By Anastasha Elliott
The Four Seasons Resort and the Nevis Turtle Group have embarked on a plan to make our children custodians of our environment as it relates to the care of turtles.
Nineteen local children participated in the second week of the three-week-long Sea Camp, during which they are taught about the turtles that are found on the island.
Alicia Marin, a representative, of Duke University and Peri Mason of WIDECAST facilitate the three day camp.
Marin outlined the course of the camp. The first day is introduction to turtles, facts about them, what they eat, where they live and what they are. Day two is spent teaching about things that can harm the turtles. On day three, Marin taught the children what they can do to save and protect the sea turtles.
She added that she uses a mixture of classroom lectures filled with picture slides, along with natural games that test the children’s knowledge and crafts that further help to instill lessons.
“The children are really enjoying it and are absorbing the information,” said Marin.
One of the things she likes best about the camp is the fact that the Four Seasons Resort approached her and Mason to conduct the camp. She said their interest showed that they were interested in the environment and wanted to get everyone interested as well.
Martin Sinclair, manager at the Four Seasons Resort said that he was very impressed with the level of enthusiasm shown by the children participating in the camp.
“We believe that the role of the resort is to monitor the activity on the beach at the Four Seasons,” said Sinclair.
He noted that the resorts’ staff is trained to recognize activity by the turtles and to know what to do if needed.
“We want to be turtle friendly,” he said.
Charles Fisher, head of environment at the resort an assistant director of rooms, said the aim of the sea camp is to raise awareness on the island of Nevis.
He explained that research show that most people who book vacations choose a place that is environmentally friendly.
“We are a small island, therefore our impact can be greater,” he said of the resort’s stewardship of Nevis’ natural resources.
Fisher said children of guests at the resort are usually educated on turtles. Many “adopt” a turtle, which are tagged and returned to their natural environment, during their stay and can monitor it progress via the Internet after they return home.
“We thought it important to give back and felt the best way to get the message out was to educate the kids who in turn will educate their parents,” Fisher said. “We also thought it is our responsibility to do everything we can not only to protect the land we are on but also the island.”
He noted that if the camp is successful, plans would be made to host another episode of the camp in August. Thus far the camp has been booked to capacity.
The children also learn to be environmentally friendly and to provide and maintain an eco friendly environment for generations to come, he said.
