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M.A.N.T.A. (Movimiento en Apoyo a Nuestros Tesoros Ambientales) (movement in support of our environmental treasures) is an educational program open to the school aged population of Vieques. It is a program of the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust (VCHT) located in Vieques, Puerto Rico.
VCHT’s stated mission is to protect the unique archeological, physical and ecological environment existing on Vieques. One of the primary goals is to preserve and study the bioluminescent bays found on the island. VCHT supports a broad array of educational programs for the community, with a special focus on children, through lectures, educational exhibits, seminars, publications, computer resources, scholarship programs and now the MANTA Summer Program.
MANTA’s objective is to provide participants with interactive educational experiences out in nature. The summer program involves daily exploration of our diverse natural habitats. Throughout the program participants learn about the conservation and protection of our delicate eco-systems and rich environment.
The specific purpose of MANTA is to provide the knowledge, tools and leadership skills necessary to raise awareness about the conservation and preservation of our environment.
2006 – 1st Year:
On April 6, 2006 VCHT’s Board of Directors creates MANTA as a pilot summer program for the school aged population of Vieques. The original pilot program is designed for 12 students, ages 12-18. The actual program takes place from June 12-29, 2006 (3 weeks; 12 sessions) with a budget of $7,772.00. The staff includes VCHT Coordinator, Ivelisse Johnson, Mark Martin, Kevin Matta, a hired teacher, Jose Melendez and VCHT volunteers, Gilda Pimentel, Jose Carrasquillo and Eric Bermudez.
Highlights of the MANTA 2006 include:
• Teaching participants about recycling.
• Exploration of the Playa Grande area and historic ruins.
• Creation of signs designating important historical and/or natural sites.
• A hike of Monte Pirata to explore Vieques’ own rain forest.
• Trips to the main island of Puerto Rico serve to compare the eco-systems found in the main island vs. the ones found here in Vieques.
• Measure and study water samples from Kiani Lagoon and Mosquito Bay.
• In depth study or Vieques’ Bioluminescent Bay and ways to preserve it.
• Exploration of Vieques’ Wildlife Refuge including the dry forest and the area surrounding the historical lighthouse.
• Interactive lectures and films on fauna and flora of Vieques including: Turtles, birds, trees and other marine life by Eric Bermudez.
• Trip to the US Virgin Island to examine the health and vitality of the islands coral reefs.
• Clean up of the beaches. Collection of several tons of both garbage and recyclable materials by participants help raise awareness in the various communities within the island.
• A filmed diary of activities is recorded. The footage is used for educational purposes throughout the year at school seminars and presentations of VCHT regarding education and conservation of the environment and its natural resources.
The post program evaluations by both staff and participants demonstrate the overall impact of the program. 3 participants entering university after the program decide to focus their studies on science: Biology, chemistry and the environment. Of their own accord participants organize clean up campaigns throughout the year, begin a campaign against light pollution affecting the bio-luminescent bay, and organize a MANTA Club for the purpose of organizing current and past classes of MANTA into advocating conservation and preservation of the island’s natural resources. VCHT Board of Directors moves MANTA from pilot program status into a permanent educational program.
2007 – 2nd Year:
MANTA expands to meet high demand, growing from 12 participants to 24 (ages 12-16) and into a 4 week, 20 sessions summer program. The program takes place from June 4-29, 2007 with a budget of $15,233.44. The expansion includes the creation of a permanent Education Outreach Coordinator position. In this position, Gilda Pimentel, a retired chemistry teacher, acts as the Director of MANTA. As the first order of business, Ms. Pimentel hires three teachers: Olga Felix, Joselin Feliciano and Mares Morales to come on board for MANTA 2007. In addition, three of the senior class participants from MANTA 2006 are hired as point leaders. MANTA is also supported by VCHT staff members: Programs Coordinator Ivelisse Johnson, Mark Martin and Kevin Matta. The PR Department of Education becomes an active partner and provides MANTA 2007 with lunches for the duration of the program.
Highlights of the 2007 program include:
• Participants do a thorough geographical survey of the island including mapping out entire communities. Each sector is analyzed for its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
• A guided tour of historical Old San Juan, allows participants to learn about the cultural significance of the old city. Participants are received by the mayor’s office and given a guided tour of the city. The day includes a walk in the newly created estuary—a two mile trail in the inside bays and lagoons of the city.
• Participants record oral histories of several octogenarians resident of Vieques in order to preserve for future generations important heritage, cultural and historical information not found anywhere.
• Participants record their experiences and findings on individually written portfolios. The exercise encourages participants to reach their own conclusions on subjects such as re-cycling, the environment, global warming, pollution, historical and cultural preservation, and Vieques’ economic development and future. The participants use photos, drawings, poetry, and paintings to express their feelings on these subjects.
• A second trip to the main island takes participants to Guanica’s Dry Forest— on the global biosphere site list, the bio-luminescent bay of La Parguera, and the northern part of the island where they visit the Arecibo telescope and the caves of Camuy.
• Extensive interactive lectures by biologist Eric Bermudez on the Flora and Fauna of Vieques.
• On a third trip to the main island, participants visit the Science Park and a 14 acre Eco-Park in Bayamon, the new Botanical Garden in Caguas and an overnight stay in the Rain Forest.
• Collection and classification of the different sands found on our beaches.
The post program evaluations showed an immediate impact on participants’ attitudes toward the environment. Conservation and preservation become part of the groups’ way of thinking. The program participants are asked by the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Colorado to fill research questionnaires and state their preferences on green areas and parks for their communities. The overwhelming response is that conservation of natural habitats and creation of green areas and parks are necessary in any community. In addition to collecting tons or garbage and recyclable material off our communities during the program, the participants join forces with MANTA 2006 and continue beach cleanup efforts throughout the year. In addition, the MANTA 2007 class is instrumental in raising community awareness about global warming. With the guidance of MANTA Director Gilda Pimentel, MANTA participants bring together VCHT, community leaders, and local government to establish a Global Warming Awareness Day. VCHT and MANTA become active partners in the international efforts to educate and raise awareness about the adverse effect of climate change. The event is a tremendous success attended by people from our various communities. Global Warming Awareness Day is now a permanent, much anticipated yearly event. VCHT Board of Directors commits funds to continue the expansion of the MANTA program including a pilot program (mini-MANTA) for children in elementary school.
2008 – 3rd Year:
Demand for MANTA grows exponentially. The program expands to include a pilot program for elementary school aged children. Mini-MANTA enrolls 14 (ages 5-8) students (2 more over the budgeted 12 spaces) and runs from May 26 – June 6 while the MANTA 2008 program attracts 24 students expanding the age range from 10-16 and running from June 9 – July 3 for a combined total of 6 weeks and a budget of $23,680. The expansion includes an additional teacher, Amnelis Rivera for mini-MANTA, and the hiring of Brendymar Cruz (MANTA 2006) as support to both programs. Teachers Joselin Feliciano and Mares Morales return for MANTA 2008. The orientation day for both camps brings over 150 people including parents, children and community members wanting to meet the staff of VCHT, watch previous MANTA films and materials and meet the teachers and volunteers working for MANTA. In addition to MANTA Director Gilda Pimentel and the hired teachers, both summer programs are supported by VCHT staff members, Ivelisse Johnson, Mark Martin and Eliu Parrilla as well as volunteer Jose Carrasquillo. The PR Department of Education extends its partnership and provides MANTA with lunches for the duration of the camp.
Highlights of the 2008 program include:
• Mini-MANTA’s daily activities and events are centered around a “love of nature” theme. The program is designed to make participants appreciate nature and enjoy the natural beauty of our environment as well as understand the critical state of endemic species (birds and marine life).
• Mini-MANTA participants collect sea glass and create over a dozen multi-medium art pieces featuring illustrations of fish, birds and trees culminating on a month long exhibit at the VCHT museum.
• Mini-MANTA participants re-discovered their island by hiking, swimming (snorkeling) and experiencing the Bio-Bay (with their parents). For most parents (80%) and their children this is their first visit to the Bay.
• Gilda Pimentel arranges for AAA (Water Department) to partner with VCHT. The efforts yield presentations to both groups about water as the most important resource in the planet.
• Mini-MANTA travels to San Juan to visit both The Museum of the Child in Old San Juan and also the Museo de Arte in Santurce.
• Extensive interactive lectures by biologist Eric Bermudez on the Flora and Fauna of Vieques. During his turtle lecture, participants were able to observe turtles hatching and moving from the nest and into the ocean.
• MANTA 2008 focuses on eco-tourism and how such a model could help the municipality of Vieques lead Puerto Rico into sustainable development and a ‘green’ economy. The models explored include low impact tourism, responsible development, small enterprises, farming and recycling. The program concludes with an extensive presentation on what the participants learned about eco-tourism.
• Participants travel to USVI to study and interact with an eco-tourism model in the island of St. John. All participants are impressed with what St. John does with recycling, water conservation, and low impact/green construction.
• MANTA participants, in partnership with VCHT, and the department of education begin collecting recyclables at their respective schools. MANTA participants at one school come in second place in total collecting even though the school has a tenth of the student body of that of the larger schools.
• Garbage and recycles are collected in record amounts by participants during the program. In addition, participants create a poster on how much time some of the solid materials take to degrade. The municipal recycling office in Vieques adapts MANTA’s techniques of collecting and separating recyclables. In addition, MANTA classes begin ‘Vieques Reverdece’ (Vieques Green) a project between MANTA and the aging population of our island.
• Participants visit out of the way locations such as Playa Grande, the black sand beach and Kiani Lagoon in order to explore out of the way places that attract eco-tourist. Participants learned the differences between a lake, a lagoon, a salt marsh and a spring.
• Excursions are combined with presentations by expert horse riders, bike riders, organic farmers, kayakers and community members involved in low impact tourism and self sustained farm models.
• Participants travel to PR and to Hacienda Juanita—a self sustained farm in the southwest side of PR. They are treated to a lecture by agronomist and coffee and banana crops expert Noel Torres.
• MANTA 2008 participants keep a reflective diary in which they write down thoughts and ideas triggered by their daily experiences in the program.
• Certificates of completion are presented to all participants in final ceremony with parents, family and friends.
2009 – 4th Year:
In its upcoming 4th year, MANTA continues to grow at an unprecedented pace. It has become the premiere summer program for students in the island of Vieques. Parents have complimented the program’s educational approach and its emphasis on preservation and conservation of the environment. Participants enjoy learning new things on the field and being part of a group of young adults with solutions and suggestions for a ‘green’ future based on their experiences in MANTA.
This year the MANTA program will serve 3 different groups of students: Mini-Manta (ages 5-8), Middle-MANTA (ages 9-12) and MANTA (ages 13-17) for a total of 7 weeks, 49 students and a projected budget of $30,000. VCHT Education Outreach Coordinator and MANTA Director Gilda Pimentel just announced that the main focus of the program will be bioluminescence and ecological importance of Vieques’ Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Mosquito. She expects this will raise awareness about the importance of this national treasure and open the door for forging a strong partnership between MANTA and the local government with its newly elected Mayor Evelyn Delerme Camacho who is committed to making Vieques a destination while preserving the environment.
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