Conservation at Sea Camp

(CNS): Fourteen young people will spend a week on Little Cayman learning how to use scientific research to help preserve the beauty of the coral reefs at the 10th annual Caribbean Marine Ecology Camp hosted by CCMI’s Little Cayman Research Centre from August 7 to August 14. The students, 10 Caymanians and 4 Americans, will take part in events and activities developed to provide them with a solid foundation of knowledge in marine ecosystems and conservation with a newly developed curriculum. Activities will include SCUBA diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking, among many other fun and exciting opportunities.

CCMI has announce the pledged philanthropic support of The Ball Foundation to fund the Edmund F. and Virginia H. Ball Caribbean Marine Ecology Camp for the next ten years.

Leading the Camp will be Tara Bonebrake, who graduated with a Masters of Art in Teaching from Washington University in 2005. She is currently an 8th grade science teacher at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School, but spends her summers exploring her two passions, sustainability and marine science. She has travelled around the world to study and enjoy her love of the ocean and the creatures within, and she firmly believes that it is only through education and understanding that people will come to realize how precious and fragile coral reef ecosystems are. In return, all who visit, study, and learn about our reefs will then become ambassadors for restoring, conserving, and sharing their experiences with others. Sally Coppage, CCMI’s Education Officer, will be assisting Bonebrake, along with Rusty Walton, from Cayman Brac, who participated in last year’s Camp.

The Central Caribbean Marine Institute was incorporated in 1998 as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. It was later established as an international charitable organization, after becoming incorporated in the Cayman Islands (2002) and in the UK (2004).

Since its beginning, CCMI has proven to be a valuable asset to the efforts of understanding changing coral reef and tropicalmarine environments, and its research and education programs have established a solid foundation for future reef education and awareness for the Caribbean and for students and researchers around the world.

For more information on the 2009 Edmund F. and Virginia H. Ball Caribbean Marine Ecology Camp and/or other research, education, outreach and conservation initiatives of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute, please visit our website at www.reefresearch.org.