The Tribune

FORTY Bahamian teenagers from nine islands have been enjoying six days of ecological camping on Andros under the guidance of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT).

More than 200 young people have taken part in the BNT’s summer Eco Camp programme, which has been running for the past seven years.

The high schoolers stay partly at a wilderness campsite in the heart of Blue Hole National Park. The campsite is a three-mile hike from their home base at the Forfar Field Station, near Blanket Sound.

“Campers explore the diverse ecosystems of Andros and take part in an intense environmental experience,” said BNT Education Director Portia Sweeting.

Participants engage in classroom and field work, including setting up and operating the wildness camp, snorkelling at the North Marine Park, exploring rocky shorelines and conducting an environmental awareness survey in Fresh Creek.

They also tour the historic Red Bays settlement, where they interact with local artisans and visit a crab hatchery. At the Androsia batik factory, they were able to design their own shirts.

According to BNT Executive Director Eric Carey, this unique annual learning opportunity for Bahamian students is made possible by sponsors like Bahamas Ferries, Forfar Field Station, RBC Royal Bank, the Lyford Cay Foundation and the Lyford Cay Club, Caribbean Bottling, the Cable Cares Foundation, Sandyport Beaches Resort, the Atlantis Resort, Harbourside Marine and Cameron Symonette.