Grade 7 Eco Adventure by Rob Fuller

Prior to the Christmas vacation, the Grade 7 class participated in a three day Eco-adventure on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The main purpose of the expedition was to provide the students with an opportunity to learn and grow through responsible interaction within a natural environment. Another focus on the expedition was the learning and reinforcement of important life skills and values with significant emphasis placed on students developing self-reliance, initiative, leadership, loyalty, self-discipline and respect for the environment during the expedition.

Students were actively involved in exploring different ecosystems and habitats on the island and looked at different species of plants and vegetation. They also caught and examined life within a coastal marine habitat and observed life within the salt ponds. The group toured the mangroves and shallow seashores of Maho Bay with trained guides from the National Park Service, discussing global areas of concern such as loss of habitat, endangered and threatened species and pollution.

Camping at Cinnamon Bay, the group was divided into three teams: Tainos, Arawaks and Caribes. The teams competed against each other for points in a number of physical and academic challenges over the three days. Points were also awarded to students that demonstrated excellence in other areas throughout the expedition. After 3 long days of enthusiastic competition, it was the Arawaks that emerged as the winning team.

Other highlights of the expedition included a visit to the Virgin Islands Research Station in Lameshur Bay, exploring the ruins at Annaberg sugar mills, the biathalon on Cinnamon beach, the nightly Tribal Council, and a spooky night at the Cinnamon Bay ruins.

Throughout the expedition the class bonded as a cohesive group and enjoyed a fun, educational experience outside of their normal classroom environment. Many thanks must go to Ms. Troup for organizing such a wonderful experience for the class. A very special thanks must also go to Mrs. Heather Anderson for giving up her time to accompany the group on the expedition.