Support Wild Dolphin Conservation in Abaco - Adopt A Dolphin!

Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation has partnered with FRIENDS to once again offer an Adopt-A-Dolphin Programme. The goals of the programme are to increase awareness about marine mammals in The Bahamas and to support existing research efforts in Abaco. Your adoption will directly contribute to these efforts. Follow this link for more info: http://www.friendsoftheenvironment.org/adoptadolphin.html

The perfect gift for Christmas or Birthdays!

For more information about Marine Mammal Research in The Bahamas: www.bahamaswhales.org

Discovery Club wraps up Second Session

This Wednesday an Open House was held at FRIENDS' Education Center to celebrate the completion of this term's Marine Environment badge program. The Explorers and Guardians of Abaco's Discovery Club came together to give testimonials about their experiences. Parents and community members were invited to a short program which also included original marine environment songs penned by Enzil Cooper, FRIENDS' new education officer, and sung by the Discovery Club. Clubbers were presented with a marine badge to represent their efforts in learning about the marine environment this term. They were also presented with certificates for attendance. The program was very well attended.

Next term's badge program will be all about Bugs! Contact FRIENDS for more info about Discovery Club.

Creek Proposal Survey

FRIENDS is working with the BNT on a proposal to protect some creeks in East Abaco (Snake Cay, Bight of Old Robinson and Cherokee Sound). The focus of the proposal is habitat protection, and still allows for recreational activites. The link below will take you to a survey which will help us gather information about how these creek areas are used. It's a short survey...please take a couple minutes and help us out! Additional comments are always welcome. Please email them to olivia@friendsoftheenvironment.org .

For the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=h3_2bfRGDxmmnmWAy_2blFoo_2fQ_3d_3d

THANKS!

FRIENDS and BNT hold Treasures in the Sea Workshop

On Wednesday October 22nd a workshop was held at the FRIENDS Education Center in Marsh Harbour. The purpose of the workshop was to familiarize Abaco teachers with "Treasures in The Sea", a marine resources guide for educators produced by The Bahamas National Trust and The American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, and endorsed by The Bahamas Ministry of Education.

Teachers learned more about the marine environment from BNT educator, Portia Sweeting. FRIENDS Education Officers d'Shan Maycock and Enzil Cooper helped lead activities, as well as Candace Key, Principal of Hope Town School. Teachers got into the action by doing role play activities and craft projects that they will bring into their classrooms. Thanks to everyone that participated!

FRIENDS Nature Trail NOW OPEN!!

Come on over and visit the new trail adjacent to our office. The trail was designed by FRIENDS and created with the help of Every Child Counts and Cyber Learning Center Schools. The trail meanders through coppice habitat with a few Caribbean Pines. We have posted trail signs to identify various plant species.

Tours for school groups are available - please call ahead for large groups! The trail is open to the public during daylight hours. Those of you interested in birding, FRIENDS organizes monthly bird walks, and they start at the nature trail.

Sandy Point Camp Explores the Mangroves!

We took an in-depth field trip in the Sandy Point creek to find out exactly what animals and plants live in the mangrove ecosystem. We found fiddler crabs, pufferfish, damsel fish, houndfish, barracudas, a Blue Heron, a Yellow Crested Night Heron, sea anemones, upside-down jellyfish, and many other interesting things! The junior camp had a chance to try kayaking for the first time!

Blue Hole Presentation and a Visit to Sawmill Sink

On July 18th, the Marsh Harbour campers were lucky to have a presentation on blue holes from Mrs. Nancy Albury of the Bahamas' Antiquities Monuments and Museums Corporation. After the presentation, the group visited Sawmill Sink to study the vegetation surrounding it, then to take a swim inside!

Mrs. Albury explains what it's like to dive into a blue hole.

Later in the afternoon, Mrs. Albury visited the Sandy Point Junior and Senior campers to give a presentation on blue holes and caves. Thanks Mrs. Albury!!

FRIENDS Camp - more photos

Here's the Marsh Harbour group in the FRIENDS Classroom doing some activities from the Treasures in the Sea handbook. A creative bunch of kids!

A full class!

Friends Environmental Camp Visits Mermaid Reef

The Marsh Harbour chapter of FRIENDS Environmental Camp made a recent visit to Mermaid Reef. Mermaid Reef is easily accessible by boat or land, being just off of Pelican Shores, Marsh Harbour.

Mermaid Reef is the site of FRIENDS Reef Ball Project. Currently there are 19 reef balls on site.

Summer Camps Underway!

Last year, Environmental Summer Camp proved to be a popular activity with approximately 166 participants! Campers enjoy interactive classroom lessons with environmental topics, then venture into the great outdoors for a field trip that re-emphasizes the classroom topic. FRIENDS Environmental Camp focuses on Bahamian Biodiversity; important local habitats such as mangrove creeks, coral reefs and pine forests; Conservation and Recycling. The camp teaches skills and provides opportunities for Bahamian youth that may not already be available to them: snorkeling, birdwatching, kayaking and camping to name a few.

Dates for this summer:

Marsh Harbour
Senior Camp (ages 10-13): June 23rd - July 4th
Junior Camp (ages 7-9): July 14th - August 1st

Cooper's Town
Senior Camp (ages 10-15): June 23rd - July 11th
Junior Camp (ages 7-9): July 14th - August 1st

Sandy Point
Senior Camp (ages 10-13): July 3rd - July 11th
Junior Camp (ages 7-9): July 14th - August 1st

Stay tuned for camp updates and photos!

Check out the BMMRO Blog

The Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation is currently undertaking a month long survey in the Great Bahama Canyon to study beaked whales. For updates from the boat, visit: www.bahamaswhales.blogspot.com .

Recycle Bins for Community Events

FRIENDS now has a number of portable recycle bins available for community events and parties. These bins are designed for recycling aluminum cans and come with clear bags, so you can see what is going into them. If you are in Abaco and are interested in borrowing the bins for your event, please call our office. We also have further information if you are interested in purchasing a bin.

The bins have already been used successfully at Heritage Day and the Abaco Rage fundraiser in Hope Town, and are soon to make an appearance at the Island Roots Heritage Festival in Green Turtle Cay (May 2-4, 2008). Please support community groups who are doing their part to keep our islands clean.

For more information on recycling in Abaco, please visit www.friendsoftheenvironment.org

Orcas in Abaco!

Yes, they're here! Orcas have been sighted in Abaco and throughout The Bahamas. The most recent sighting was on April 11th, by a group of fishermen in East Abaco. These Orcas are transient, not resident, as they travel around The Bahamas and possibly The Caribbean. We would like to learn more about their travel patterns and how they are using our Bahamian marine habitat. Please report sightings of Orcas, or any whale or dolphin to The Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (http://www.bahamaswhales.org/) and always remember to take photos or video!

Earth Day

April 25th is Earth Day! Come join FRIENDS and Abaco schools at New Visions Ministries for our Earth Day Science Fair. This year's theme is "Climate Change in Small Island Developing States".

We have alot of groups signed up, so competition should be fierce! Displays will be open starting 10am and will close between 1 and 2pm. See what Abaco students have been working on!

Welcome to our Blog!

So FRIENDS has decided to give blogging a try! We want to keep you updated with our programs, activities and our latest news. We hope you'll use FRIENDS as an environmental resource in Abaco. Feel free to comment and share ideas!

For more information about Friends of the Enviroment, visit our website: www.friendsoftheenvironment.org