Ten years. Thousands of students taught. Thousands of mangrove seedlings propagated and planted. Countless memories.
This past April, we proudly celebrated the 10-year anniversary of J.A.M.I.N. (Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature), marking a decade-long journey of empowering Jamaican youth through hands-on science, conservation, and community. This year’s culminating ceremony was truly one for the books: joyful, heartfelt, and full of gratitude for every student, teacher, volunteer, intern, and partner who has helped this program grow.
Held at the beautiful Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa, thanks to our new partner Playa Hotels and Resorts, the event brought everyone together to reflect on how far we’ve come and to look ahead to a future full of possibility.
Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present
Before the big celebration, students rolled up their sleeves and planted mangrove seedlings at Sea the Change’s Jobson Bay Eco-beach Park, an experience that connected their scientific learning to meaningful environmental action.
This year’s student cohort from William Knibb Memorial High School, our only school to participate in the program every year since its founding, arrived ready to celebrate the hard work they’ve done all year. After wrapping up their final student surveys, the highlight of the day began: a heartfelt ceremony recognizing the incredible network of collaborators who’ve helped make J.A.M.I.N. what it is today.
To kick off the celebration, we displayed a heartfelt slideshow of group photos from nearly every J.A.M.I.N. student cohort between 2014 and 2025—a visual time capsule of dedication, teamwork, and muddy mangrove adventures. Seeing how many students have traveled this path over the past decade was a powerful reminder of just how deep and wide the program’s impact truly is.
We are especially grateful to the following schools that have participated over the years: Happy Grove High School, Holland High School, Marcus Garvey High School, Port Antonio High School, St. Hilda’s High School, Titchfield High School, and William Knibb Memorial High School.
During the ceremony, we honored both past and present partners who have supported this work and contributed to its growth. While only a few could be there in person to receive their certificates of appreciation, we celebrated them all:
- The University of the West Indies Discovery Bay Marine Lab – our founding partner since day one, who has helped guide the scientific and cultural integrity of the program.
- Playa Hotels and Resorts – our generous 2024–2025 program sponsor, partner, and host of this year’s celebration at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa.
- Sea The Change – our newest collaborator, who provided students with an unforgettable opportunity to plant mangrove seedlings at Jobson Bay Eco- beach Park.
- Alligator Head Foundation – a key partner since 2018, supporting mangrove monitoring efforts and marine science education, with plans to rejoin future program years.
- Seville Heritage Trust – students explore the mangrove ecosystems at Seville Heritage Park, the birthplace of modern Jamaica.
- EarthEcho International – students to investigate water quality and report findings to EarthEcho’sWater Challenge, helping students become global water stewards.
- North Carolina State University – co-developed mangrove disease curriculum, helping students conduct real-world investigations and participate in citizen science.
Our students, the true stars of the day, were also awarded their certificates of participation, recognizing their months of data collection, inquiry, and commitment to protecting Jamaica’s coastal ecosystems.
As everyone gathered to share lunch and laughs, we played a second slideshow: a tribute to this year’s cohort, capturing their journey from propagating to planting their seedlings to building friendships that will last far beyond the classroom. It was a moment to celebrate, not only their accomplishments, but the collective spirit that has carried J.A.M.I.N. for a decade.
Here’s to the Next 10 Years
As we look ahead, there’s much to be excited about, including the upcoming 10-year anniversary of our sister program, B.A.M. (Bahamas Awareness of Mangroves), in the next academic year.
But we’re also setting our sights beyond anniversaries. One of our future goals is to expand the J.A.M.I.N. program across the entire island of Jamaica, bringing this transformative experience to more students, schools, and communities. We’re always looking for new partners to help bring that vision to life.
To all the students, teachers, administrators, interns, volunteers, sponsors, and partners who have been part of the J.A.M.I.N. family: thank you. Your passion and dedication have created a legacy of stewardship that’s changing not only mangrove ecosystems, but lives.
Here’s to the next 10 years of science, stewardship, and celebration!