By Suzanne Blythe

FRANKLIN

Brandon Yanna, a math and science teacher at Franklin High School, along with Jabarie Kindred, a rising freshman, participated in an expedition from July 13-20 on Abaco Island in the Bahamas. This expedition was sponsored by JASON Learning of Ashburn, Virginia, and Earthwatch Institute of Boston, Massachusetts. During the week, the pair teamed with other teachers and students from Idaho, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin to help Earthwatch researchers with tracking and collecting scientific data on sea turtles.

As part of the data collected, each turtle observed was examined for the presence of fibropapillomatosis, a condition that causes tumors to appear on the sea turtle. In addition to collecting data on sea turtles, students and teachers also worked onshore to collect data on conch shell thickness and clearing garbage and other harmful debris from the shoreline on Snake Cay.

Yanna said that he is looking forward to being able to go on other expeditions, if possible, as this one was a wonderful learning experience for them all.

Jabarie said that being a part of this expedition was truly amazing. He also said that from the time he got off the plane until he got back on the plane to come home that it was one of the greatest weeks of his life. See some photos of the expedition along with one with Jabarie holding a sea turtle he aptly named “Slappy,” as he was constantly “slapping” around when he got him into the boat. Jabarie also said that he was “so thankful to have been part of an experience like that!”

Both Yanna and Jabarie look forward to working more with JASON Learning in the future.