Cayman Islands schools make new signs for CTF’s Nature Trail

The Blue Hole Nature Trail’s got a whole new look,  thanks to local students from John A Cumber and Prospect Primary schools, who have been working hard to make brightly colored new signs for all the different kinds of indigenous plants that can be seen there. Geddes Hislop, Curator of CTF Terrestrial Exhibits, spearheaded the project. “The Blue Hole Nature Trail is part of the Terrestrial Exhibits at Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter, where many daily visitors take a 5 — 10 minute stroll through a small Cayman woodlot, viewing birds, butterflies, orchids and other native plants,” Mr Hislop said.

“On some of the trees along the Trail are hand painted informative signs that a volunteer had done on pieces of driftwood some years ago. When the Terrestrial Exhibits department wanted to update the Nature Trail signs, it was decided that rather than ordering signs printed on plastic or metal, they preferred to use natural materials that better ‘fit’ the ambiance of the Trail. Bamboo was the material of choice because of its durability and there is an abundance of bamboo driftwood available on some of the beaches on the South and North coasts.

“In 2015, the Terrestrial staff approached John A. Cumber Primary, the ‘neighbourhood’ West Bay school, and offered the sign -painting proposal as an IB art project. CTF provided the bamboo, paint and text for the signs. The project turned out very well with the students doing research on bamboo, preparing, and hand-painting the signs on the bamboo strips. About 5 weeks later CTF was able to install 14 new colourful signs on the Trail.”

 “In 2016, part 2 of the project was to complete a set of 13 additional signs,” Mr Hislop continued, “this time the project was offered to Prospect Primary school’s Crafty Club. In late May 2016 the signs were completed and I collected the colourful new signs from the Crafty Club, and gave an invitation to the proud students to visit the park for free entry to see their artwork on display at a natural outdoor gallery.”

For more information, call the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter on 949-3894, email us at [email protected]  , visit us on-line at  www.turtle.ky or www.caymanturtlefarm.ky or find us on Facebook at Facebook/CaymanTurtle.