Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
Providing science-based solutions to protect and restore ocean health
We are thrilled to announce the launch of another exciting year for our Mangrove Education and Restoration Programs! These programs empower students and educators to protect and restore vital mangrove ecosystems, which play a critical role in maintaining coastal protection, biodiversity, …
Throughout the B.A.M. and J.A.M.I.N. programs, we evaluate each program by surveying students in each of the three phases of the mangrove education and restoration process. We use this information to gauge how much information the students initially know regarding mangroves and their attitudes …
With the end of the school year drawing near, our students prepared for the final phase of our B.A.M. and J.A.M.I.N. programs. They had been involved in a long-term experiment spanning eight months, which included hands-on work, data collection, and nurturing mangrove propagules. For …
Beyond our excursions to the mangroves, our mangrove animal show-and-tell stands out as one of the most beloved activities in both our Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) and the Bahamas Awareness in Mangroves (B.A.M.) programs. Despite the rich diversity of marine life …
One of my favorite parts of the Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) and the Bahamas Awareness in Mangroves (B.A.M.) programs is teaching students about the mangrove food web. In the current phase of our Mangrove Education and Restoration programs, we delve into the …
Often, we share comments about our B.A.M. and J.A.M.I.N. programs from the students’ perspectives. This year I would like to highlight our remarkable teachers. Teachers are the backbone of our mangrove education and restoration programs, and their crucial role cannot be overstated. Over the years, we have come to realize that the success of these programs hinges on the teachers’ willingness to embrace and seamlessly integrate them into their classrooms. Their dedication and passion for teaching have enabled us to achieve our goals of educating students about the significance of mangroves and instilling a sense of conservation in them.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the teachers who have been part of our programs, both the veterans who have been with us since the beginning and the new members who have recently joined our educational family. It is their incredible commitment that empowers us to make a lasting impact on the lives of students and cultivate a future generation that will protect and preserve our precious mangroves. It’s time to meet and celebrate our dedicated B.A.M. and J.A.M.I.N. teachers who make a significant difference every day!
Previously, you heard the voice of the students in our J.A.M.I.N. program. Now it’s time to hear how the students in The Bahamas feel about our B.A.M. program.
“Though I do not want to pursue a career in science or conservation, I still appreciate and I’m thankful that I am a part of something so important like the B.A.M. program.”
– Kaley Scott, Forest Heights Academy
Throughout the B.A.M. and J.A.M.I.N. programs, we evaluate each program by surveying students in each of the three phases of the mangrove education and restoration process. We use this information to gauge how much information the students initially know regarding mangroves and their attitudes toward them before we begin the programs. After we start the programs, we continue to survey the students. This data helps us to determine whether our education programs are effective and whether we know our audience. It also allows us to measure how much knowledge is retained and whether their attitudes and actions about mangroves change as they continue through the program.
During the final survey, we ask the students for their input about the program. We want to know things such as: How we can improve the program; What was their favorite part of the program; and What did they learn from participating in the program?
One of my favorite things to do after the programs have ended is to read the students’ written responses. Below you will find select responses to the final survey. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
The definition of partnerships had a newfound meaning to Bahamians who experienced Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. So many relief organizations selflessly came to our rescue from so many different avenues, showing us the true meaning of partnership and dedication to our islands. As the island of Abaco has rebuilt over the past four years, we have been grateful for those partners eager to continue working with us as we come back stronger. Friends of the Environment (FRIENDS) is grateful for the partnership with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) in bringing the Bahamas Awareness of Mangroves (B.A.M.) program back to Abaco this year…
As the academic year comes to a close, we celebrate all the graduates out there. This year, I’m particularly filled with pride and excitement as I celebrate the achievements of my students in the Bahamas Awareness of Mangroves (B.A.M.) and Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) programs, who have successfully completed their first year. While this milestone might not have carried the same weight in previous years, it holds a unique significance for me because it marks the first cohort of students to navigate our programs after pausing the programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The B.A.M. and J.A.M.I.N. programs were created with the goal of nurturing environmental awareness and conservation among young minds. By immersing students in the world of mangroves—an ecologically significant and biologically diverse ecosystem—we aimed to instill a sense of stewardship for these invaluable habitats…
