Sandals Foundation brings environmental learning to Caribbean students for Earth Day

Students of Chalky Hill Primary School were among more than 300 children across nine Caribbean islands who stepped out of the classroom and into nature this Earth Day, as the Sandals Foundation rolled out a region-wide guided mindfulness program focused on environmental awareness and mental well-being.

The Jamaican leg of the initiative took place on the grounds of Sandals Dunn’s River Resort, where students participated in breathing exercises, nature walks, sensory observation, and guided discussions within the resort’s gardens. The experience aimed to deepen their connection to the natural environment while highlighting the role nature plays in supporting both physical and mental health.

A tranquil waterfall along the resort’s garden trail offered students a moment of reflection during
the guided mindfulness activity.

“By combining mindfulness with environmental education, we wanted to encourage students to slow down, be present, reflect, and appreciate the beauty of nature around them,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation. “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 program was coordinated by Sandals Foundation ambassadors and led by Ian Spencer, Regional Public Relations Manager, who described the response from students as overwhelmingly positive.

“The students responded with tremendous excitement, curiosity, and enthusiasm throughout the nature tour. Seeing them actively engage with the environment, ask thoughtful questions, and develop a greater appreciation for the importance of protecting our planet was truly inspiring,” Spencer said, noting the value of experiential learning in shaping environmentally conscious youth.

For student Othneil Gayle, the experience left a lasting impression. He said he learned “how important plants, animals, and clean water are to our world,” adding that the tour inspired him to help keep the environment clean and protected.

Principal Christine Badal McBean said the initiative underscored the importance of engaging students beyond the classroom.

“Earth Day is more than a celebration—it is a reminder that our children are the future guardians of our planet,” she said. “Experiences like these inspire young minds to become responsible, environmentally conscious citizens.”

Beyond Jamaica, students in Antigua, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Curaçao, and Jamaica visited national parks, mangrove forests, conservation areas, and Beaches Resorts gardens. The activities were designed to encourage a break from digital devices and promote mindfulness through direct interaction with nature.

The Earth Day initiative formed part of a broader environmental push by the foundation. On April 17, more than 40 team members from Sandals Ochi Beach Resort and the Jamaica Fire Brigade planted 300 trees in the Bogue II Forest Reserve. The effort marked the start of an islandwide commitment under the Forestry Department’s recently launched RE-LEAF programme, aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and strengthening natural barriers following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Across the Caribbean, the Sandals Foundation continues to expand its conservation work, having engaged more than 177,000 people in environmental education, planted over 28,000 trees, outplanted more than 38,000 corals, supported the safe hatching of over 221,000 sea turtles, and contributed to the protection of 23 marine and terrestrial areas.