As part of the activities, the students were taken on a field trip to the forest in Troy Hill, where they were introduced to the West-Indian almond tree – a species of tree that is being used in the Public Entity’s reforestation project. The students were taught how to identify this particular tree species through its unique physical characteristics, such as its glossy, oval-shaped leaves, bark and the fruit that it bears. While in the forest, the students identified and collected the seeds of this tree that had fallen to the forest floor.
For the second part of the field trip, the students were taken to the nursery site of the Public Entity’s reforestation project in Rendezvous, where each student was given the opportunity to plant the seeds they had collected. Each pot was labelled with the name of the student that had planted seeds in it. The students will be updated on the progress of their seeds as they germinate and grow. The students were also given a tour of the nursery and introduced to the various tree species growing there.
This field trip follows up on and reinforces the activities that were carried out earlier in the year with the Grade 6 students. In March, the students also took park in outplanting activities at the reforestation site in Thais Hill. During this activity, students were given the opportunity to learn about the outplanting process by planting their own sapling. In October of last year, the students were also given a presentation on erosion and the importance of trees. All of these activities aim to raise awareness among Saba’s youth on the important role that trees play in not only addressing erosion, but also in the fight against climate change.
Sea & Learn Foundation is a partner of the Public Entity’s Nature and Environment Policy Plan program with the role of raising awareness and education on the various projects being carried out and on the broader topics of nature and environment. The Science SEAkers program is one of many initiatives being carried out by SLF.
