While enjoying fun in the sun, students pose for a picture at the beach.

Over the summer five students and one teacher had an amazing opportunity to visit the exotic islands of the Bahamas, where they studied the culture and researched marine biology. Seniors Brian Barry and Brandon Moore, alumni Price Harper, Ben Helmers, and Brittany Patterson all attended the trip. Brian Barry’s Parents, Dade and Rhonda Barry, and the sponsor, Mrs. Miller also acquired the opportunity to visit the islands. The group left early in the morning on Friday July 22nd for St. Louis. From St. Louis they flew to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where they spent the night in a hotel. The next morning they took a small plane to Andros Island in the Bahamas.

Andros is a large island on the western edge of the Bahamas that is less developed and populated, therefore, it is less “touristy”. They stayed at Forfar Field station on Andros Island, which is an old scuba diving resort that has been renovated into an educational field station. One of the main activities the group participated on the island was snorkeling. They also did a lab where they dissected some calcified algae to see how many animals were using it to live in. While learning about the history of the island, they went to a cave and bluff where Captain Morgan based his operations. He would fool passing ships into thinking there was a lighthouse near by, then when the ship crashed on the shallow reefs he would loot the ships and keep any survivors as slaves. The group also met many local natives. Henry Wallace, one of the men they met, is a world famous woodcarver. His work has been in national geographic and featured in exhibits at the Smithsonian.

The group left Andros on July 29th to return home. However, they got delayed in Ft. Lauderdale and had to spend the night in a hotel. They were scheduled to arrive home early on July 30th but instead arrived late that night. Mrs. Miller will return in the summer of 2007 with a different group of students. She plans to start fundraisers very soon. If you would like to attend or want more information, contact Mrs. Miller at 469-3260 ext. 327.