Students Explore Mangroves on the Nature Trail Led by Sandals Foundation 

By S.Browne. Updated 11:56 a.m., Friday, April 24, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Grade Four students of the Dubois Government School stepped out of the classroom and into nature this Earth Day, joining a Sandals Foundation-led guided mindfulness and environmental education experience at the Prospect Brighton Mangrove Conservation Park.

The activity formed part of a Caribbean-wide initiative involving more than 300 students across nine islands, designed to strengthen environmental awareness while also supporting mental well-being through direct engagement with nature.

At the mangrove site, students participated in guided nature walks, breathing exercises, sensory observation activities, and group discussions. The experience was structured to help children connect more deeply with the natural environment while reflecting on the importance of protecting local ecosystems.

“By combining mindfulness with environmental education, we wanted to encourage students to slow down, be present, reflect, and appreciate the beauty of nature which is around them,” says Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke. “We also wanted to share with students that sense of responsibility and power they each have to protect their community’s natural resources and the services those resources support.”

The Earth Day experience was complemented by wider resort-based activities, where guests and dive teams took part in an underwater cleanup exercise, removing debris from the ocean floor, including plastic waste and tyres.

Guests also engaged in a themed fashion showcase featuring clothing made from recyclable materials, alongside a nature-inspired food and beverage display. These activities formed part of broader efforts to raise environmental awareness and encourage sustainable practices.

Public Relations Manager Aviar Charles, who led the volunteer team, highlighted the importance of initiatives focused on environmental protection.

“The beauty of our island and life as we know it are wrapped in the health of our environment. Days like Earth Day give us a moment to pause and reflect on the undeniable relationship we have as humans on its wellbeing. The Sandals Foundation is committed to protecting the resources that make our island unique and are always on the lookout for ways we can get our guests and students engaged.”

Across the Caribbean, more than 300 students participated in similar activities in Antigua, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Curaçao, and Jamaica. These included visits to national parks, mangrove forests, resort gardens, and protected conservation areas, encouraging time away from digital devices and allowing students to reconnect with nature.

The initiative forms part of the Sandals Foundation’s wider environmental programme, which has so far engaged 177,526 people in environmental education, supported the planting of 28,117 trees, facilitated the outplanting of 38,156 corals, contributed to the monitoring of 221,392 sea turtle hatchings, and supported 23 marine and terrestrial protected areas.

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