Staff Highlight: A conversation with Ricardo Riley

Ricardo “Cardo” Riley, Facilities Director

How long have you been working at Forfar?
Thirty-two years, full time working. I was a Divemaster, and then took care of the facilities and then did all of the mechanic work on the cars, did all of the mechanic work on the boats, because we didn’t have the Mennonites at the time.

Did you grow up in this area when you were little?
Yeah, I grew up about half a mile from Forfar Field Station.

Did any of your family work here before you started working here?
My dad worked here when Archie built the place. My dad knew Archie, they were great friends. Archie gave us a lot of pictures of himself, we have Archie with slit shells, we have Archie holding me as a boy and my sister. And then my uncle, he worked with Archie too, and Archie give him a piece of Forfar property when he got married, where the Pink House is. It’s a little house right here off on the end of the property.  It’s still there. 

How did your role at Forfar come to change and progress over time?
I used to work in Nassau and I came here because I grew up mostly with my grandmother, not with my mother. When we went to Nassau, I would go and live with my Grammy because she always loved me more than all of the other grandkids, over all, and they all know that (laughing). She has close to 30 grandchildren. She taught me a lot; she was sweet. And when I came here [to Andros], they didn’t know me, no one really know me that much because I would only be here in the summer time. And then Rick Perkins was working here and we became really good friends and he said ‘hey, Ben wants you to work here. Do you want a job?’ and I said ‘do I want a job? I wanna go to the States. Well, what am I going to do?’ and they said ‘you are going to do grounds keeping.’ So I did grounds keeping for one week. So I came in and they saw my potential.  I could fix a boat engine very good at this time and they saw that and they said to me, ‘you’re not supposed to be raking the yard, you want to do diving?’ and I said ‘yeah.’ And I was 18. Ben told him that he wanted me to be the Divemaster, so he says that he’s going to train me a little tough.  The dive instructor after training me said ‘he would be the perfect Divemaster, he doesn’t panic, he just smiles when you turn his air off, you take his mask off and put it on the ground, he still finds it. He would definitely be a good Divemaster.’ The Divemaster course took I was taught by Jim Conkel, he was from Ohio, and he dived with Archie, and Ben would have him come down and he would teach diving, and he was very good.

Archie must have died when you were very young, but do you have any memories of him?

When Archie passed away, I was around three or four, so I don’t have any memories [of him], just photos. 

What about Ben Bohl? I’m sure you have a lot more memories of Ben.
Yeah, I have a lot of memories, we did a lot of road trips together, we did a lot of trips flying together, back and forth from the island to Florida and it was great. I know Ben really well, I stayed with his parents [in the States] for weeks on top of weeks. We were close. He was close with a lot of Bahamians, but I consider myself being the closest to Ben, and I think Elthymae and Susan, they would tell you that. When it was time for Ben to talk to someone, he tells me come over to Florida, and I would go over there and we would talk for weeks when things were not going good up there in the office.

When did you last see Ben? What kind of character was he?
The last time I saw Ben was 2014. Everybody likes him and he had a heart, that when it comes to people, he had a heart that no one really had. Anyone who would come here to Forfar, he would go and take out the whole pan of brownies, any kids, and he would just give, and if someone would pass and say they hungry, he would say ‘go in the pantry, take food.’ His heart, I haven’t seen anyone else like that. He liked to help people, loved to help people. He would throw big Thanksgiving feast, big Christmas feast. He loved helping people, anyone could tell, he loved helping people along the way. 

Did you think from what you have heard about Archie that there are any similarities between Ben and Archie?
Yeah. Ben used to bring groups here, because Ben started out in ’70, and he knew Archie and him and Archie would talk. Ben told me a story, he said that Archie pulled him aside, and I don’t know if Archie knew that he was going to die, but Archie pulled Ben aside and said to him ‘listen, this community, Blanket Sound, this is the community that you want to stay in, and I want you, whatever business you do, I want you to do it right here in Blanket Sound, this is the best set of people, the whole island have good people, but this is going to be the easiest spot that you can run this business and this will be the spot where you don’t have a lot of activity and fighting against you, it’s Blanket Sound, and I want you to stay in this area.’ And then he died, Ben says maybe like, 6 to 9 months later. And Archie told him ‘don’t move out of this area’ for the last time he saw him before he died, ‘stay in this area.’ And it happened.

What have been your favorite memories over the years at Forfar?
Flying back and forth in the IFS plane from Andros to Florida and road tripping with Ben. He loved to road trip with me, I liked to road trip with him, it was great. We would go to Utah. Once we left from here, we would go to Atlanta, we would go into Minnesota, we would go up to Denver. He (Ben) used to run Out West Trips.  We had a lot of interns when they would come in, they asked if they could do one of those Out West Trips and he would say ‘yeah’. It was me and Ben and the chaperones and sometimes we would have someone else go along with us. We used to drive vans.

Over your time, you must have met so many people coming down here and working here as well. Do you keep in contact with people that you met along the way?
Yes, I used to keep in contact with a lot of people.  I would go to the States every summer and I would see a lot and some I wouldn’t see but I would call them a lot. I lost contact with them after my first house burned down to the ground. We just finished building it, furnishing it out, everything, didn’t leave a dollar, and it burnt down. And so, I lost it all, my things as well as my contacts.

What does Forfar mean to you?
Forfar means a whole lot to me because I’ve been through a lot of stuff here at Forfar, I’ve been through some good stuff and I’ve been through some very bad stuff. I’ve seen Forfar when it was at its high peak when I first came.  Forfar had so many people coming here, they had this place (the station), and two campsites. Over there (to the North), there was a whole full campsite, and then the campsite over there (to the south) was always full. We would have sometimes 180 people between the three spots, and I’ve been through all of that, and worked through all of that. And Forfar means a whole lot (to me). I would love to see Forfar the whole way Lindsey is taking it, pick it up, and be around for a long time. I have a lot of nice memories here.

Where are they now? A Spotlight on our Previous Interns: Mike England!

This week we’re catching up with a familiar face to see where life has taken him after his time at Forfar Field Station. Meet our previous environmental educator and education coordinator, Mike England!

Mike spent over two years working at Forfar from 2017-2019 covering two seasons and helping train two cohorts of educational staff. Since leaving the field station, Mike has returned to his hometown of Denver, CO where he currently works as an Educator at the Denver Aquarium.

“I teach classroom programs to school groups,” Mike told us, “as well as improve current classes and develop new curriculum”. Even in the landlocked state of Colorado, Mike is able to share his passion as a marine educator and teach students about the ocean and coastal ecosystems.

During his time at Forfar, Mike developed his diving skills and progressed all the way to PADI Divemaster level, assisting in Open Water courses, and helping maintain our Coral Propagation Nursery.

Mike not only further developed his teaching skills in and out of the classroom but Forfar also taught him to be more adaptable and to embrace a “go with the flow” attitude. Some of Mike’s favorite memories of Forfar are of the people, including the students, he taught on the station and the local Bahamian staff.

Although Mike is excited to be back in Colorado (and back on the ski slopes), he loves seeing all the updates at Forfar and hopes to make a trip back to visit soon!

We wish Mike the best of luck in all of his future endeavors as a marine educator and hope he has many more SCUBA adventures!

Project Update: Tropicalization of Western Atlantic Seagrass Beds

In April of 2018, IFS partnered with the Smithsonian Marine Station on a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded collaborative research project which examined the tropicalization of Western Atlantic seagrass beds. All field experimentation and collection was completed in June 2019 and the project has now transitioned to sample processing, data entry, and analysis at Florida International University. 

Although still early in the analysis, we are excited to share updates including some interesting trends across the network. From preliminary analysis, the following outcomes have been reported:

As pictured here the Bucktooth Parrotfish was a prominent grazer at the Andros site.

(1) Higher grazing rates on seagrass at lower latitude sites by small-bodied fishes (e.g. Sparisoma radians, Bucktooth Parrotfish).

(2) Grazing rates were found to be highly variable but did increase in treatments with nitrogen and phosphorous and had visible effects on seagrass within experimental plots.

(3) Intensive turtle grazing  observed at experimental sites in Bermuda and Eleuthera, BS. To date, this is the first report of overgrazing by turtles in the Bahamas!

(4) In winter, there was reduced seagrass cover and productivity relative to summer/fall particularly, at more subtropical sites. 

(5) Broad-scale distinctions were observed in seagrass meadow structure (shoot density / leaf morphology) and function (production) across our latitudinal gradient. 

Fig 1. Seasonal and latitudinal variation in sea surface temperatures (°C) across the network. Temperatures across sites were similar during the summer and diverged in October after the fall 2018 sampling.

(6) Latitudinal distinctions are present in how the turtlegrass meadows respond to intense grazing (simulated via clipping). Meadows at the more northern sites displayed more severe responses (decreased leaf width and production) relative to more tropical, lower latitude meadows. 

This suggests that there is lower meadow resilience in northern distribution of turtlegrass, likely attributable to large-scale gradients in climate forcings. This potentially confirms the original hypotheses that broad-scale light/temp gradients across the network regulate meadow responses to intense herbivory.  

The network itself is a huge achievement; as one of the  first major coordinated projects across the Western Atlantic with over 40 individuals working together to deploy, maintain, and break down a large coordinated field experiment. All 13 sites were able to successfully complete the project despite hurricanes, harmful algal blooms, flooding, and cold winter temperatures. This network has led to connections between participants, new opportunities, collaborative projects and a Caribbean-wide Sargassum monitoring network.

This is an exciting first look at the results from a project which is so crucial to investigating the effects of climate change on a foundational marine environment. IFS looks forward to staying engaged with this project so make sure to check back for further updates and publication of results!

Where are they now? A Spotlight on our Previous Interns: Jade Reinhart!

Every so often, we like to look back at our interns and see how they’re doing after they’ve left Forfar. Today we’ll be following up on Jade Reinhart!

Jade worked at Forfar during our 2017-2018 season. Her hobbies include fitness, longboarding, and volunteer bird banding. She followed her love of marine science after leaving Forfar, and now she lives at Jekyll Island in Georgia working as a Coastal Educator for the University of Georgia.

“I teach a variety of classes in the field,” Jade told us, “but some of my favorites are Maritime Forest Ecology, Herpetology, Beach Ecology, and Environmental Issues! I also have other duties such as animal husbandry, programming, managing, and maintenance - but teaching students how to be conservation stewards is the most rewarding part of my job.”

Jade says that her time at Forfar got her interested in conservation non-profit management. She hopes to study this in grad school and eventually make it her career. Conservation is a huge part of what we do at Forfar, and we’re so glad we could introduce Jade to this topic!

Jade’s time at Forfar helped her develop different skills that she still uses today. Her work with seagrass and our coral propagation site (which you can read more about here) helped improve her dive skills. She also honed her flexibility and problem solving skills as she led students on field excursions throughout the island. These skills help her teach students about the importance of conservation.

Forfar has left a big impression on Jade. Ever since coming back to the United States, she’s been living a more sustainable lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same. She told us, “I am implementing several sustainable alternatives at my current job - all which I learned at Forfar!”

Enjoy teaching the next generation of marine scientists, Jade!

Five Reasons to Take a Forfar Gap Year

The college application process and selecting a major can be overwhelming, especially at such a transitional stage in life. One way to center yourself and your goals before college is to take a gap year —a yearlong break between high school and college. A gap year can help develop stronger academic skills and increase employability. Here are the top five reasons to consider a gap year experience at Forfar Field Station.

1. Professional Growth

Although you may not be working full-time during a gap year, you can still grow professionally.

At Forfar you’ll learn skills that will help you in the workplace, as well as, boost your resume. As you balance classes, field labs, diving, and culture, you’ll develop a keen sense of time management, responsibility and collaboration.

Our Forfar Marine Science Program includes internationally recognized certifications in PADI Open Water scuba diving, PADI Advanced Open Water diving, Leave No Trace, ACA Kayaking, and Wilderness First Aid. These certifications equip you with life-long skills and help you stand out to future employers.

During your stay, you’ll earn tangible professional experience and service hours working with Bahamian nonprofits and government organizations. This is an opportunity to give back through volunteer work with trail maintenance, mangrove restoration, invasive species control, and more.

2. Increase Self-Confidence

International travel and living in a remote place increases self-confidence through personal growth.

In general, students who take gap years report higher self-confidence. The Forfar Gap Year program is no exception. Situated far from the main centers of population, this cross-cultural experience teaches respectful interactions with people from different cultures.

3. Cultivate Academic Success

Students who take a gap year report higher academic success when they enter college.

Our curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of marine biology and Bahamian culture through hands-on, experiential experiences. The class schedule splits time between classroom lectures and outdoor adventures and labs. Excursions to snorkel on the fringing barrier reef, swim in a blue hole, or perform a marine invertebrate lab on the beach, reinforce classroom lessons. Our class material fosters a deeper appreciation of marine science as students live and work on Forfar Field Station.

4. Experience Adventure

A gap year at Forfar Field Station is a chance to live on a remote island in the Bahamas; and have a life-changing adventure.

A gap year is an opportunity to experience adventure and mature. Our Forfar Marine Science Gap Year Program does just that. It provides you with the opportunity to explore a fascinating island and learn about the culture, history, the mangrove forest of Andros, and the Caribbean Sea.

Andros has dozens of fascinating places to explore. The island has the largest concentration of fresh blue holes in the world and is located right next to the Tongue of the Ocean. With a wide variety of tropical fish, reef sharks, sea turtles, and unique corals, Andros is a great place to dive. Andros also has many tide pools and subtropical forests, where you can see more than 50 species of wild orchids. You can learn more about Andros here.

5. Find Your Path

Traveling internationally and taking chances in life provides new experiences for you to develop a sense of self and long-term goals.

In our program, you can explore different fields such as marine biology, geology, botany, island ecology, invertebrate zoology, SCUBA diving, and more. Exploring these fields can help you narrow down your search for the right college major or future career path. Entering into college with a more concrete idea of your educational goals, gives you a leg up on other students who are still trying to decide what they want to pursue in college or where to focus their time and energy.

Taking a gap year to explore what you want out of life, both professionally and personally, can be a well-deserved break from societal pressures. People often expect high school students to jump right into college, but going back into the academic grind could be a mistake for some individuals. Students who take a gap year often come back feeling recharged and refocused.

Andros is a wonderful place to explore and expand your horizons, and our program will give you the resources and opportunities to succeed during college or with your professional career.

Interested in learning more? You can visit our website, download our program guide, or apply now. Feel free to email us at office@intlfieldstudies.org with any questions.  

Where are they now? A Spotlight on our Previous Interns: Erin McGrady!

Today we’re taking the time to reflect on a previous intern, Erin McGrady!

Erin worked at Forfar from December 2001 to Spring 2003. At Forfar, she developed a love of teaching that carried on after she left Andros Island.

“I had no idea what I wanted to do when I arrived (at Forfar) but by the time I left, I felt called to teaching,” Erin told us. “After my internship, I went back to school to get my Masters and then taught middle school Physical Education for ten years. I'm no longer teaching but the adventure/eco-tourism aspect is still a big part of my life as a freelance writer and photographer living in a van.” We’re glad that Forfar spurred her interest in education.

Erin says her time at Forfar gave her professional experience she used in her teaching career afterwards. Forfar taught her how to think on the fly, develop public speaking skills, working with many different people, and more. Erin also created connections to people on Forfar that still last to this day. She told us that the friendships she made were her favorite thing about her internship.

Erin has worked as a middle school PE teacher, a website designer, and a coach after she left Forfar. She still clearly loves adventuring, as she is currently traveling the country in a van with her wife. They run a blog about their adventures and are based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Their blog discusses Asheville and what to do, see, and play there. They also write about the National Parks, which Erin calls “some of our favorite playgrounds.” Right now, Erin and her wife are finishing up an assignment as Nation’s Vacation Ambassadors for Aramak.

In her free time, Erin likes to surf, stand-up paddleboard, ride bikes, and trail run. She also enjoys finding new ramen restaurants and cool murals, and trying to find the perfect IPA.

We wish Erin many happy trails as she explores the United States! Have fun!