Exuma Students Connect With Nature

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EXUMA , BAHAMAS – Children in the Exuma Cays got a hands-on lesson in environmental protection over the weekend, thanks to the Save the Exuma Alliance, which hosted a field trip designed to connect young people with the very ecosystems that surround them.

Dozens of children from Staniel Cay, Black Point, and Farmers Cay traded the classroom for the open water, as they took part in a unique field trip focused on exploring their natural environment.

The initiative, led by the Save the Exuma Alliance, aims to give young people a deeper connection to their surroundings by immersing them in the very ecosystems many call their backyard.

Naturalist Elijah Sands said the experience is about more than just a day out, it’s about building a lasting appreciation for the environment.

Elijah Sands – Naturalist

“On the weekend we took out kids, we had about 30 plus kids from the Black Point, Staniel Cay, and Farmers Cay community, and we took them out to go snorkeling. For some of them, it was their first time snorkeling, and we spent a lot of time at the Exuma Land and Sea Park, which is a model for protection in the country. And so we got to show them these pristine areas, the reefs, the seagrass, your coastlines, and say these are your own. By immersing them in these, they have a wonderful time and they gain a greater sense of appreciation.”

From snorkeling over coral reefs to exploring seagrass beds and coastlines, the trip offered many of the students their first close-up look at the marine environment.

Sands said starting young is key, as children are naturally curious and more open to learning about conservation.

Elijah Sands – Naturalist

“All these things they grow up learning about, and they’re a part of their life. When you teach them about a different aspect of these same things, they gain a greater appreciation for the environment.”)
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With development continuing across Exuma, Sands said it’s also important to introduce young people to the challenges facing these ecosystems and how they can play a role in protecting them.

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CG: Elijah Sands – Naturalist
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(“We like to, again, engage kids in a level that is appropriate, so when we take them out, we do teach them about the threats to these environments. And in doing that, it includes some of the more destructive activities, such as dredging. These things are sometimes required for development, but some of these areas in the Exuma Cays are so special, such as the North Bay, which is one of the areas we take the kids, and we want them to understand there are better alternatives.”)
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The Save the Exuma Alliance plans on continuing these field trips, especially throughout the summer months, as they work to inspire a new generation of environmental advocates.