Students of the Akhepran International Academy embark on the inaugural Sandals Foundation Ride to Save the Wetland
Students of the Akhepran International Academy Bernard Road, Fox Hill were the first, this academic year to experience the wonders of the wetlands at Bonefish Pond, as they embarked on the inaugural Sandals Foundation Ride to Save the Wetlands.
The Sandals Foundation, cognizant of its commitment to environmental protection, has pledged this academic year to pay for bus transportation for 3,000 New Providence students to visit Bonefish Pond.
“The Sandals Foundation believes that environmental conservation must start with the education of the children. You cannot grow to love and protect what you do not know and understand. The Ride to Save the Wetlands is a project geared towards exposing students as a first step in the understanding and protection of the wetlands,” said Director of Programs for The Sandals Foundation Heidi Clarke .
Bonefish Pond is one of 27 national parks established in the Bahamas, by the Bahamas National Trust, to protect the unique flora and fauna of our coastal and inland areas.
This national park comprises 1280 acres of coastal wetlands, also called mangroves, which serve as a bio diverse home to many unique and unfortunately, some endangered species.
While at Bonefish pond the students, under the expert tutelage of marine biologist and director of Young Marine Explorers, Nikita Sheil-Rolle and her able group of volunteers, learned in addition to other skills, how to identify the four main species of mangroves found in the Bahamas.
They were also provided with personal snorkeling gear, complements of Young Marine Explorers, which they used to explore the waters of Bonefish pond identifying the marine life that make this area their home.
Before the trip many of the scholars admitted to knowing very little about the wetlands and some were hesitant to enter what they referred to as the “gooey” waters but once they took the plunge all were reluctant to leave when the time up bell sounded.
“Akhepran International Academy was pleased to participate in this project sponsored by the Sandals Foundation in conjunction with Experiential Education and Young Marine Explorers as its mission it to educate scholars by integrating intellectual, cultural, environmental and spiritual harmony in each lesson so as to prepare conscientious global citizens and leaders,” said the school’s headmistress Dr. Jacinta Higgs.
