2017 BNT Ecocamp at Forfar Field Station

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BNT-Ecocamp

We are proud to host the annual BNT Eco Camp at Forfar Field Station this week.

Through a competitive selection process, motivated young environmental leaders receive a full scholarship to attend an intense week-long summer camp on Andros Island.

Eco Camp disconnects participants from the hustle and bustle of technology and other services one might take for granted and focuses their attention on natural resources, conservation, and sustainability.

Daily schedules include morning birdwatching walks, interactive classroom presentations, boat rides to unique cays, snorkeling coral reefs and brainstorm sessions to work collaboratively on both an Andros community outreach event and a community project for their home island.

Field trips to Blue Hole National Park to witness the majesty of blue holes for themselves as well as a night’s stay under the stars in the surrounding pine forest fosters an appreciative connection to the unique ecosystems and culture of Andros Island.

Eco Campers experience first-hand that sometimes, one must disconnect from the world, to reconnect with nature.

Join us for a Work Week at Forfar!

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IFS will be hosting two upcoming work weeks at the field station in preparation for the 2018 season. These weeks will be dedicated for volunteers interested in helping with work around the station. 
 
When is it?  
The work weeks will be October 14th-21st, 2017 and December 16th-23rd, 2017.  
 
What will volunteers be doing? 
Man-power tends to be a limiting factor at the field station so there are always projects!!  Cardo and his staff will work very hard in the off-season completing some large scale projects (plumbing, tree cutting, etc.) but there are plenty of other projects to be completed.  

The primary focus of the October work week will be roofing and roof repairs. The December work week will include miscellaneous projects that will likely be tasks that include painting the outside of all the cabins and wooden structures, brush clearing, and tree removal.

Most of the work being performed will be hands-on physical labor and/or painting. We recommend bringing a pair of work gloves and clothing that you don't mind getting a little dirty!   Volunteers will work ~6 hours a day.  Your evenings will be free to do what you want and there will be one full boat day to go out snorkeling. 
 
Who can come?
Anyone able-bodied and willing to work hard to improve the field station! If you attend the October work week expect most of the work to be roofing. 
 
How much will it cost? 
Get yourself to the field station and it's free!  We will cover the lodging and food for the week in exchange for your hard work! 
 
If you are interested, please contact Matt at the office with questions (office@intlfieldstudies.org or 614.268.9930) and complete this online Registration Form.

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Facilitating Research at Forfar

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A group of 6 students and an instructor from SUNY Oneonta recently finished a 4-week research trip on Andros. 

The students learned about land crabs – a traditional food source that has been threatened by development, disaster, and over-harvesting. 

The data they collected will help to determine land crab fishery stock abundance on North Andros Island as a means of enabling long-term, sustainable harvests of this economically and culturally important food source.

You can learn more about their recent adventure by reading this article or visiting the CCRABSS Facebook page. 

Forfar's Androsia Scholarship Fund

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IFS feels it is imperative we contribute to the local community on Andros as much as possible. One of the ways we give back is though t-shirt sales to guests. When guests purchase the locally made Androsia Forfar T-shirts, all profits go into a scholarship fund for local high school students. This April, IFS was able to donate $1,000 for college scholarships to Central Andros High School.  

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