One month ago, eleven ninth graders returned from the island of Montserrat after an incredible ten-day sustainability program. Tom Stewart logged his reflections here.

Field Notes from Tom Stewart
IMS Director of Sustainability Programming & Initiatives

Date: 2024-12-06
Home base: Simon’s Rock Field Station
Weather: Sunny, 82℉
First full day at the station

Observation 1 – Beach near Old Road Bluff/Mouth of the Belham River (9:56am):

  • Vent steaming on eastern side of the volcano 
  • Students on black sand beach learning about the 2012 local lahar ash and mudflows
  • One student observed that the sand was attracted to the back of their phone case (magnetic sand!)
  • Bird activity: pelicans, frigate birds
  • Surf – mild to rough, receding tide, water temp: ~ 80℉

Observation 2 – Dry Waterfall Trail (2:45pm):

  • Water level medium/high due to recent rains
  • A few juvenile gobi fish observed in several pools in the Soldier Ghaut at 1500ft above sea level
  • Only one jack spaniard wasp nest observed
  • Along the trail Prof Coote pointed out several aspects of the local flora and fauna including a good example of a buttress root
  • Surprising to see the Dry Waterfall not flowing despite the recent rain

Date: 2024-12-08
Home base: Simon’s Rock Field Station
Weather: Sunny, 83℉
Day 3 at the station

Observation 1 – Jack Boy Hill & Beach near mouth of Cedar Ghaut (10:43am):

  • Short but steep hike to Jack Boy Hill Volcano observation point 
  • Students stopped by the nearby all-island landfill and observed that, when it comes to throwing away trash on the island, there is no such place as “away”
  • This northeastern side of the island is much more arid
  • Surf is much rougher and more refuse observed along the shoreline

Observation 2 – Beach by Old Road Bluff (5:15pm):

  • Students observed swimming and body surfing
  • Surf – mild to rough, high tide, water temp: ~ 80℉
  • Dinner at Field Station

Date: 2024-12-09
Home base: Simon’s Rock Field Station
Weather: Overnight rain, Sunny in AM, 81℉
Day 4 at the station

Observation 1 – Foxes Bay/Garibaldi Hill (9:25am):

  • Observed small crab behavior on Foxes Bay beach
  • Hike to Garibaldi Hill observation deck – first view of the buried city

Observation 2 – Little Bay/Rendezvous Bay  (1:55pm):

  • Took SCUBA boat past the bat caves in Rendezvous Bluff
  • Snorkeled on coral reefs off the beach
  • Fish observed: triggerfish, red hind, lionfish
  • Various sponges and both living and bleached coral present

Date: 2024-12-11
Home base: Simon’s Rock Field Station
Weather: Overnight rain, Sunny in AM, 81℉
Day 6 at the station

Observation 1 – Buried former capital city of Plymouth (1:40pm):

  • Entered Exclusion Zone approx. 1:10pm
  • Stopped at a former clothing store (Arrow’s Man Shop) with only the third floor showing above volcanic ash deposit
  • Entire city remains under ash
  • Encountered trucks involved in the new sand mining work (sand has become an important export)

Observation 2 – Beach by Old Road Bluff (5:15pm):

  • Students observed swimming and body surfing
  • Surf – mild to rough, high tide, water temp: ~ 81℉
  • First observation of “Sitch”, the dog, sleeping at the Field Station

Date: 2024-12-12
Home base: Simon’s Rock Field Station
Weather: Overnight rain, Sunny in AM, 83℉
Day 7 at the station

Observation 1 – Field Station (12:24pm):

  • Students observed eating (and enjoying) Goat Water – Montserratian national dish

Observation 2 – Blackwood Allen Trail – between Baker Hill and Mongo Hil (1:20pm):

  • Bird hike – became “mud hike” due to significant overnight rainfall
  • Using his birdcall, guide engaged with a pair of Montserratian Orioles (Icterus oberi) – critically endangered, current est. population only 200-300 

Observation 3 – Little Bay Recreation Center (8:15pm):

  • Students observed observing the Montserrat National Basketball Team playing against St Eustatius in the Montserrat Basketball Invitational Tournament

Date: 2024-12-14
Home base: Simon’s Rock Field Station
Weather: Overnight rain, Sunny in AM, 83℉
Last full day at the station

Observation 1 – Starting point Volcano Observation station (9:25am):

  • Meet up with local youth group (INTERACT) members for community service  
  • Students observed picking up trash and clearing newly established nature trail
  • TikTok dance recorded with new friends 

Observation 2 – Montserrat Carnival Fair Grounds (7:15pm):

  • Students seen attending the opening ceremony of the annual Montserrat Carnival celebrations
  • Singing competitions, steel drum performances, local food, ice cream

Final Reflection:

  • Great mix of academic work, community service, and outdoor education
  • As related to sustainable development – Montserrat observed to be a microcosm of the greater world
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