Cayman student Jackson Shambaugh has been hit with flamingo fever, and last week the 10-year-old set up a pink lemonade stand at Malportas Pond to raise funds for the National Trust.
Jackson, of South Sound, with a helping hand from mom Melanie and dad J.R., pitched his first lemonade stand near the North Side pond, where visitors have been flocking to see the special visitor that has taken up residence at the nature reserve.
On Friday, Shambaugh, who attends Montessori by the Sea, delivered $51 in cash to the Cayman Islands National Trust for its Land Reserve Fund.
“It feels good. At first I was skeptical [to donate it all] but then I realized they need it more than me. I’ve got a lot and they’re trying to save some birds, so that’s good,” Shambaugh said in a telephone interview Saturday afternoon.
Jackson, like most in the community, has been enthralled with the visiting flamingo spotted at Malportas Pond over the Christmas holidays.
“It’s a cool bird and it’s not like most birds. The color is exotic, a bright color and it was cool seeing it,” he said.
National Trust Environmental Programmes Manager Catherine Childs welcomed Jackson’s initiative and support for the environment.
“We were all so touched by Jackson’s donation to the National Trust’s Land Reserve Fund. This account is used to fund the purchase of disappearing ecosystems that are then set aside forever for the people of the Cayman Islands,” Childs said.
“Jackson’s generous donation will ensure that Cayman’s unique wildlife will always have access to the critical habitats that they depend upon. Our beautiful flamingo visitor and all his feathered friends are more secure because of Jackson’s generosity and we encourage everyone to contribute if they can.”
Childs said they are looking for sponsors to fund viewing platforms at Malportas Pond, “so this is a great opportunity for benefactors to get involved and make a real difference”, she said.
“Jackson set the ball rolling with his flamingo-ade stand – now it’s time for the rest of us to do our part as well.”
Since the National Trust alerted the community of the flamingo, the pond has been buzzing with activity.
Jackson’s mom, Melanie, is an avid birder, and it was through her urging that the family decided to take the drive to North Side to see the flamingo.
She said the suggestion for the lemonade stand originated through the local birding WhatsApp group she belongs to, which was that same group that alerted the Trust to the flamingo’s presence.
“We researched before we went and saw the National Trust owned part of the shore, and I used to do some work with the National Trust, so [we said] why don’t we raise funds for National Trust Land Reserve? Because if they could buy a few more plots of land, they could help these birds,” she said.
On Dec. 31, Jackson spent the day making his sign, which he said was like an art project for him.
He said it was his dad’s idea to make pink lemonade to sell at the stand.
On New Year’s Day, they drove up early to North Side to spend time birdwatching and set up the lemonade stand.
At first, he said, there were few visitors at the pond, so they went to Rum Point.
Before heading back to George Town, they returned to the pond and set up again.
“There was more people, so they bought some lemonade and just more kept coming and coming, until eventually everyone there had bought the lemonade and we were packing up,” he said. “It was exciting, it was my first time making a lemonade stand. It was fun.”
Jackson said he was proud to be able to help the National Trust and the environment in his own way, and encouraged others to consider donating to the land reserve fund.
“It would be very kind of you [to donate] and the birds would be happy,” he said.
When it comes to his budding fundraising initiative, Jackson said he will have to reserve sales for weekends, because he will be returning to school now that Christmas break has come to an end.
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