The West End Eco-Fishing Camp is in its 6th year of
environmental education programs designed for local children who are immersed
into a number of activities to get them thinking about their role as
“caretakers of the earth and living seas”.
The camp is held in partnership with the Royal Bahamas Police Force who saw the
need to initiate signature community programs to encourage children to learn
about basic first aid, water safety, and swimming, introduction to boating,
ecology, kayaking, hand line fishing, and fly fishing. Led by a group of adult
volunteers from the local community and officers from the West End police
station the children are kept busy learning about
“Esprit de Corps” or group spirit that encourages a team effort in
each of the planned activities.
The first camp program began in the spring of 2009 with a goal to
ensure that the children from West End would learn about entrepreneur and
career opportunities as marine biologists, scientists, ecology tour guides,
environmentalists, boat engine mechanics, oceanographers, solar and wind,
agriculture, and aqua-culture farmers. Children are also included from
throughout West Grand Bahama and Freeport who join together to accept their
role as “future environmentalists and ecologists”. The eco-fishing camp is
slated to open March 1 through May 31, 2014. The sessions are held on Saturday
mornings from 9AM to 2PM.
One of the most exciting events held during the 2013 camp was the West
End Eco-Fishing Camp Association hosting the first junior sailing regatta and
festival in partnership with the Grand Bahama Sailing Club. The regatta was
held April 20, 2013 and was well received by the community and sponsors. In 2014
WEEFCA will again host the 2nd Annual West End Jr. Regatta and
Festival on April 26, 2014.