The Tribune

TWENTY eight teachers from throughout the Bahamas had their first glimpse of the world underwater last week when they gathered on San Salvador for the annual Bahamas Environment Educaton Foundation (BREEF) marine conservation teacher training workshop. Kimberley Rolle, from Nicoll’s Town Primary School in Andros, described her first snorkelling experience as “priceless” and committed to creating more hands-on experiences for her students and make the school curriculum come to life.

Raymond Knight, from Aquinas College, stated: “Without doubt, the benefits of coral, wetland, sandy and rocky shore ecosystems to the future of the Bahamas came to life during this BREEF workshop.”

All the workshop participants described how their knowledge and understanding had grown. Their statements were backed up with evidence from pre and post-tests showing a dramatic increase in the teachers’ knowledge by the end of the week.

Keturah Duncanson, from Treasure Cay Primary School, said: “The time with BREEF showed me how to use our country’s nature resources to educate our students. I have been motivated to be a better steward of the environment.”

BREEF Director, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, acknowledged major financial support from The Inter-American Development Bank and additional support from The Atlantis Blue Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, The Moore Bahamas Foundation and members and supporters of BREEF who made the workshop possible. Volunteer support from The San Salvador Living Jewels Foundation, Bahamas National Trust and the Ministry of the Environment and Housing made the workshop at the Gerace Research Centre a great success.