Lessons in Marine biology……

An extra post really, to just reflect on the learning side of the trip so far. Some days school work feels hard and a slog, and you worry that without the experience of a live classroom the kids might be missing out on something. Then looking through the photos as I wrote the latest blog, I brought all the nature, wildlife and snorkeling experiences together and realized what the kids are really getting exposure to. The other morning I went for a walk on the beach and found a baby starfish - brought it back (temporarily) in some seawater in a glass bowl and that became our science lesson for the day through the eyes of Bethan’s microscope. We snorkel with turtles, rays, and great schools of fish on an almost daily basis it feels, and in Staniel Cay what felt like a real highlight moment, which was that near where local fisherman cleaned their catches, the nurse sharks gather. The kids hopped into the shallow water and petted them which was the most beautiful moment. Sometimes we see sharks by the boat. We tell them to get out the water, but as soon as the shark has swum by they are back in the water again. We find shells, and beautiful bits of (dead) coral almost every time we go to a beach and now have to ration to only keep the very best of the best. They constantly refer to the reef books that we have on board to identify stuff they have seen, and write stories or in their diaries about it all. Their knowledge and retention of memory of the fish and life we have seen underwater is amazing.

So reflecting on it, ‘normal’ school can sometimes go hang for a bit. This is much more important and way cooler :)