teachers and adults. She explored various ecosystems, examined plant and animal species, analysed water quality and discussed the socio-economic issues facing the residents of the Bay watershed in general and local watermen communities in particular. Her work included fishing, crabbing, dredging, trawling to identify Bay creatures, art (fish printing), night hikes, canoe trips and sunrise activities.
Amberlee talks about her decision to go on a GAP year and how she ended up volunteering at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation:
"I knew at 16 that I wanted to take a GAP year. For me there would be no way I could cope with going into another three years of education. Since forever I have wanted to go to America, there was just something about the country that amazed me and after searching the internet, GAP Activity Projects seemed the best choice as it had placements all over America and it also wasn't as expensive as a lot of other organisations.
Since I had studied biology and geography for my `A' levels, I was offered the chance to be a 'guinea pig' on a new placement that had just been set up. GAP had partnered up with an organisation called the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, a group whose motto is to 'save the Bay'. The placement gave you the chance to intern for six months at one of CBF's education centres, which happened to be on islands in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. They run education programs for three days where participants come and stay and get to learn how to protect the watershed and experience green living and life as a waterman. These trips included getting up at sunrise and setting crab pots for dinner, scraping for soft crab and other bay wildlife, going marsh mucking and getting completely dirty from head to toe in the saltwater marshes that surround most of the islands. This sounded like a dream, I love the water and being outdoors and to be able to combine that with teaching was the perfect placement.
So I lived on Smith Island one of the last inhabited islands in the bay in a small town called Tylerton. Tylerton has a population of about 60 people, one small store and a church and the only mode of transport is golf carts! On the island the Bay Foundation own two houses that you share with the participants for the three days. It is the only education centre out of the four that is in the middle of the community so I am one of the lucky few that get to be part of this unique fishing town and the lives of the people that live there.
I have learnt so much from this experience, it has amazed me not just about the Chesapeake Bay and the lessons that we teach, but how to live more environmentally friendly and that I can survive without having a shower for three weeks! I have also learnt a lot about me - I have learnt how to live away from home and am now an expert at using the washing machine (my mum will be so pleased!) and how to be confident around so many different types of people. This year has given me the biggest confidence boost in so many different ways and I feel that I am now more focused and ready for what ever lies ahead at university."
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