Started with a run-swim!

We started off our early morning with a vigorous run-swim (across 4 coves), an essential part of the Island School experience. It was exhausting, but the fact that we all stayed together and pushed through it really paid off in the end. Chris Maxey, the founder, led the way!

After breakfast we drove out to the 4^th Hole (an old resort golf course) and snorkeled through the magnificent coral reef. We saw a variety of colorful fish other incredible organisms, including fairy basslets (like the ones in our fish tank back home!).

Later in the day we learned how to identify fish based on their mouth, body, and fin shapes. Using this new information, we took the boats out to snorkel at “Some Ting to See.” There, we saw many different creatures, including: a queen angelfish, an eel, a squirrelfish, and a queen triggerfish. The lessons we learned during the fish identification helped us better identify what we were seeing.

After a great turkey dinner, our group learned about the research project that we will be working on for the duration of our stay at the Island School. Liz Slingsby, one of our staff members, taught us all about conch and the surroundings that affect them. During the trip, we will be surveying numbers of conch and identifying things that effect how they live.

We had a long and fun-filled day of snorkeling and learning, and then Ms. Post taught all of us how to make Turks Head bracelets. Although it proved to be a challenging task, most of us powered through and now have a fabulous new accessory for our wrist or ankle!

                Everyone looks forward to learning about conch in depth and using what we have learned to make our experience here in Eleuthera even better.

- Mac & Lauren