Today marks one week since our arrival on La Isla Bonita. So much has happened since we have arrived. We’ve already had a taste of Waruguma’s pupusas, Paradice Cream, Miss Albertina’s, and Neri’s tacos! We’ve also have been adjusting to the heat and going for swims after a day of work. By now most of the team has gotten a better sense of the island and navigating through Front, Middle, and Back street. Throughout the week we have advertised at the schools, advertised for our movie night, fundraised for camp, and made visits to the local media stations.

Coral Ed Team on their way to San Pedro!

(L to R) Jasmine, Glenda, Yeiny, Giovanna, and Emily outside the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Office

(L to R) Renée, Glenda, Yeiny, Jasmine, and Giovanna outside the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Office

School Visits

We have gone to advertise the Youth Camp and REEF Program to La Isla Bonita Elementary School and Holy Cross Anglican School. This year, our skit includes Glenda the Grouper Fish, Yeiny the Jellyfish, Renée the Manta Ray, and Giovanna the Kid and is centered around an encounter they have one day swimming in the ocean. The skit touches upon many topics including family, symbiotic relationships, and corals, and it ends with an invitation to this year’s camp. The kids absolutely loved it!!

Renée, Yeiny, Glenda, and Giovanna performing their skit at La Isla Bonita Elementary School

Fundraising

We have been going around the Island asking community businesses and resorts for donations to help cover the cost for some of the fun activities of camp such as the glass bottom boat trip and for food donations for the graduation we have at the end of camp. As of now, we have received the generous support of many businesses. We will have cupcakes, brownies, fruits and stew chicken donated for camp and graduation! We are very grateful for the support of the community.

Media

Glenda and Renée made an appearance on Good Morning San Pedro and Reef Radio. In addition, Giovanna, Emily, and I recorded an advertisement for camp and community movie nights on the Christian Lighthouse Radio. The ad will run until July 1st, so hopefully, students will listen to it and attend camp this summer! We also reached out to the local newspapers and have gotten the word out on their sites.

San Pedro Sun:

https://www.sanpedrosun.com/environment/2019/06/06/parents-encouraged-to-sign-up-children-for-the-coral-reef-ed-ventures-summer-camp/

Ambergris Today:

https://www.ambergristoday.com/community-bulletin/2019/06/04/coral-reef-ed-ventures-back

Glenda and Renèe on TV!! (Good Morning San Pedro)

Jasmine and Yeiny at the Reef Radio office

Emily, Jasmine, and Giovanna recording at the Lighthouse Christian Radio

(L to R) Giovanna, Jasmine, Emily, and Yeiny after recording at the Lighthouse Christian Radio

There have been many highlights of the week, but some of the most memorable have been our encounters with past campers and those familiar with the Coral Reef Ed-Ventures. For example, when Emily and I visited the RC school, some of the students ran up to us and asked if we were going to have camp this year. We told them yes! They were so happy and began reminiscing about their experience in camp. They said they’ll get their permission slips from the library soon. In addition, we encountered some community members who are looking forward to our table at Lobsterfest…which isn’t for another two weeks!  It’s the small things that have made San Pedro feel like home for us all during this week. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of our time here.

– Jasmine Pacheco-Ramos & Coral Ed Team 

Sunset on the water

A beautiful evening in San Pedro

Rooftop view

Here’s a quick rundown of how the R.E.E.F Program went last week. It was definitely a week full of learning, research, exploration, and of course protection!

On Monday, the students learned about what protection meant and how the mangroves, reef, and people in their community help protect the island. We divided up into two groups and made concepts maps for the word protection. The students also came up with their own rules to follow during camp.

A concept map on protection

R.E.E.F rules

On Tuesday, the students learned more about interviews and how it can serve as a method to obtain qualitative research. The students first practiced interviewing someone, being interviewed, and how to use the GoPro camera to record interviews. After practicing, the students came up with their own questions around the theme of marine protection to ask people in their community. Afterwards, we walked along the beach to find people to interview. Students interviewed tour guides, dive masters, tourists, and a fisherman. We will compile the footage we got of the students’ interviews into one video to show at graduation.

A brainstorm of questions to ask the community

On our way to conduct interviews

On Wednesday the students reviewed the scientific method and used a microscope to explore the question, what is the sand made of? The kids loved working the microscope and even looked at a hermit crab and seagrass under the scope when they finished with the sand activity.

Students writing in their book and observing the sand under the microscope.

Students using the microscope with their sand samples ready to go!

The set up for the microscope activity

On Thursday we didn’t have normal camp because of the scheduled mangroves trip with Crocodile Chris. We had to split this trip into two days because of limited seating on the boat, so half of the students went with Miss Jasmine and Miss Emily on Thursday night to see some crocodiles. The kids had a blast and learned so many facts about the crocodiles. Crocodile Chris wasn’t able to catch a crocodile, but we saw many from afar. The group also helped to safely release a crocodile Crocodile Chris already had onboard into the mangroves.

Students observing the crocodile before releasing it into the mangroves

Anthony holding a crocodile skull

Friday was the last day of the R.E.E.F program and what better way to end such an amazing week with the students than with a snorkel to the reef. For some it was their first time going out to the reef and for others it was an opportunity to see the reef again. Regardless, it was a fun time for all! The students learned how to fill out a biodiversity survey before jumping in the water. While snorkeling, the saw a ray, a nurse shark, sea urchins, coral, crabs, and some lobsters. Later that night, the second half of the team went out with Miss Abby, Miss Dana, Miss Sabrina, and Crocodile Chris to see the crocodiles. This time around Crocodile Chris caught a 3 foot crocodile! The kids were so engaged and loved their time in the mangroves. At the end of the trip, the team had a heartfelt goodbye. 

Louis, Anthony, Navin, and Marlin on the boat after snorkeling

Group picture after getting off the boat

Yanny holding the crocodile Chris caught

Kylie holding the crocodile

Rachel holding the crocodile

– Jasmine Pacheco-Ramos & Coral Ed Team

The 11th annual San Pedro Lobster Festival kicked off on June 15th. The San Pedro Lobster Festival is a 10 day annual event that celebrates the reopening of lobster season. There are events and activities throughout the week leading up to the Lobster Fest Central Park Block Party on the 24th. Each year, the Coral Ed Team makes incredible costumes to wear at the block party, and this year was no exception. Sabrina was a spotted eagle ray, Emily was a sea urchin, Dana was a parrot fish, Mandy was a jellyfish, Abby was sea grass, and Jasmine was a snail!

Here is the team wearing their amazing costumes!!

At the block party, we set up our own table where kids could color their own fish and sea creatures. We also offered face painting and a game of pin the tail on the lobster. The kids absolutely loved the games and crafts. Throughout the festival we also advertised our camp. We received a lot of expressed interest!

Abby and Dana face painting sea turtles

Sabrina, Jasmine, and Emily advertising the camp and lobster game

Mandy and kids designing and coloring their own fish

Sabrina and Emily leading a game of pin the tail on the lobster

Today is the last day of the R.E.E.F program. The students have learned about protection, have conducted interviews with people in their community, learned more about the scientific method, and are about to go on field trips to see the beautiful ecosystems they have very close to home. A more detailed post about this will be up soon so stay tuned ! 🙂

– Jasmine Pacheco-Ramos & the Coral Ed Team