A Sad Goodbye

The community of Blanket Sound on Andros recently lost two iconic women, Mrs. Margaret Princess Rolle Riley and Mrs. Merle Colebrook Conyers.

Mrs. Riley worked at Forfar for many years. After she retired, her children (Youterpy, Ricardo, Cordell, and Franklin) continued to work at Forfar and became an integral part of our Forfar family. Even her grandchildren have worked at Forfar including Kara, Randal, and Kelly. She raised amazing humans and we are profoundly saddened by the loss of her. May she rest in peace and those that held her dear find solace.

Mrs. Conyers worked many years at Forfar and her impact on the community and those that loved her will be felt and treasured for years to come. Many of you may have visited their family's shops down the road when getting ice cream or picking up sundries.

We grieve with the family and friends that miss them. To learn more about their lives you can follow the links to their obituaries.

Mrs. Riley’s Obituary

Mrs. Conyer’s Obituary

Mrs. Riley

Mrs. Conyers

Where are they now? Spotlight on our Previous Interns: Christian Schumacher

What dates did you intern at Forfar Field Station?

I was an Environmental Educator at Forfar from 2021-2022.

How did the Forfar internship benefit you in your current job or your future career goals?

My time at Forfar helped solidify my passion for sustainability and environmental outreach. Working with curious students and interacting with amazing Bahamian locals has pushed me in a career direction where I want to be involved with getting people excited and involved with environmental efforts. Going forward, I will be working at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency where I hope to put the experience and knowledge I’ve recently gained to good use.

What professional skills did you gain from the internship?

Working at Forfar allowed me to really develop my teaching and leadership skills. In a world where being able to effectively and concisely communicate your thoughts and ideas is so important, my time on Andros was invaluable.

What is the most memorable or favorite part of your Forfar internship?

A memorable moment that sticks out to me was my first time seeing dolphins. On a return trip from Joulters Cay, our boat driver, Franklin, spotted a couple dolphins in the distance, so we went off course for a closer look. As we approached, we realized that what we had thought were just 2 or 3 turned out to be a pod of 30. For the next half hour, we watched dolphins jump around, swim right up to the boat, and even jumped in ourselves to swim with them. It was truly a once in a lifetime moment that really encapsulated the natural wonder of Andros and The Bahamas.

Where is your hometown? Where are you living now?

I was born and raised in International Field Studies’ backyard, Columbus, Ohio. I’m back in Columbus for the foreseeable future while I start my full time career.

What job(s) have you had since your time at Forfar? What are your responsibilities in the role?

Since returning home from Forfar I have been working part-time with IFS in the Columbus office. In mid February, I will be starting full-time with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency as an Environmental Specialist in materials management and community outreach.

Any current hobbies or places travelled?

At the moment I’m trying to weather an Ohio winter after experiencing the year long summer that is The Bahamas. However, come spring, I’m looking forward to playing disc golf, tennis, and hiking. I’ve always enjoyed traveling to new places so I’m looking forward to planning a trip abroad with a friend this summer. I would also love to return to Andros at some point in the not so distant future.

Any other updates you would like to share with IFS?

Working with IFS and Forfar was one of the best experiences of my life and I’ve seen first hand the impact that a year or just a week on Andros can have on someone. Its ability to interweave fun and excitement with education and conservation has and will continue to inspire the next generation of young people in the environmental field.

End of Year Giving

Giving back to your community or to a cause you care about is one of the best ways to celebrate the holiday season. Donating to a nonprofit is a great way to have an impact and cause real change that you can see! If you’ve ever interacted with Forfar Field Station and International Field Studies (IFS), then you have probably seen the opportunities it has given to students and teachers around the world. See why your donation matters, why end of year giving is a great idea, and how you can donate to and support IFS.

Why does your donation matter? One of the many ways that a financial contribution supports IFS is through the Dr. Walter ‘Ben’ Bohl Scholarship fund. The scholarship fund directly supports local Bahamians, as well as, US students who want to participate in marine science education. This can be a life changing experience for someone who otherwise might not get the opportunity. 

Why donate now? 

1. A donation to a worthwhile cause can also make a fantastic holiday gift for friends and family. If IFS has had an impact on you or your loved ones, then consider making a donation in their name as a quick and easy gift. It supports an organization that is important to both of you. 

2. Donating to a nonprofit organization like IFS can earn you a deduction on your taxes! If you itemize your taxes instead of taking the standard deduction, you may qualify for a charitable tax break. Many employers will also match donations up to a cap. Consider checking with your employer to see if your donation could have double the impact. 

3. Donations, especially around the holidays, are very useful to nonprofit organizations for planning ahead to the next year. They help provide the stability needed to maximize their potential in the upcoming year.

How can I support IFS? Donating to IFS is simple, head over to https://www.intlfieldstudies.org/donate to make a contribution. Direct donations aren’t the only way to have an impact, there are many ways to support IFS and Forfar Field Station. These include volunteering your time, donating items to the station, or designating IFS as your Community Rewards Partner through Kroger Rewards or through Amazon Smile.

Androsia Scholarships 2022

IFS is dedicated to working alongside the local community on Andros and our larger global community. All programming is meant to pursue our mission of providing environmental education, scientific research, and cultural awareness through experiential learning. In addition to our programming, we aim to give back to the community and our students as much as possible to expand our impact and create equal opportunities for young scholars.

One of the main ways IFS gives back is through our Androsia Scholarship Fund. All profits from the local Androsia wares and IFS branded merchandise sold at Forfar Field Station go directly to the Androsia Scholarship Fund. In 2022, two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to two local Androsians.

The first $1,000 scholarship was given to Isaac Barr. Isaac was the class Valedictorian and recent graduate of Huntley Christie High School. Here is his statement sharing his story and speaking directly to donors:

Isaac Barr

My name is Isaac Barr and I am a 17 year old recent graduate of Huntley P Christie High School and Class Valedictorian. I hope to enroll at the University of The Bahamas this fall semester to study and obtain a bachelor’s degree in Media Journalism and Mass Communication.

My utmost goal is to establish a public news blog that can be used to spread awareness of the issues my island of Andros is facing and to create a platform for the talents and resourcefulness of Androsians to be uncovered. Writing is my passion and I hope that in the near future I will be able to give back to my community by developing a Young Journalist Club in which senior high students will be able to establish a greater meaning for freedom of speech and become exposed to issues that are happening right here in our community. I am so grateful to have received this scholarship which will go towards helping me further my education.

-Isaac Barr

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The second $1,000 scholarship was given to Paige Louis. She is a recent graduate of Huntley Christie High, where she achieved her National High School Diploma, as well as, top science, graphical communication, and business awards.

Paige louis

While growing up on the beautiful island of Andros, I've always had the desire to achieve more. I have worked extremely hard to have the opportunity to conquer my goals of attending Benedict College and achieving a 3.8 grade point average. It's my desire to study Theology and Psychology.

Being the eldest child, I want to pave the way for my younger siblings and be the first to graduate College. Another long-term goal of mine is to become a Professor, wife and mother. It's also my desire to be an entrepreneur, author, construct community centers, parks, libraries, host conferences, and donate my time, knowledge, skills and experiences to the different government educational institutions, and many other organizations. I can truly say that without God I wouldn't of made it this far, glory to God for all the great things he has done!

-Paige Louis

Where are they now? Spotlight on our Previous Interns: Franchesca Palomino

What dates did you intern at Forfar Field Station?

I was interning from October 2019- March 2020.

How did the Forfar internship benefit you in your current job or your future career goals?

The opportunity to gain certifications like SCUBA diving, wilderness first aid and sea kayaking were really useful to add to my resume and allowed me stand out more.

What professional skills did you gain from the internship?

I definitely got to work more on my public speaking skills by giving presentations and leading field trips. I also really enjoyed the opportunity to work on interpersonal skills by having a chance to work and interact with a range of people of different ages and from different backgrounds.

What is the most memorable or favorite part of your Forfar internship?

My favorite part really was the nights of just hanging out with the guests and my coworkers talking, laughing and playing games. You really got a chance to learn so much from the people that surrounded you in such a short time period.

Where is your hometown? Where are you living now?

I’m from the beautiful Bahamas, New Providence to be exact and I am right back in the capital.

What job(s) have you had since your time at Forfar? What are your responsibilities in the role?

I currently work as a Jr. Environmental Scientist at BRON Ltd. where I work in environmental consultancy. Organizations/people, who want to develop, come to us and we do field work to assess the area of it’s habitat and biodiversity. Then we write our reports ranging from Environmental Baseline Statements to Environmental Impact Assessments to Environmental Management Plans. Our reports are then sent to the appropriate Government officials to be approved to garner a Certificate of Environmental Clearance. In summation, I do lots of field work, research and writing.

Any current hobbies or places travelled?

Well sadly, I left Forfar during the pandemic, which we are still in, so no traveling since. I enjoy crocheting, reading, and any chance I get to go to the beach.

Any other updates you would like to share with IFS?

I am truly appreciative of the time I got to spend at Forfar and the things I learned, even though my time sadly got cut short.

Where are they now? Spotlight on our Previous Interns: Aaron John

What dates did you intern at Forfar Field Station?

I was an intern at Forfar from 2018-2020.

How did the Forfar internship benefit you in your current job or your future career goals?

The internship benefited me by providing a practical hands-on view of conservation and the environmental field. It has conditioned me to be flexible to changing conditions, showed me how I can express my enthusiasm, and a increased my willingness to share what the Bahamas has to offer.

What professional skills did you gain from the internship?

During my time at the Forfar Field Station I gained lots of transferrable skills. Skills such as managing, adaptability & flexibility, operational experience, and experience in resource-constrained environments.

What is the most memorable or favorite part of your Forfar internship?

Connecting with guests and staff over a game of Volleyball or Ping-Pong.

Where is your hometown? Where are you living now?

My Hometown is the island of New Providence Nassau, Bahamas. Currently living in Nassau.

What job(s) have you had since your time at Forfar? What are your responsibilities in the role?

I began work with the Bahamas National Trust as an Education Officer and my responsibilities include: creating and distributing education and outreach materials, facilitating environmental education workshops, conducting field trips and educational tours within the New Providence National Parks and coordinating community meetings.

Any current hobbies or places travelled?

My hobbies include: in-line skating, playing volleyball, playing the guitar and reading. I've recently returned from a South Andros Trip.

Any other updates you would like to share with IFS?

I am enjoying my time with Bahamas National Trust and look forward to working with IFS whenever possible.