UNESCO St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve Committee commits to Education for Sustainable Development
On Saturday April 29, 2017, the UNESCO St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve (SMBR) program facilitated a field trip comprising students of Cayon High School and Washington Archibald High School. The purpose of the field trip was two-fold for students to learn more of the terrestrial and marine zones of the SMBR as well as to expose teachers to the benefits of using the SMBR as a case study for theoretical concepts. The specific sites visited were the endangered Leatherback sea turtle nesting area on Keys Beach and the King Bat Caves at Keys Village. A total of forty-four (44) students were accompanied by teachers for the educational exercise. The students were guided by Mr. Royston Griffin, a native of Keys Village who explained the environmental, cultural, historical and socio-economic significance of the Keys community, within the UNESCO St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve.
Present, was the principal of the Cayon High School, Mr. Francil Morris who lauded the exercise, funded by the UNESCO National Commission, as excellent for giving the students practical knowledge of concepts that are taught in the school curriculum across the various subject areas.
Ms. Markysa O’Loughlin, UNESCO SMBR Committee PRO explained that the field trip is part of an ongoing educational and digital awareness campaign to encourage youth participating in the SMBR as well as to actively engage, not only the St. Mary’s communities, but communities in St. Kits and Nevis. She stated, “We will continue our mandate of using the UNESCO St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve as a tool for education for sustainable development”
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