SandWatch is a UNESCO program that focuses on a volunteer network of children, youths and adults working together to monitor the changes in their beach environments, evaluating the problems and conflicts. and implementing activities to address these issues.
Since 2017, Fragments of Hope has adopted and been actively involved in implementing this program throughout the Placencia Peninsula primary schools like St. John’s Memorial Anglican, Peninsula International Academy, and St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic and work closely with students between Std. 3 to Std 5.
Ms. Abigail Parham, our SandWatch coordinator from the Independence Junior College (IJC), with assistance from our Outreach Officer, Ms. Monique Vernon is the leading person for the project with assistance from several IJC students. Together, schools are visited once a month, for six months, ending with three school field trips to Laughing Bird Caye National Park (LBCNP).
MONTHLY TOPICS & ACTIVITIES (based on the SandWatch manual)
October – Map of beach
November – How the beach used to look, interviewing elders
December – Erosion and accretion, beach profiling
January – Beach composition, sediment analysis
February – Human activities on the beach
March – Beach debris, belt transect assessment, beach clean up
April – Plants and animals, LBCNP school field trip, beach clean up
SANDWATCH SUMMER CAMP 2018
On the 2nd – 6th July 2018 we hosted a one-week SandWatch summer camp to engage children in Seine Bight and Placencia villages in positive, educational and environmental activities to create awareness that fosters better thinking, positive attitudes and change behavior. Our camp this year is being funded by GEF Small Grants Programme and Ray Caye (formally Hatchet Caye). The topics to be covered include all of the below:
Water cycle and the importance of water
Spotting the difference between mangroves
Role and importance of mangroves to the environment and people
Human impacts on mangrove systems
Before and present observations of beach composition and changes
Beach profiling and beach clean up
Reduction of personal use of plastic and recycling methods
Field trip to the beach and lagoon
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SUMMER CAMP 2019
This year (July 15th-20th, 2019), Fragments of Hope hosted its second summer camp at the Placencia Community Center and the Seine Bight RC school to involve kids (ages 9-12) in environmental science-based indoor and outdoor activities. We thank Oceana, Crocodile Research Coalition (CRC), and Southern Environmental Association (SEA) for participating the entire week; and to GEF-SGP and in part Ray Caye, for funding this project.
Day 1: Introduction to marine environmental science, with presentations by Oceana and SEA.
Children started the week in both Placencia and Seine Bight with an introductory to marine environmental science.
Members from SEA and Oceana shared presentations enlightening the participants about the different types of marine ecosystems in Belize and the different types of marine organisms associated with those ecosystems.
Day 2: Water Cycle
A day dedicated to the water cycle. Children are introduced to the water cycle, its different stages of development and importance.
They conducted several hands-on experiments and practical activities/games including:
Drawing a water cycle
Singing the water cycle song
Creating mini water cycles in cups, zip lock bags, and craft paper
Evaporation experiment
Day 3: Mangrove ecosystems, associated threats, and benefits, with a presentation by CRC and SEA.
Kids learn about the mangrove ecosystems in Belize, types of organisms living within these ecosystems and produced mini experiments that allowed them to better understand these concepts. Some of the experiments/activities include:
Drawing a mangrove ecosystem
Creating a mangrove filtration system
Exploring oil spill effects on marine organisms
Mangrove word puzzle
Day 4: Marine organisms, coral reefs, and food web, with a presentation by CRC.
Children recap on the functions and impacts of mangrove ecosystems, explored the dynamics of the food web and were introduced to coral reefs, their function, importance, and threats. Presentations and hands-on activities by CRC allowed for fun, free learning all day.
Day 5: Creative learning, with a presentation by Oceana.
Our week ended with kids creatively expressing, and learning all the topics covered during the one-week environmental science summer camp in Placencia and Seine Bight.
Some of the activities were:
Who am I
Water cycle race
Draw a coral reef ecosystem
Day 6: A field trip to the Placencia lagoon and CRC station.
At the end of our summer camp, children will be able to differentiate between the mangrove species, understand the concept of the water cycle, describe the importance and functions of mangroves, explain how people affect these systems and work with their peers in a positive environment.
Ms. Abigail Parham, our SandWatch coordinator from the Independence Junior College (IJC), with assistance from our Outreach Officer, Ms. Monique Vernon is the leading person for the project with assistance from several IJC students. Together, schools are visited once a month, for six months, ending with three school field trips to Laughing Bird Caye National Park (LBCNP).
