The Bahamas 2019
The Bahamas #7: Down Island
Charlie Sinnott (’21) and Zach Davis (’20) share their experience traveling Down Island on Eleuthera, visiting an ocean hole, the Bethel farm, and Navy Base Beach.
March 16, 2019
The Bahamas
Marine Ecology and Sustainability
During this trip, students will have the opportunity to travel to the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas for seven days. They will travel to Cape Eleuthera, where they will spend a week investigating the island’s varied habitats alongside educators and researchers from The Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) while living mindfully of their environmental impact. They will immerse themselves in environmental, place-based education, marine ecology, and sustainable living.
The island of Eleuthera is known for its pink sand beaches, its unspoiled natural landscape, and its history as the founding island of The Bahamas. Students will experience wonder and a sense of place as they explore the coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves accessible from campus. Alongside researchers at CEI, students will have the chance to participate in ongoing research efforts to conserve the species these habitats support. This could involve encounters with sea turtles, lionfish, stingrays, or maybe even sharks in their natural environment. The connection between developing a strong sense of place and taking action to protect that place will be a key focus of this trip. The CEI campus honors its research efforts by maintaining an ethos of sustainability. Throughout the trip, students are asked to be mindful of their environmental impact while guests at CEI by minimizing waste, reducing electricity use, and conserving water. Students will leave the trip with a deeper understanding of the complexity of marine ecology and sustainability—and a stronger commitment to exploring what living well in a place means to them.
Program Notes
- Students are expected to minimize wastewater production and electricity consumption throughout their daily activities. This means that:
- This is an “unplugged” trip, so students will not have access to cell phones or the internet for the duration of their time in the Bahamas.
- Students may not bring their snacks to the CEI campus. Most meals will be prepared by CEI in its dining hall, where the kitchen team emphasizes sustainable practices and reducing food waste.
- Deerfield students will live together in an open-style dormitory separated by gender, with several bunks per room and no air conditioning.
- Depending on your nationality, a tourist visa may be required to travel to The Bahamas. Please click here to check if you need a tourist visa to visit The Bahamas.
- Families are responsible for transportation from Boston Logan Airport to the student’s final destination at the end of the trip.
- Students and faculty leaders will update families and friends at home through our Notes From The Field blog.
Program Dates
March 10 – March 16, 2025
Program Eligibility
This program is open to all students, with a preference for those interested in marine ecology and sustainability. Financial Aid is available to all qualifying students.
Faculty Trip Leaders
- Megan Washburn
- Andy Newlon
estimated cost: $4,750
This price is subject to change depending on enrollment numbers and flight costs. The final price will be set before initial deposits and enrollment paperwork are due.
2025 Preliminary Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change.
This itinerary begins on March 10 with a flight from Boston Logan Airport to Cape Eleuthera in The Bahamas. From March 10 to 16, participants will engage in activities at The Island School. Each day typically starts with group exercises like biking, swimming, or running, followed by breakfast. Mornings are spent on lab activities or ecology adventures, while afternoons focus on research projects and excursions, including beach cleanups and campus exploration.
Evenings feature research tutorials and activities such as lionfish dissections, night hikes, and bonfires. The program covers various environmental topics like plastics, sustainable fisheries, permaculture, coral reefs, and mangrove ecology. The trip concludes on March 16 with a return flight to Boston Logan Airport.
** Families are responsible for transportation from Boston Logan Airport to the student’s final destination at the end of the trip.
Notes From The Field
The Bahamas 2019
The Bahamas #6: An Endangered Ecosystem
Andy Kim ’21 and Ethan Chen ’20 reflect on the many factors contributing to a declining marine ecosystem.
March 15, 2019
The Bahamas #8: Final Reflections on Sustainability
For 1 week, 12 students traveled to the Cape Eleuthera Institute to explore the marine ecosystems. of Eleuthera while deepening their understanding of the realities and challenges of sustainability. Here are excerpts from the students’ final reflections on sustainability.
March 23, 2018
The Bahamas 2018
The Bahamas #7: The Ripple Effect
Bailyn Prichett (’19) & Erin Tudryn (’18) recount their last day exploring the marine environment around Eleuthera and share some take aways from the trip, including what they hope to do once back at DA.
March 17, 2018