PSU Magazine Spring 1990

Caribbean classroom T he wam1 waters, exotic fish, and tropical beaches of the U.S. Virgin Islands lure tourists from around the world. But visitors are off limjts to the best the islands have to offer. The Caribbean island study program , offered by PSU Summer Session , takes students to protected islands on spec ial territorial government visitation permits. Participants have the unique opportunity to observe thousands of nesting seabirds, view undisturbed reefs and walk on shorelines never visited by tourists . Wildlife research biologist Richard Dewey, who worked on the islands for ten years, teaches two one-week sessions of the hands– on, natural rustory field course: June 23-20 and June 30-July 7. PSU 14 Over a dozen islands are visited by sai l or power boat and daily activities include extensive snorkeling and hiking along the reefs , beaches, ridges, and seabird rookeries. Late June and early July are peak nesting periods on the wildlife islands where students are invited to take part in ongoing seabird research by helping to capture and band chicks and adults. The 1989 classes banded over 600 chicks , according to Dewey. This summer's classes will also have the unique opportunity to observe the aftermath of hurricane Hugo. The effects should be "exciting," says Dewey. He expects more fish and coral diversity in the reefs and wi ll not be surpri sed to "find coral hunks on the mountains." Dewey and his co-teacher, California fisheries biologist Dan Harding, will give daily field lectures on the islands' broad range of natural hi story subjects and discuss the fragile balance that exists on the islands. The PSU classes have been a testing source for the U.S. Virgin Islands Fish and Wildlife. According to Dewey, the govern– ment is interested in supporting island wildlife with touri st doll ars, but also needs to limit the number of visitors to avoid damaging the natural habitat. "So far they are delighted with our classes ," says Dewey. During the Caribbean study program, home base for the first half of the week is a hotel overlooki ng Bolongo Bay on St. Thomas. For the remainder of the week, the group lives aboard the 68-foot motor yacht Mohawk II as it visits the British Virgin Islands. Cost of the program is $1,198 wh ich includes tuition, accommodations, all meals except three dinners, handouts, assistance from the boat to and from shore by powered infl atable dinghy, snorkeling gear and instruction, and island visitation permits. Not included is the transportation to St. Thomas and return. PSU offers four upper division or graduate cred its in biology or geography and the course may be taken on an audit basis. Mature high school students also can take the course for college credit with the instructor's permission. Class size is limited to 15. For more inforniat ion call or write: Virgin Islands Program , PSU Summer Session , PO. Box 751, Portl and , OR 97207 , (503) 725-408 1. D