In this newsletter:

~It's time to say bon voyage to Dinara and say hello to new lead ranger Haileigh!~

~10 new rangers are introduced to Cayman's mangrove ecosystems via a workshop run by the Mangrove Education Project.~

~Junior Rangers take a journey to the roots of the sea on a Halloween snorkel trip.~

~The Cayman Mangrove Festival had more than 30 students contribute their mangrove-inspired art to Cayman's July Mangrove Festival in celebration of World Mangrove Week.~

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Dinara passes on the baton to new Lead Ranger Haileigh

It's time to say bon voyage to our peerless Ranger – Dinara Perera (left in photo) who is now in the UK to continue her degree at Leeds University. Dinara's skills have helped steer the Rangers to a super successful year. Filling her HUGE shoes is Haileigh Farrington, pictured here sharing files and knowledge with Dinara.

Dinara presented (remotely) at the pre-COP 26 Youth Forum in late September and is planning to attend the COP 26 to be held in Glasgow in November. To watch her presentation, click here.

Haileigh has already taken the lead in several projects, and with 3 years working in teaching looks well set to participate in the teaching programs on Cayman’s coastal lagoon ecosystems. She is also heading up the Junior Mangrove Ranger program.

We wish them both the very best - Dinara with her studies and Haileigh filling those very large shoes.

Left picture: The new Mangrove Ranger class

Right picture: Lead Ranger Dinara Perera reports on the activities of the Rangers.

Left picture: New Rangers explore the Central Mangroves

Right picture: Rangers Brandon Wint and Hayleigh Farrington (centre) photographed by Kayla Young recording the destruction on the Epicollect 5 data system at the Selkirk Road illegal clearing.

Upsidedown Jellyfish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz8ZpKQEmDo

Cassiopeia in Grand Cayman's Central Mangroves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Iv-hB1PNU

Want to learn more about the festival?

Click on the links below!

Cayman Mangrove Festival honours islands' wetlands

 Art Show Winners from the Cayman Mangrove Festival

CUC and Marvellous Mangrove celebrate

20 years together

The highly successful partnership between CUC and the Mangrove Education Project’s Marvellous Mangroves Year 5 curriculum is celebrating over 20 years of working together to teach Cayman’s students about the function and value of its mangrove ecosystems.

Executive Director of the Mangrove Education Project, Martin Keeley, estimates that over 15,000 students and more than 200 teachers have experienced the wonders of Cayman’s mangrove forests in the past 20 years. This number also includes many Year 3 classes which have also experienced the program.

During this time Mr. Keeley explains that the program has not only relied on the financial support of CUC but also the classroom and logistical support of the National Trust, the Department of Education, Sea Elements and, of course, the many teachers of Cayman’s primary schools.

In the past year he has been joined by several of the recently formed Cayman Islands Mangrove Rangers – several of whom have a teaching background and will be taking over several aspects of running the hands-on science Marvellous Mangroves program. This will shortly combine with the soon-to-be-introduced Coastal Lagoon Ecosystem Teachers Resources linking mangroves to seagrass and reefs.

“It was great that CUC joined us earlier this year on a scheduled program with both Year 5 and Year 3 classes from John A Cumber Primary School*,” Mr. Keeley adds, “It has been part of CUC’s mandate to help support environmental programs and it is obvious that they are in this for the long run as we continue to learn about the true value of our mangrove ecosystems and efforts to protect and conserve them.”

Click the link below to see MEP's Marvellous Mangroves in action!

CUC Mangroves & Wetlands Tour 2021

If you're a teacher interested in the Marvellous Mangroves, contact lead ranger Haileigh Farrington.

Email: hcfarrington@gmail.com or info@mangroverangers.ky

Tel: 345-927-5871.