On October 7th, 2022, ten students and four instructors—including myself—came together to launch the inaugural cohort of Bahamians, Birds, and Botany (BBB). I was beyond grateful for this dream to finally come true! If you have been following the BBB journey this year, you will recall that it has been challenging. However, it has also been an amazing adventure that has sparked inspiration and dedication.Â
After a full year of planning and prepping, I arrived in New Providence, Bahamas, on October 6th and quickly began the last-minute tasks needed to implement our student-centered program. With the support of Dr. Ancilleno Davis, and BBB instructors Jenny Morris and Delreco Bonaby, we welcomed ten students from various high schools on the island.
The program started with a dinner at the Green Parrot conference room, where we did our introductions and gave the students an overview of what to expect over the weekend. We also passed out their BBBpacks—a kit that included a field guide, field journal, binoculars, water bottle, towel, and a few other fun items. The students were excited as they explored their BBBpacks and shared their enthusiasm about the weekend ahead.
Day two was warm and busy! Equipped with Bahamas National Trust (BNT) student memberships, BBBpacks, and snacks, we met at the University of The Bahamas, where Donovan Transportation brought us to Bonefish Pond National Park. The students learned how to use binoculars for birding, explored one of the last mangrove ecosystems in Southern New Providence, conducted an inquiry, and ate lunch. Photographer Dominic Duncombe also joined us and captured amazing images of the students learning and exploring.Â
After lunch, we loaded up on the bus and traveled to the Primeval Forest–another BNT national park. As one of the last remaining Blackland Coppice forest ecosystems, this park presented a different exploration lens for the students to see the environment through. The students learned about fungi and insects from Delreco Bonaby and botany from Jenny Morris. By the end of the day, the students were all tired but energized by their unique experiences.
On day three, we met again at the Green Parrot Conference Room for a leadership clinic, dinner, and celebration cupcakes from Love @ First Bite (thank you, Natasha!). The students learned more about birds, how to use eBird, and listened to a leadership panel discussion from Bahamian conservationists—including Mischa Lockhart, wildlife supervisor at the Baha Mar Wildlife Sanctuary. The students also started brainstorming for their Leadership and Action Project (LAP)—as a cohort, they will receive $500 to develop and implement a conservation project.
On the final day, we all met bright and early at the marina to travel by boat to Blue Lagoon Island (BLI). The students worked on identifying birds along the way and were surprised by the opportunity to snorkel with stingrays and interact with dolphins once we arrived. They also learned about BLI’s conservation initiatives and animal husbandry from Education Supervisor Teschalla Clarke. Finally, the students received their program certificates. Before we knew it, we were saying our goodbyes on the marina dock.Â
Over the last two months, the BBB program has continued to grow. We have had multiple online meetings with the students to work with them on their LAP—set to launch in 2023. The students have been reporting their bird sightings in eBird and had the opportunity to sharpen their citizen science skills at a BBB-facilitated birding events. In addition, I recently developed the BBB Network—a listserv where students can connect and receive information regarding resources and opportunities. I am also working on a video that will hopefully give viewers a visual representation of the BBB journey—stay tuned!
As the BBB Cohort works together on their LAP, I am deeply encouraged by the promising initial impacts of this program. It has shown me the importance of building a community and providing a support network to the next generation of conservationists. Over time, the benefits will be exponential! As I continue to seek funding to support this work, those factors motivate me even more than when I started.
Thanks to the generous support from Conservation Nation, the students, parents, and instructors will be forever changed by the authentic and barrier-free experiences they had during the BBB program. We would also like to thank the Cincinnati Zoo for funding the purchase of most of the items in the BBBpacks—a resource we gifted to the students to help them learn and grow.
