We embarked on an adventure, from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, with 14 teenagers and seven adults to the beautiful Grand Cayman Islands.
We were pilgrims on a journey to discover a land different from the asphalt hustle and bustle of Atlanta and found some of the most gorgeous country God has made.
Our experience and glimpse of Grand Cayman was made forever memorable because of the work of the National Trust. Through its preservation and education, we were given a uniquely rich look at the varied wildlife, plant life, ocean life and their habitats. We are honoured to share some of our experiences.
‘Growing up on the east coast has left me with bad perceptions of the beach and the ocean. The beaches I am familiar with are crowded, somewhat dirty, and quite plainly; ugly. The beaches on the Cayman Islands are absolutely gorgeous, with sand white as freshly fallen snow and crystal blue water. I was truly taken back the beaches there. When I was taken snorkelling with the Grand Cayman Trust I wasn’t expecting anything so spectacular, and the view from above water at our coral reef was nothing special. But once I jumped in, I was amazed by the vast amount of life on the reef. I saw angel fish, sting-rays, and even a puffer fish. My favourite part about snorkelling was being able to dive into the water and swim into a school of fish, then watch them speed away. It is truly a privilege to be able to experience the immense beauty and wonder surrounding a coral reef, and it is one I will always remember.’
Hank Samuels, 18 years
‘Our visit to the botanical gardens was definitely my favourite part of our National Trust activities. Even though we got caught in the middle of a huge thunderstorm, our guide still took us out to the Cayman-style house and surrounding gardens. It was absolutely amazing! We got to pick a few Key Limes right off the tree and hear about all the interesting medicinal plants and herbs. The gardens guide even told us personal stories of several of the plants: how his grandmother used to give him certain ones to cure various aches and pains. It was really cool to hear about how these natural plants can work just as well as the mass-produced drugs today. And as if that wasn’t enough, we also got to try some cherries growing nearby- which are evidently a favourite of the iguanas! Even though it was a rainy, the beautiful atmosphere of the botanical gardens brightened the day up. It was truly an unforgettable place.’
Caitlyn Murphy, 17 years
‘My trip to the Cayman Islands was filled with wonder and adventure. I had never been out of the country before, so one thing that particularly spurred my interest was the beautiful plant life at the National Trust’s Botanic Park. You get used to the wildlife in your own area, so seeing some for the first time was quite a different experience. All of the flowers were so vividly coloured and the trees were gargantuan. We were also showed working medicinal plants that particularly sparked my scientific interest. It was so cool seeing how plants common to the states had evolved and adapted to living in the Cayman Islands. It was overall a great experience, and the small shower that occurred during the trip did nothing but enhance the beauty and mystery of the park.’
Maya Anderson, 16 years
‘The Cayman Islands were great! My favourite activity was definitely snorkelling. The slide show before it was really educational and helpful. Although the water was kind of cloudy, and it rained, once the group was off shore, the water was crystal clear. We saw many different types of fish, and even a stingray that was buried under the sand! The coral was beautiful and colourful and it was thriving with all different types of fish! I truly had an amazing experience snorkelling. Another favourite activity of mine was the blue iguana tour. The iguanas were really interesting and the tour guide also taught us a lot about the indigenous wildlife of Grand Cayman. I had a great time!
Pete Samuels, 16 years
As you can see, these memories will last a lifetime! Our heartfelt thanks to the National Trust for their remarkable and meaningful work that has left an imprint on all of us ~ we are truly grateful.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Pilgrims
Rev. Benjamin Anthony Caitlyn Murphy
Katherine Avery Hank Samuels
Melba Hughes Luke Pattison
Sarah Matthews Evan Britton
Suganthi Simon Rebecca Turner
Catherine Turner Elizabeth Turner
Alex & Anna Sherrill Polly Zintak
Daniel Matthews Maya Anderson
Sumner Jones Dani Mayer
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