THE ISLAND SCHOOL -- WHY THE ISLAND SCHOOL

Bahamas Environmental Steward Scholars

The Bahamas Environmental Steward Scholars (BESS) program is a unique year-long environmentally focused study and work opportunity for graduating Bahamian high school students. Students looking to further develop their education between high school and university are encouraged to utilize the BESS program as a gap year before attending university. BESS scholars will pursue a 14-week academic semester at The Island School in South Eleuthera which is followed by a six month paid internship at a conservation-related organization.

Internships available after The Island School Semester:

• The Bahamas National Trust

• Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation

• The Nature Conservancy

• The Kirtland Warbler Research Study Program

• Friends of The Environment

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources

Tuition is approximately $17,600 with partial and full scholarships available. Application deadline is March 1, 2009 and all material can be emailed or mailed directly to our South Eleuthera office via DHL courier service. Applications must be accompanied by $60 certified check.

COB-IS Exchange Program

The BESS program is ideal for students looking to gain leadership skills, rigorous academic training, and experience living away from home before moving off to college. The Island School’s collaboration with The College of The Bahamas (COB) gives COB students the option of spending their freshman spring semester at The Island School pursuing courses in core academic areas: math, literature, history, ecology, and environmental art. Additionally, students take part in group research projects that culminate with a published paper and public presentation.

Shark Disection

Questions

do you want to develop your leadership skills?

do you want to learn about alternative energies ?

are you interested in learning how our communities can become more self-sufficient?

are you interested in studying the environment around you?

are you motivated and dedicated to getting things done?

do you want to take a gap year before college?

do you want to learn how to scuba dive?

do you like marine biology?

Past Students:

Stan Burnside graduated from St. Anne’s in the spring of 2007 and was accepted to Ithaca College. Stan applied to The Island School and upon acceptance decided to defer to Ithaca and participate in the fall 2007 Island School semester. Stan returned in January of 2008 to the Cape Eleuthera Institute and supported collaborative research with the University of Miami in the field of open ocean aquaculture. Stan is currently attending Ithaca College as a freshman in the fall of 2008.

Alexio Brown graduated from C.V. Bethel High School in the spring of 2007 where he took part in the acclaimed Marine Magnet Program; he then worked at The Atlantis aquarium as a diver for several months before pursuing studies during the fall 2007 semester at The Island School. He returned for spring 2008 to work on aquaculture research at the Cape Eleuthera Institute. Alexio was accepted to attend The College of The Bahamas in fall of 2008 and will build on his foundation of marine studies.

Contact information: p. 242.359.7625 f. 954.252.2440

please email BESS@islandschool.org with any questions or for more information regarding the BESS Program