Vaillancourt said that over 30 students participated in the Tinian Discovery Eco Camp held from July 5 to 11 at the Tachongna Beach on Tinian.
“This year marks the second discovery eco-camp and it was a successful event for the high school students who joined it,” Vaillancourt said.
She said the students learned so much during the seven-day camp.
Supported by other officers and members of the Asia Pacific Academy of Science, Education & Environmental Management as well as leaders, agencies, and community members of both Tinian and Saipan, Vaillancourt said the eco-camp provided students a chance to discover several aspects of their natural and cultural environments, both on land and sea.
This year’s motto was “With Understanding Comes Appreciation, With Appreciation Comes Stewardship.”
Vaillancourt said campers toughed it out and held on despite the heavy rains during the first two nights of the camp and a bad bout of flu two days before their camp ended.
She said the campers took and passed a well-designed Professional Association of Dive Instructors’ course in Discovery SCUBA at the Tinian Dynasty pool, and later in the waters at the Tachongna/Taga Reef Marine Sanctuary.
Armed with the common goal of recognizing the beauty and importance of all of the Mariana Islands, Vaillancourt said the campers shared a common desire to learn about the island’s ecology while expressing a desire to stay in touch.
Two of the students, Dennis Chan and Kristine Valencia wrote about their experiences in essays which expressed their passion to explore more of the islands.
Vaillancourt said Chan’s essay won him a full scholarship to explore the northern islands.
She said the campers got a chance to get the basics of “Discovery SCUBA” from Mike Tripp, Harry Blalock, and Mike Ernest.
They also got a glimpse of the “Discovery by and History of the Various Mariana Islands’ Colonizing Nations” through Don Farrell and other interesting topics like the “History of the Science of Ecology” by Andre Kozij, “Introduction to Native Forest Tree Identification and an Experiment of Seed Predation by Hermit Crabs” by Haldre Rogers and Leanne Obra, “Dangerous Marine Life”; and “Identification and Adaptive Characteristics of Certain Reef Fishes and Invertebrates” by John Furey, “Learning to Weave with Coconut Leaves” by Jose San Nicholas, “International Standards Beach Volleyball”, taught by Laurie Peterka, “Exploring Tinian’s Caves and Forests” by Takeji Hagashima, “Free Diving Breath-holding and Descent Methods” by Morito Asai and “Air-layering Useful Fruit Trees” by Arnold Route.
Vaillancourt earlier said they are looking toward expanding the summer camp in the future to include students from Rota and eventually from the mainland.
She extends her appreciation to APASEEM, the instructors, organizers and all the sponsors who helped make the second eco-camp possible.
