Where are they now? An update on our previous intern - Tyler Steube!

It has been a few years since we last caught up with our previous intern, Tyler Stueube, so we thought we would check back in and see what he has been doing lately.

We last caught up in 2018, what have you been doing since?

Since my last update, I have made a career change. Following the pandemic, I moved back to central Ohio and now work as a high school science teacher.

Where are you teaching?

Currently I work for Teays Valley HS in Pickaway County.

Tyler lived at Forfar Field Station from December 2015 to July 2016. During his time there, he strengthened his communication and leadership skills while leading and interacting with students, teachers and researchers. We asked Tyler, how did the Forfar internship benefit you in your current job or your future career goals?

"I was fortunate to have boating and diving experience when beginning my internship. However, this starting knowledge was greatly enhanced at Forfar. This included boat knowledge, operation, maneuvering, and engine maintenance. North Andros is a remote island far from any marine part stores. Being a professional means safety always takes priority. Knowing how to prepare and react to boating issues while still leading and assuring a group is the most important professional skill I gained at Forfar. Others include confidence in leading water excursions and species identification."

Forfar Field Station truly benefitted from Tyler's positive attitude, hard work ethic, and growth as a young professional. His confidence and skills enhance the purpose and importance of the IFS' mission - experiential environmental education!

Since leaving Forfar, Tyler enrolled in a Master's Degree at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi and graduated May 2018. Now he works for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg, on their Fisheries Independent Monitoring program. In his free time, he enjoys beachcombing and camping along the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, and articulating fish skeletons for his ichthyology class. In the photos below, you'll see him and his dad fishing near South Andros!

What do you love about your new teaching job?

Although I miss the coastal life (especially in the cold Ohio winter!) I enjoy teaching in the classroom. Education has always been a priority in my life and I enjoy mentoring young adults.

"My internship at Forfar allowed me to develop both as a biological technician and a leader. As a teaching assistant and a graduate student, the ability to be a dynamic speaker and maximize audience engagement is paramount. From my time at the field station, I strengthened these abilities daily. Other leadership skills occurred from collaborating with group leaders and the station director. Having an open line of communication helps everyone involved, and in time I came to anticipate group requests which allowed myself and Forfar to exceed expectations. Now as a graduate student, speaking and connecting to others from a variety of backgrounds happens every day. Making the most of those interactions has been greatly enhanced by my time at Forfar."

When reflecting on the professional skills he gained from his internship, Tyler stated:

Welcome the New Interns!

At Forfar Field Station, we are happy to introduce Charlotte King and Abigail Baker as our newest additions!  With incredible experience and passion in SCUBA and marine conservation, IFS is confident in the successes of Charlotte and Abigail as environmental educators at Forfar.  We are also excited to introduce our new office intern in Columbus, Ohio, Alessandra Cancalosi! 

Click to scroll through the photos below.

Abigail Baker, Dive Master from Burlington, Vermont (left). 

Charlotte King, Native Ohioan and Denison University Graduate 2017 (middle). 

Alessandra Cancalosi, dreaming of Andros Island, Denison University Graduate 2017 (right).

Updates and Work Week at Forfar Field Station

With the help of our work week volunteers, staff and interns, we were able to get the station repainted and complete the re-shingling of the lodge. 

We are so grateful to our volunteers during our annual work weeks and encourage others who want to give back to Forfar to volunteer at a future work week (2018 date to be determined). 

If you are interested in bringing down a group to volunteer or are skilled in plumbing, electrical, or carpentry and would like to volunteer your expertise outside of a work week, please contact the office at 614.268.9930 (office@intlfieldstudies.org).

Coral Propagation at Forfar Field Station

As you may or may not know, Forfar Field Station has a coral propagation site that has been in existence since June 2015. The coral line nursery (as shown above) is growing 80 to 90 fragments of Staghorn, Elkhorn and Fused Staghorn species. The largest pieces are 30cm! 

Unfortunately, there was some hurricane damage on the line nursery. The deepest line was snapped, causing some fragment bleaching and death. The line was successfully retied in early February, but must be replaced to fully secure the future growth of the coral species on this line.   
 
 Otherwise, we are excited about the positive results from the coral propagation and restoration efforts so far in the Bahamas.  IFS will continue to partner and assist with the ongoing efforts.  There is hope yet that we can restore, protect, and reverse the decline of our beloved coral reefs.

Tips for Booking Group Flights

Purchasing group flights can be a difficult and often unfamiliar process. This post will guide you through our suggested steps for arranging a group flight at a good price and with minimal frustration.

Please keep in mind that flights should arrive in Nassau no later than 12:45 pm and should depart from Nassau after 12:00 pm. Arriving and departing at these times will provide you with enough time to go through immigration and customs, check/pick up your bags, and catch your flight between Nassau and Andros.

Getting Started

We suggest that group leaders start their search for flights with Google Flights. This search engine shows information from several different airlines. You won’t be able to use this tool for booking group flights but it can give you a good idea of a  "baseline" price for 1 passenger and the different routes you can take to your destination. This step will be useful for creating a budget for potential students and for finding airlines that service the route you’re interested in.

Utilizing your Resources

Many schools and universities have an agreement with an outside travel agency and some may even employ in-house travel planners. If these services are provided for your organization we recommend this as your #1 option.

Working Directly with an Airline

If your organization doesn’t provide travel planning services we suggest that you work directly with an airline provider. Once you find a potential flight through Google Flights you can contact the airline directly for group rates (usually starting at 10 or more tickets). Most airlines have created specific departments for this and you can find airline specific information below.

• Delta

• United

• American Airlines

• Southwest

• JetBlue

Tips for Booking Group Flights

Plane ticket prices can vary a lot, and travelers should keep an eye on prices as the date of travel gets closer. Here are some quick tips about booking windows and how seasonality affects ticket prices. We found this information from CheapAir.

Travelers should not put off buying tickets until the last minute. Here are the best booking windows for good deals:

• The best times to buy tickets are 115 to 21 days in advance of the day of travel.

• If you want more peace of mind, you can purchase tickets 202 to 116 days in advance. However, prices might be higher.

• Buying a ticket 20 to 14 days in advance can be risky, but you may still find a good deal. However, your seat choices might be limited.

• Ticket prices are higher 13-7 days in advance, and especially 6-0 days in advance. You should avoid waiting until the last minute to buy tickets. If you see a good deal before this time period, take it.

Tuesdays are the cheapest days to fly, and Sundays are the most expensive. Midweek flights are best if you want to save money.

The season of travel can also affect ticket prices. Take these factors into account when you’re shopping around for a good deal.

• Winter: Best to buy 94 days in advance. Try to avoid flying over Christmas. Winter is the most expensive time of the year to fly.

• Spring: 84 days in advance. Also avoid flying over spring break, when prices will be higher.

• Summer: 99 days in advance. Late August and September are good times to fly, since most Americans travel from June to early August.

• Fall: 69 days in advance. You can often find good ticket deals in the fall, because people don’t travel as much. However, you should avoid traveling near Thanksgiving.

Contact a Travel Agent

Travel agencies are able to offer group rates, bookings, and assistance (should flights get canceled, delayed or missed), but they usually charge an additional per person fee.

Many universities have specific travel agents on staff so it’s best to contact your business office to see what resources you may have available.

We currently do not have any travel agent recommendations. Travel agents can be found locally or through a quick Google search.

If you’re still having trouble finding a flight with the provided information, please contact our office. We are happy to look into flight options for your group and provide additional assistance.

Please Welcome the 2017-2018 Season Interns!

The 2017-2018 Season interns have arrived and training is well underway. This years group of interns have fantastic environmental education, research, and conservation backgrounds including studying sea turtles, sharks, shorebirds, and expertise in geology, fish, and invertebrates. 

We look forward to another great season at Forfar and are confident you'll be very happy with the new educational staff!