A morning circle stretch

On Tuesday March 2 nd the Spring 2004 Island School students arrived safely via Twin Air followed by an extra plane full of luggage. Everyone was greeted with a tour of campus and then a quick trip to High Rock where Chris Maxey and Ben Freeman introduced themselves and declared the start of our semester. Back at school our first dinner consisted of fish heads or fish tails – “take your pick” we were told. Huddled around a bonfire later that evening we met our advisors and the rest of the staff.

Bright and early Wednesday morning we circled around the flagpole as the sun was rising (6:30am). We did a short run around campus and then snorkeled to a shipwreck offshore from school. Maxey taught us a class that afternoon giving us perspective on Cape Eleuthera and where we will be learning for the next 3.5 months. Afterwards we had a couple of hours to spend with advisors and to explore the cape. John Schatz (Dean of Students) held a meeting that night to explain the rules of The Island School. We all shared thoughts and began to create the basis for community.

Girls pose Wednesday after lunch

Thursday morning we did a physical assessment that consisted of a long swim and then a 3-mile run. We spent the day in seminars discussing Barry Lopez’s book, The Rediscovery of North America and also began our medical first aid training. After dinner we met with our dorm parents (Ashley and Rob) for a couple of hours and settled in to dorm life at Island School.

We all headed out to a sandbar at 6:30am Friday morning where Ben Freeman (Head of School) gave us our first geology lesson of the Bahamas. Andrew, Zack and Matt had to spend the entire day serving a punishment they earned for having not worn their bike helmets properly on Thursday afternoon. The punishment meant wearing a helmet all day, (during exercise, class, meals etc.) so they wouldn’t forget the correct way to buckle a bike helmet! Kayak groups 1 & 2 prepared for their departure on

Matt and John geared for SCUBA

Saturday while the rest of us were given a presentation on the Cape Eleuthera Foundation from Maxey and Jack (Director of Sustainable Systems). On Friday we learned how badly we need rain and to take short showers and to only take them when we have to. We are in the dry season and really have to watch our water consumption level.  Saturday the group of 44 was split in half while 22 students left on 4-day kayak trips and the rest of began our SCUBA certification. The SCUBA group spent the morning getting used to gear in the water at the marina and the afternoon was spent in the classroom.

Sunday morning Andrew led us on a run around the Cape and he had us stopping to do calisthenics along the way. We continued with SCUBA and had our first real study hall that night with a lot of reading and studying for the SCUBA test.

We had our first game of water polo Monday morning and then finished our confined SCUBA training, which means we can move out to the open ocean. The afternoon free time was spent on the beach for most of us except Alex, Matt and Anna who were stuck doing farm chores with David (co-head of permaculture) as a punishment for chewing gum and having a soda can in the dorm!

Kayak 2 as they leave for the 4-day trip

All in all, it has been a week chock full of meeting lots new people and enjoying fun experiences. It will be nice to have Kayak 1 & 2 return later today so that our group will be 44 again. But this will change when the rest of us (Kayak 3 & 4) take off first thing tomorrow morning!

This web update was written by Anna, Jensen, Andrew and Mallery. Below are messages from them to their friends and family at home.

Anna: I want to say hey to all my family! Mama, Daddy, Rand: I love you so much! I also want to say hey to all my Carolina guys and gals! You know who you are.

Jensen: Hey Mom, Dad and Logan. I miss you guys so much but am having an awesome time, so don’t worry. HM: I miss you guys. Write me. I want to hear from all of you.

Andrew: Mom, Dad and Liz: I miss and love you guys a lot – see you soon! L’ville guys and girls: It’s weird without you guys – write to me and send me stuff and I’ll see you in the summer! I’m having a blast! 13 more weeks!

Mallery: Hey to everyone back home (the fam, Lawrence friends, and cannon crew)! I miss you! No worries, I am not sick any more and I’m having a blast! I passed my SCUBA exam and am getting ready for my 4-day kayak trip. Write to me! And Mom, send me clothes please!

Circle at the sandbar	Andrew and Tracy during SCUBA