MAHO REEF – Thanks to funding by the Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) and other partners, the foundation Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) will be continuing its Environmental Educational Program.
EPIC is a local non-profit foundation that carries out environmental conservation, research and education projects. The foundation will be continuing its annual Environmental Education Program by offering free educational presentations and various excursions for schools, clubs, businesses, and community groups. In the past the foundation’s environmental education program has reached thousands of primary, as well as secondary school students and other community groups.
For Phase 3 of the education program, EPIC is offering presentations on the following topics: Effects of Global Warming; The Importance of Wetlands; Birding on St. Maarten; Hurricanes and their Environmental Impact; Island Biodiversity and Wildlife and Importance of our Beaches and Coastline.
Participants can also choose from various fun excursions including bird watching, kayaking, beach or wetland cleanups and hiking. The foundation is also willing to work together with participants on request for specific topics, excursions and projects.
Schools, clubs, businesses and community groups that are interested in participating in the education program, the presentations and/or excursions, can contact the foundation at laura@epicislands.org or call +1(721) 588-1510. The presentations are flexible, suitable for children, ages 8 and up, and adults, and are about 45 minutes long. EPIC would like to thank Binkie van Es and TriSport for their help and collaboration.
The foundation is urging schools to sign up to secure a spot, as the summer vacation is nearing and space is limited. The educational activities that EPIC offers get participants outside and active. Excursions in nature foster sensitivity, appreciation, and respect for the environment. “Environmental education raises awareness of issues impacting the environment upon which we all depend, as well as actions we can take to improve and sustain it,” EPIC said in a statement.
Pic 1: EPIC’s Environmental Educator Laura Bijnsdorp taking students out on an educational bird watching excursion.
