EPIC wraps up Environmental Education program

Environmental Protection In the Caribbean (EPIC) brought its Environmental Education program for the School Year 2012- 2013 to a close with an excursion to and clean-up at Little Bay Pond with pupils of the Sister Regina Primary School this past Friday.

The Foundation’s annual Environmental Education program offers free educational presentations for schools, clubs and community groups. Presentations cover a number of topics which include St. Maarten’s forests, ocean pollution, the environmental challenges St. Maarten faces and the wildlife and ecology of St. Maarten’s wetlands.

This year’s program ran from January 15th 2013 through March 25th 2013, visiting environmental education specialist Ms. Katie Riley and EPIC’s project manager Rueben J. Thompson provided presentations, interactive learning experiences and field trips to pupils at a dozen participating primary schools and a number of secondary schools. EPIC’s project manager Rueben J. Thompson stated that this year’s program was very successful and enjoyable. According to Thompson the Foundation had the pleasure of providing classes to and carrying-out activities with hundreds of young residents. The Foundation extends its gratitude to Mr. Richard Ortega of Windward Roads who coordinated and led fieldtrips at the Landfill, Ms. Nicole Piper and Mr. Anthony Le Fur who provided fieldtrips at the waste sorting facility in Galisbay and Mrs. Jadira Veen of St. Maarten Pride Foundation who assisted with coordinating fieldtrips and cleanups.

The Foundation regrets the fact that there are several schools which have not yet participated in any environmental education programs and do not respond to annual public announcements or other invitations to participate. Thompson encourages Teachers and Principals of Schools which have not yet signed up for EPIC’s annual environmental education program to please consider doing so and email the Foundation at in**@ep*********.org, the education program will resume in October of this year.

EPIC extends its gratitude to Ms. Katie Riley, an Environmental Educator from the United States, who volunteered over two months of her time and provided most of this year’s classes and activities. "Ms. Riley has a wealth of experience in Environmental Education which was put to good use in St. Maarten. The Foundation is appreciative of Ms. Riley’s hard work and dedication and wishes her safe travels and much success in her future endeavors".