marine Science class, as many of us woke up in damp tents, with sand in our blankets. But the discomfort was quickly overshadowed by the pure beauty of nature, as we all looked at the cotton candy sky while eating our breakfast on the beach. We then moved on, and took two vans to “Seahorse Pond”. At Seahorse Pond, we saw two octopi in addition to a variety of seahorses. The water was cold and sediment-filled, but it was worth it! 

Still on a high from the octopi and seahorses, we headed back into the van and drove to a local bakery. We were all starving, and the fifty-cent price tags on all of the baked goods allowed us to stock up on sweet treats. Some of the group favorites were the Cheese Danish and the Glazed Donut Twist. With full stomachs, we headed to a local beach to look for sea glass. Even with only fifteen minutes at the beach, we all found some really beautiful pieces and compared and traded glass before heading back to the vans. There is a lot of sea glass on that beach because we learned that ships are allowed to dump glass waste 2 miles out with no punishments, and the currents and big rocks at this particular beach make it the perfect place for beach glass to wash up. What a perfect way to end the morning!

Following our quick trip to the sea glass beach, it was time to eat lunch. We packed up the vans and headed over to the abandoned Club Med resort. Club Med was abandoned in the 80’s as a result of the Bahamian independence. While the resort was abandoned, the land it was on was still spectacular. Club Med overlooks one of the most gorgeous beaches we have seen yet on Eleuthera—pink sand and big Atlantic Ocean waves. There we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and had a quick swim in the water. 

Then we headed off to the Leon Levy Nature Preserve to learn about the native plants of the Bahamas. A very excited botanist named Ethan gave us a tour and told us about the preserves benefactor, Shelby White. Shelby donated a lot of money to the preservation of the native plants and animal species of The Bahamas as well as education. We really enjoyed the little break from marine life to enter the world of botany! We then headed home and started the unpacking process of our trip. Thus ended an exciting and action-packed Down Island Trip! 

-Henry & Carly