Photo Focus: SEA Holds 31st Annual Eco-Fair

By Diana Dias 
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Editor’s note: Republished as the Zoom link information has changed.

The St. Croix Environmental Association held its 31st Annual Eco-Fair Friday at the St. George Village Botanical Gardens.

Fourth graders Cattalyna Francois, Aviah Martin, Shazeah Rios, and Amina Cooper from the Juanita Gardine Elementary School K-8 and other schools, listen in at a display from the V.I. Water and Power Authority on solar energy. (Photo courtesy Shanell Petersen)
Fourth graders Cattalyna Francois, Aviah Martin, Shazeah Rios, and Amina Cooper from the Juanita Gardine Elementary School K-8 and other schools, listen in at a display on solar energy from the V.I. Water and Power Authority. (Photo courtesy Shanell Petersen)

The purpose of the Eco-Fair is to teach basic environmental science concepts through active, hands-on activities. The lessons presented at the Eco-Fair increase student’s environmental awareness and encourage them to discover solutions they can implement themselves.

Nebaeh Suell creates a card at Ceiba Strategies station. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Nebaeh Suell creates a card at Ceiba Strategies station. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

Education Coordinator Olivia Walton who spearheaded the efforts for the second year said, “one of our main things that we want them to take away is one, they are getting to have this experience outside, but they are also learning about their environment and their home and why they should protect it and why they should care about it.  Having that experience while being outside, I think really pushes the concept for them.”

Students from the St. Croix Montessori School raise their hands in excitement. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Students from the St. Croix Montessori School raise their hands in excitement. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

Students from the third through the sixth grade from Alfredo Andrews Elementary School, Claude O. Markoe School, Eulalie R. Rivera K-8, Good Hope Country Day School, Juanita Gardine K-8, Lew Muckle Elementary School, St. Croix Christian Academy, St. Croix Montessori School, as well as homeschoolers, attended the event.

They took part in many activities, from learning about insects, reading environmental books, learning about bats, a garden tour, to learning about tropical plants, water conservation, climate action and sea turtle hatching, just to name a few.

Students get the opportunity to take part in different stations with different hands-on activities like looking at insects under a microscope. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Students get the opportunity to take part in different stations with different hands-on activities like looking at insects under a microscope. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

Extension Specialist Amy Dreves, spoke about the “assassin bug,” and how it kills the “bad bugs.” Reves has been educating with the University of the Virgin Islands for eight years but has been fascinated with insects from the age of 8.

Referring to insects and their purpose to the environment, Dreves said, “it’s a story in itself. Everybody fears them and then they find out.”

Students at the Good Hope Country Day School STEAM Club demonstrate a STEAM challenge. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Students at the Good Hope Country Day School STEAM Club demonstrate a STEAM challenge. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

The Good Hope Country Day School STEAM Club demonstrated a “STEAM challenge.”  Participants had to figure out how best to keep an aluminum foil boat afloat while dropping pennies inside.

There will be a virtual option of the event Monday from 9 a.m. to noon.  It can be attended through Zoom at this link.

Agencies that participated in the event include the St. Croix Environmental Association, V.I. Good Food Coalition, CHANT, CMCArts, UVI Cooperative Extension Services, Department of Natural Resources East End Marine Park, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge and STX Sea Turtle Project, V.I. Water and Power Authority, UVI School of Agriculture, National Park Service, VIWMA, The Nature Conservancy, V.I. EPSCoR, DPNR Coastal Zone Management, CORE, STEAM Club of Good Hope Country Day School, V.I. Marine Advisory Services, Sister Iria Stiles with Natural Ay Ay, Tropical Behavioral Services, Ceiba Strategies LLC, and St. Croix Seashell Society.