July 24, 2007 — Swimming won hands down Tuesday as the most popular activity at this week's V.I. Environmental Resource Station's summer Eco-Camp.
"I could see all the fish in the water," said 9-year-old R.J. Mason of St. Thomas.
Kyle Murphy, 12, said he liked the swimming because at home in Princeton, N.J., he only gets to swim in chlorinated pools. He's spending the summer with his St. Thomas-based parents and his brother, Christopher, 8.
"I like the swimming because I get to cool down," said Christopher, a Montessori School student.
This was the first time Mason, an All Saints School student, attended the Eco-Camp, but others were old hands at learning about nature and the environment.
"This is my fifth time," said Micah Nelthropp, 10, a student at Sts. Peter and Paul School.
In addition to exploring nature, the students spent several hours Tuesday doing ocean art — in this case making turtle puppets out of old cereal boxes.
"You have to be resourceful," said instructor Deidre Sassano. In addition to providing material for the art project, using the cereal boxes was a way to recycle them, she said.
The students were part of the Total Camp Experience program, based at Antilles School on St. Thomas. In addition to All Saints and Sts. Peter and Paul, the campers hailed from Montessori, Antilles, Evelyn Marcelli, Addelita Cancryn and Calvary Baptist schools. Some campers attend schools on the mainland.
The group of 30 students was one of six that will spend time during the summer participating in VIERS Eco-Camps sponsored by Friends of the V.I. National Park.
Kristen Maize, the Friends program manager, said the camps were funded through donations from Disney Cruise Lines, Vento Charitable Trust, Prosser ICC Foundation, the Rotary Club of St. John, the V.I. Agriculture Department and Texaco Caribbean.
While just about all the campers liked the swimming, a few said the hikes were the most fun.
"Because I get to see stuff," said Alexa Percell, an eight-year-old St. Thomas resident who attends Montessori School.
Kimberly Brin, who called herself a nature girl, said she liked the camp because it helped her explore nature. "And you can learn to be responsible as well," said the 13-year-old All Saints School student, who lives on St. Thomas.
Joshua Ledee, 12, couldn't pick one thing he liked best.
"I like just about everything," said the All Saints student, who lives on St. Thomas.
Alas, some clouds have dark linings. Several kids had the same response when asked what they didn't like at VIERS.
"Washing the dishes," Nelthropp said.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
