Help IFS Improve our Field Station Equipment!

We have been improving our education equipment over the past two years but there are some costly items that we would like to replace.  Items include a new projector screen, new classroom laptop, binoculars, and microscopes (both compound and dissecting).   

We are seeking donations to help us purchase the new educational equipment.  Your donation will go along way and for every $200 that is raised, we will be able to purchase 4 sets of binoculars or one compound microscope.  Every donation, no matter how small, will help us reach our goal of $4,000 to replace these items (including customs and shipping to the Bahamas).

The new equipment will help visiting students spot the rare and endemic birds of Andros and examine the different types of plankton found in Stafford Creek.  As always, environmental education is our focus and these improvements will make the Forfar experience even better!

Click here to Donate!

** All donations are tax deductible **

2017 BNT Ecocamp at Forfar Field Station

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!

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.

Facilitating Research at Forfar

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. 

Service Learning Projects

We want to thank Dr. Kevyn Juneau and his students from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for all their hard work helping out the Bahamas Forestry Unit with mangrove restoration and invasive species removal. They even did some service at Forfar!

Forfar Field Station Gives Back Locally

Photo Credit: Bahamas National Trust

Forfar Field Station assisted the BNT Discovery Clubs from Behring Point, Bowen Sound, Lowe Sound, Mastic Point and Nicholl’s Town with transportation so the students from North Andros could visit Blue Holes National Park. We love to assist locally where we can!