Exuma Home

Welcome:

The ECYC program is a unique 14 day or month long eco-adventure to the incredibly beautiful Exuma Cays located in the central Bahamas. The program is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. What makes it so unique is that teens get to experience being travelers and not just tourists. They also get excellent practice at independent living and team work.

Benefits to Teens:

Some of the other benefits to teens include; health & wellness, personal growth, increased self-esteem, leadership skills, functioning in group dynamics, developing a healthy spirit for exploration, community service and much more. Teens can also complete the community service and expedition level for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award through this program.

Community Service:

One of the main things we do for community service is set up a free day camp program for local Bahamian children. This program is run by the teens in our program 3 days per week. Our participants are encouraged to teach their skills to the smaller children. A lot of sporting equipment is sometimes donated to us and we, in turn, donate them to local children at the end of our camp season. Please take a moment to check out our BLOG for a quick summary of last season’s adventure.

This year, one of the activities we were lucky to have the opportunity to take part in is surfing because 16 year old Pete Van Der Zee from Florida, participated in the leadership program for six weeks and taught surfing to local Bahamian children in our day camp program. In order to make this possible, Returning Wave donated 5 surfboards to ECYC.

Returning Wave is an organization out of California and they support a similar program in the Philippines. If you would like to know more about this awesome organization, please visit their SITE. All surfboards and equipment are donated to them and they fix up the equipment and ship it off to those who need them.

Our Day Camp for local Bahamian Children

Don't let this awesome opportunity for personal growth pass you by:

Many adults have said they wish a program like this was around when they were teens...sure, there are camps, but this is a 14 day or month long adventure that will change a young person's life forever in a very good way.

Small Group Sizes:

With small group sizes (no more than 8 teens / trip), we really get to know our participants personally and with such a small population on the island (300) we have found that we have become a part of the extended family of the area. Our participants make life-long friendships and are truly welcome when they arrive and sadly missed when they go home.

Other Programs:

With small group sizes our participants get our full and undivided attention for the duration of their trip. In comparison, one of the most popular programs in Ontario Canada charges up to $1700. per week and their capacity is 600 participants per week.

Sponsorships:

We also reserve a few spots per summer for under-privileged teens from anywhere in the world to be able to join this adventure. Please help us to reach our goal and Make a Donation.

Our Mission:

Teaching and empowering young people with the skills they need to support themselves, each other and eventually the community at large.

Click here to secure your spot now for summer 2012!