The St. Croix Environmental Association and the Virgin Islands Network of Environmental Educators joined forces Tuesday to bring environmental education beachside to 62 St. Croix second-graders.
The youngsters from Lew Muckle Elementary were able to learn about birds, crabs, turtles, ants, lionfish and lizards in the creatures’ native habitat at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge.
This was one of eight field days SEA is conducting for second-graders to bring them an awareness of the environment. Presenters set up in stations around the beach and nearby bush.
According to Rebecca Stone, environmental education coordinator for SEA, the goals of the field day included providing students an opportunity to interact with environment, to investigate and ask questions about the natural world, and do engage in “hands-on field work.”
“The overarching questions are: ‘Why is this area protected on St. Croix?’ and ‘How is this area similar and different to other familiar places, such as students’ homes and school grounds?’” she said.
A WTJX camera crew was on the beach recording for a national program to be broadcast by PBS concerning the state of the environment.
For this school year SEA has planned eight, second-grade field days and three, forest field days for fourth-graders.
The forest field days held in Estate St. Thomas are seen as an opportunity to encourage students to view the forest as an outdoor classroom and to increase their understanding of ecosystems.
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix’s west end was designated a Natural National Landmark in 1980. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department. Sandy Point is the largest leatherback turtle nesting site in the U. S. and the longest stretch beach in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Presenters included John Farchette, St. Croix East End Marine Park; Marcia Taylor, VI Marine Advisory Service; Leah Wal, SEA volunteer; Kirstina Barry, and Claudia Lombard, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Nadija Pacjauskas, lionfish expert; Sharmane Simon, WTJX; and Carol Burke, SEA. Concepts covered include insect diversity, food webs, forest disturbance, bird-watching and climate change.
