14
Location: Great Harbor, Peter Island
Lifeworks woke up bright and early to the sun shining, boat swaying and the smell of homemade French toast made by David. Shortly after breakfast and sail to Brandywine Bay, Tortola, 13 full bellies and wide smiles packed into the dinghies and were on the way to measure and plant mangroves. When we arrived, we were surprised to see an octopus in a mangrove pipe. Taking the octopus out of the pipe was quite a sight and putting it back in the water was even more exciting, as we were able to see the octopus ink. Students then switched from play mode to research mode without even noticing and were able to measure 135 and plant 70 mangroves. We learned how important mangroves are, as they protect the land from the sea, the sea from the land and 80% of the fish we eat spend most of their lives living in them. After a few hours of hard work, we sailed to Road Town and enjoyed smoothies, shopping and ice cream on shore. Next, we sailed to Peter Island anxiously waiting for what was going to be a popular event for the day. After working so hard with VISAR (Virgin Island Search and Rescue) yesterday, they trusted us to use our boat and some of the students on it for a training scenario. Cora played the girl who had her hot dog of a finger chopped off in the winch. Ally C played the worried sister, and I played the skipper. Ally C and I flagged down the VISAR boat as the team jumped on to help Cora. Cora’s screams and Ally’s cries of worry made the scenario seem real. The VISAR team helped Cora onto the rescue boat, and Ally, Cora, the rescue team and I were off driving faster than any of us have ever gone on a dinghy. After the actors in the scenario went, the rest of the boat had their chance of driving in the rescue boat. When everyone had finished their turn, we all sat on the deck and had a Q and A with the rescue team. We talked about the volunteers’ lives, and we learned that one of the volunteers was 14 and was the youngest one sitting on the boat. Lifeworks can’t wait to see what adventures come tomorrow and as we approach the end of the trip, we fear to blink for we might miss a moment.