{"id":75483,"date":"2014-08-14T07:02:09","date_gmt":"2014-08-14T11:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/?p=75483"},"modified":"2014-08-14T10:02:38","modified_gmt":"2014-08-14T14:02:38","slug":"kids-learn-about-corals-climate-change-at-breef-san-salvador-sea-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/2014\/08\/kids-learn-about-corals-climate-change-at-breef-san-salvador-sea-camp","title":{"rendered":"Kids Learn About Corals & Climate Change at BREEF San Salvador Sea Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cPants can help you float\u201d – one of the safety tips Joshua Storr and thirty-nine other campers learned at BREEF\u2019s eighth annual \u201cSea Camp\u201d at Gerace Research Center in San Salvador held from July 21-25.\u00a0 During the week-long sea camp, children learned water safety skills and how climate change is affecting coral reefs and people in The Bahamas.<\/p>\n

\"breef-camper\"Campers eagerly participated in activities including snorkeling and free-diving, games, crafts, science experiments and a beach clean-up.\u00a0 \u201cThe best thing about sea camp is learning how much CO2 we let out in our environment and how I can reduce it to help protect the coral reefs\u201d stated sea camper Jamillah Rolle.<\/p>\n

By the end of the camp, children also set personal goals to help slow down climate change. Daverelle Major pledged to \u201cstop leaving on my TV when I am not watching it\u201d and Shante Pratt wants to \u201cgrow gardens, plant vegetables, (and) ride my bike more instead of riding cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three campers also completed their prerequisite water skills and are now eligible to be trained as certified scuba divers.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re always glad that the kids have a great time at sea camp each year, but we are also focused on the long-term benefits.<\/p>\n

\"breef-trapped-creature\"Not only will these young Bahamians be better informed about how to manage our marine resources, but they are gaining skills that can save their lives and help them to earn a living in the future,\u201d noted BREEF\u2019s Executive Director, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert. Former sea camper and camp counselor, Deontae Williams is a certified Rescue Diver employed by Seafari Bahamas.\u00a0 He follows in the footsteps of former sea camper, David Romer, also employed at Seafari as a Dive Instructor.<\/p>\n

Special thanks to our team of volunteers and sponsors, especially the U.S. Embassy Nassau, Gerace Research Center, Sandy Voegeli, Melanie Devore and the San Salvador Living Jewels Foundation.<\/p>\n