CCMI Sea Camp back on track in Little Cayman
2004 Sea Camp Students at Pirates Point with Owner
Gladys Howard and scientist John Bothwell, Cayman
Islands Department of Environment with the Little
Cayman Research Centre truck donated by CUC
Friday, March 11, 2005
According to the Cayman Islands Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI)
providing inspiring activities for youth is important to the continued recovery
of our community. So the organisation is moving forward with all of the
programmes and projects for 2005 including their sixth Caribbean Sea Camp for
Caymanian high school students from July 23-28, 2005.
CCMI is hoping to provide scholarships for a limited number of students and
has lowered the cost of the programme.
Scholarship availability will be determined based on the level of
contributions they receive from local corporations and donors.
As well as SCUBA diving at Little Cayman the youngsters will join CCMI
scientists and instructors in a series of fun activities including their annual
raft building contest and pirates dinner.
CCMI is expanding the program to include an International Sea Camp which is
open to students worldwide.
The program will include the same marine conservation emphasis as the program
has focused on over the past few years.
“We are interested in empowering our youth to make a difference,” indicated
President Dr. Carrie Manfrino.
“The programmes that we have developed for youth are aimed at illustrating
the delicate balances on the coral reef system and teaches about current marine
conservation efforts in the Cayman Islands.”
The campaign and development of the Little Cayman Research Centre has also
been successful. Thanks to a few major donors, CCMI has generated funding to
complete the Main Field Station Pavilion where students will be housed and which
also has a classroom, library and laboratories.
They will also complete the Kitchen Pavilion and Bath House. After Hurricane
Ivan the CCMI decided to release Little Cayman’s Quality Construction Company,
which had a 10+ member construction crew working on the new facility, so that
that owner Whitman Tatum could assist the Sister Island in the recovery.
Whitman Tatum and his construction crew spent 4 full months working toward
helping Little Cayman residents repair their homes, docks, and businesses.
Back on track, Mr Tatum’s crew returned to work full-time at the Little
Cayman Research Centre in early January. With a large crew he is right back on
schedule to open the doors on June 1st.
The plans are to bring the Cayman Islands to leadership status in the
Caribbean, in terms of research and education through the activities at the
Little Cayman Research Centre.
CCMI launched their CCMI Education Fund recently which provides funds to
reduce the costs for Cayman youth and student programs.
They are currently seeking major support for this fund. The organisation has
received support from the Cayman corporate community and many generous
individuals over the past 5 years which has made it possible to provide funding
for over 40 local Cayman youths selected for the program.
CCMI is continuing to work toward developing the highest academic standards
for Cayman youth.
Registration for the camp is due now. Anyone interested in registering should
check out the website at
http://reefresearch.org
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