During our time in Jamaica, we had the incredible opportunity to engage with the local community through our Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) program. One highlight of my visit was participating in an Open Day event hosted by our partners at the Alligator Head Foundation (AHF).

The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, thanks to a live radio broadcast from Stylz 96 FM that had everyone tapping their feet and dancing to the beat. Professional dancers joined in, transforming the event into a vibrant celebration. The Open Day featured captivating displays from various organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, the Forestry Department, the University of the West Indies, the National Fisheries Authority, and many more. To top it off, a bustling local farmer’s market offered a delightful array of goods, from fresh produce and coconut beauty products to lush garden and house plants.

In collaboration with AHF, we proudly showcased our J.A.M.I.N. program, transforming our display into an engaging and interactive experience. We highlighted the fascinating journey of mangrove propagules (seedlings) nurtured by high school students in their classrooms. Our food web activity, creatively displayed on a board, depicted the intricate connections of the ecosystem’s organisms with colorful strings weaving from one to another. Yet, it was the live organisms that truly captivated the crowd.

We brought a diverse collection of marine life, mirroring the exciting second phase of our J.A.M.I.N. program. Corals, anemones, sea cucumbers, starfish, crabs, and other fascinating creatures from the mangroves stole the show. Although we are accustomed to engaging high school students, we were thrilled by the enthusiastic response from community members of all ages, from curious nursery school kids to intrigued elders.

One memorable group of elementary students particularly stood out. Their excitement was palpable as I led them on a spontaneous tour of the mangroves, leaving my colleague to manage the booth. The discovery of a hermit crab in the mangroves elicited joyful shrieks, and I quickly captured the crab to share more about its unique characteristics. The students’ eagerness to learn was infectious; they returned repeatedly with insightful questions and even brought more hermit crabs to enrich our display. By the end of the day, a couple of students had proudly presented an entire cup of hermit crabs!

The Open Day event was an overwhelming success, drawing over 200 attendees from local colleges, secondary and primary schools, and the wider community. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of educating all community members about the invaluable mangrove ecosystem.