By Malcolm Ferreira
On July 18, Jodi Johnson from the DECR visited the Clubhouse and gave a wonderful presentation about the fish in the TCI using the projector and then the kids drew pictures of their favorites.
- Published in Children's Club News
15 July 2011 – Bird week was a great success for the Turks and Caicos National Museum and their partner, the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF). After almost nine years in the planning stages, these Trails have become a reality due to a grant from the Carnival/TCInvest/TCIGovernment Infrastructure Fund.
There is now a “Walking Bird” and a “Driving Bird” tour on Grand Turk with clearly marked trail signs, placed on downed telephone poles which were donated and installed by Turks and Caicos Utilities.
This week long event, commencing on July 11, had an “early bird” walk with students and teachers from HJ Robinson High School and Dr. Mike Pienkowski and Ann Pienkowski showed the students the wonderful birds found along the Salina’s. After the bird walk the students went to through the Botanical Garden, next to the Museum. The DECR loaned five pairs of binoculars for this event.
The Bird Drive Tour on Thursday evening, July 14, was a sold-out event. Twenty-two adults and two children rode on a bus donated by Caribbean Tours International, who also supplied 22 pairs of binoculars. What an event, even the birds cooperated! With Dr. Mike Pienkowski leading the group, even the novice birder was fascinated by the amount of different birds seen so very close.
Flamingo’s took off from Town Salina just as the bus was approaching, giving the group a firsthand look at these beautiful birds in flight. An Osprey sat on the remnants of a windmill, posing for the group to take photos. We saw Black Necked Stilt five day old chicks wading in the Great Salina while their Mother watched carefully. There were ducks aplenty at South Wells, and Egrets, Pelicans and Herons at North Creek. One very brave Cattle Egret even walked in front of the bus over 100 yards as if to say “follow me for the best birding ever”.
After this wonderful Bird Tour the group went to Jack’s Shack to have a tasty meal. Jack donated some of the proceeds of the evening back to the Museum.
Friday morning, July 15, we had the Official Opening of the Bird Trails. Ms. Lillian Swann Misick cut the ribbon with many guests watching. The guests then proceeded into the Osprey Beach Hotel where Dr. Mike had a short presentation about the importance of these Bird Trails. All participants received a lovely Osprey Commemorative Lapel Pin.
The Turks and Caicos National Museum would like to thank the following supporters that made these events so successful.
Carnival/TCInvest/TCIGovernment Infrastructure Fund
Caribbean Tours International
DECR
Jack’s Shack
Misick’s Bakery
Osprey Beach Hotel
Turks and Caicos Utilities
UKOTCF
For more information about the tours and to purchase copies of the guides, Contact us at the Museum.
- Published in Museum News
By Pat Saxton
Museum Administrator
Bird week was a great success for the Turks and Caicos National Museum and their partner, the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF). After almost nine years in the planning stages, these Trails have become a reality due to a grant from the Carnival/TCInvest/TCIGovernment Infrastructure Fund.
There is now a “Walking Bird” and a “Driving Bird” tour on Grand Turk with clearly marked trail signs, placed on downed telephone poles which were donated and installed by Turks and Caicos Utilities.
This week long event, commencing on July 11, had an “early bird” walk with students and teachers from HJ Robinson High School and Dr. Mike Pienkowski and Ann Pienkowski showed the students the wonderful birds found along the Salina’s. After the bird walk the students went to through the Botanical Garden, next to the Museum. The DECR loaned five pairs of binoculars for this event.
The Bird Drive Tour on Thursday evening, July 14, was a sold-out event. Twenty-two adults and two children rode on a bus donated by Caribbean Tours International, who also supplied 22 pairs of binoculars. What an event, even the birds cooperated! With Dr. Mike Pienkowski leading the group, even the novice birder was fascinated by the amount of different birds seen so very close.
Flamingo’s took off from Town Salina just as the bus was approaching, giving the group a firsthand look at these beautiful birds in flight. An Osprey sat on the remnants of a windmill, posing for the group to take photos. We saw Black Necked Stilt five day old chicks wading in the Great Salina while their Mother watched carefully. There were ducks aplenty at South Wells, and Egrets, Pelicans and Herons at North Creek. One very brave Cattle Egret even walked in front of the bus over 100 yards as if to say “follow me for the best birding ever”.
After this wonderful Bird Tour the group went to Jack’s Shack to have a tasty meal. Jack donated some of the proceeds of the evening back to the Museum.
Friday morning, July 15, we had the Official Opening of the Bird Trails. Ms. Lillian Swann Misick cut the ribbon with many guests watching. The guests then proceeded into the Osprey Beach Hotel where Dr. Mike had a short presentation about the importance of these Bird Trails. All participants received a lovely Osprey Commemorative Lapel Pin.
The Turks and Caicos National Museum would like to thank the following supporters that made these events so successful.
Carnival/TCInvest/TCIGovernment Infrastructure Fund
Caribbean Tours International
DECR
Jack’s Shack
Misick’s Bakery
Osprey Beach Hotel
Turks and Caicos Utilities
UKOTCF
For more information about the tours and to purchase copies of the guides, Contact us at the Museum.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Jackie Garbarino
Museum Shop and Volunteer Manager
In an effort to cut fuel costs and decrease our carbon “Big Foot” print, we have painted the Museum’s roof white. There are some environmentalists who think that we could greatly reduce the earth’s temperature and reduce carbon emissions if we all had white roofs. Something to think about.
We will let you know if this effort decreases the power bills for air conditioning our exhibits and artifacts and, of course, we humans as a side benefit. We are also hoping this white elastomeric coating will eliminate the mysterious leak that has plagued the “buzzer” room for years, if not centuries. We need a good rain to assess that, so start your rain dancing now!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
Without the support of foundations, individuals, and volunteers the Museum couldn’t exist.
We invite you to visit our Donor Recognition page to join with us in thanking them.
We would be honored to include your name or your company name and a link to your company’s website on this very special list.
- Published in Homepage Featured
4 July 2011 – The Turks and Caicos National Museum, in partnership with the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) is pleased to announce that the week of July 11-15 is “Bird Week.”
The Bird Walking and Driving Tours will officially open that week. These tours were made possible by a grant from the Carnival/TCInvest/TCIG/Infrastructure Fund. Turks and Caicos Islands is the first country in the Caribbean to have a sanctioned Bird Trail!
Both tours can be self guided, with the help of the Bird Guide Cards that are available for sale at the Museum. Once officially open, these cards will also be available at other outlets.
Many activities are planned for this week, including a Bird Driving Tour with Leading Ornithologist Dr. Mike Pienkowski, a student Bird Walking Tour with Dr. Mike Pienkowski, a movie night at the Museum, and the grand opening of the tours on Friday July 15, 2011.
The Museum will also be working with DECR’s Junior Warden Programme to show the importance of the Salt Ponds/Wetlands and how they attribute to the many species of birds found in TCI.
The birds of the Turks and Caicos are an intimate part of the wetlands ecosystem. Birding here is exceptionally good, as one can see many species of birds very close up. This is a very rare occurrence and makes TCI one of the world’s best places to bird watch.
For information on the times of these activities, please contact the Museum at info@tcmuseum.org
- Published in Museum News
Welcome to the Turks & Caicos National Museum. Explore the island’s Culture & History, roam through our exhibits on Nature & Environment, keep up with the latest museum events and follow our projects, both old and new.
Plan your visit and discover for yourself how we came to be the “best little museum in the Caribbean” and called “a little gem” by travel blogs. The Museum is also reviewed by TripAdvisor; come in and see what all the buzz is about.
The Museum is a publicly funded not for profit organization. It is not a part of the TCI Government and receives no regular support from the Government. Only your Membership & Support makes it all possible. Become a member today — we can’t do it without your help.
- Published in Homepage Featured
By Pat Saxton
Museum Administrator
The last two weeks have been crazy busy and exciting. For a small Museum, we sure do have a lot going on!!
First we had to say goodbye to Nikki Miller Jennings our “tour guide extraordinaire” and Children’s Club Manager. Nikki is going to Munich, Germany for awhile. We are all hoping that Grand Turk will call her back at some point and she will once again become part of our team at the Turks and Caicos National Museum.
Here is a photo of our effervescent Nikki!
On Thursday June 9, the Museum hosted a party for Georgia Dunn Belk and Bill Belk and a few friends to tour the Museum and Botanical Garden. Also in attendance was, HE Governor and Mrs. Wetherell who were the first to see some of our new acquisitions from Mr. Hugh Hutchings. Mr. Hutchings has generously donated a ceremonial sword that was used by his Grandfather, Hugh Houston Hutchings in the late 1800’s along with some medals.
Also gifted were other medals from his father, Mr. Charles Hutchings. Look for an article in the Fall Issue of Times of the Islands to read more about this important collection.
Pictured are HE Governor and Mrs. Wetherell looking at some of the new acquisitions.
Some of the other guests learning about the New Botanical and Cultural Garden
On Saturday June 10 the Turks and Caicos National Museum hosted the students from the Spirit of Bermuda, see the June 12 blog.
Then on Sunday June 11 we hosted a film crew in to do a commercial for the One Caribbean Weather Channel with none other than Joey Stevens complete with Bob the parrot. See link
http://onecaribbeanweather.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/thank-you-turks-caicos/
And if that was not enough, TCU (Turks and Caicos Utilities) has generously donated both manpower and their auger to install the poles to hold the Bird Drive and Walk signs around Grand Turk. This is a monumental undertaking and the Turks and Caicos National Museum cannot thank TCU enough for this wonderful gift.
The Bird Trails will officially open the week of July 11, 2011. Turks and Caicos is proud to the first country in the Caribbean to have a sanctioned bird trail. Bird Trail cards will be on sale at the Museum for all you birders. Having the Salt Ponds named as protected areas will ensure that our lovely birds will have a place to call home for years to come. Be sure and follow the blog to see all the news about “Bird Week” to be held July 11-15. Also thank you to the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum for partnering with the Museum to bring this important tour to the Turks and Caicos. The Carnival Corporation/TCInvest Government Infrastructure Fund awarded a grant earlier this year to the Museum and UKOTCF so that a Bird Walking and Driving Tour could be established.
And last but certainly not least, you will be seeing a change come over Guinep House. AND Construction is currently painting our roof with a bonding agent to prevent leaks. Color will also change from red to white to help with energy costs. If you have not been to the Museum lately, you are really missing out. Come in and browse our wonderful Guinep House Gift Shoppe that has many locally hand-made gifts. A variety of books and sea glass items along with handmade baskets are only a few of the items available. Our friendly staff will show you around the Museum and the gift shop!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
16 June 2011 – Thanks to the efforts of M. Yves Micheli, permanent resident of Providenciales, the Turks & Caicos National Museum is pleased to announce the receipt of a $40,000 grant from Fondation AGENA, Lichtenstein, for the Capital Campaign in support of a new museum campus in the Village at Grace Bay, Providenciales. The Museum is acquiring 2.6 acres of property in the Village for the new facility as well as for an outdoor exhibit area. A ground-breaking is scheduled for November 23, 2011, which will mark the Museum’s 20th anniversary.
M. Micheli stated “This is a contribution that I am proud to have obtained for the future Museum in this country that I love, and where I have been residing happily for many years.”
L-R: Jeff Lee, Kenrick Walters, Stan Hartling
Mr. Kenrick Walters of Bordier International Bank and Trust represented M. Micheli for the formal presentation of the check. On hand to receive the donation were Mr. Stan Hartling, Trustee of the Museum and Mr. Jeff Lee, JAL Consultants, architect for the new building and member of the Museum’s Development Committee.
Fondation AGENA was presented an artist rendition by Messers Hartling and Lee. Kenrick Walters accepted the artist sketch on behalf of the M. Micheli and the Fondation.
The event was held at the offices of Bordier International Bank and Trust and was covered by the media. The public responses received have been overwhelmingly positive. For more information about the Museum or to support the Capital Campaign, please contact Dr. Donald H Keith, chairman of the Board of Trustees.
- Published in Museum News
By Pat Saxton
Museum Administrator
On Saturday morning we had a visit from the Captain and crew of the Spirit of Bermuda, a sail training ship designed and built to provide students an authentic learning experience on board a replica Bermudian-type schooner built between 1810 and 1840.
Spirit of Bermuda Captain and crew arrive at the Museum
Captain Simon Colley and his crew learned about the Molasses Reef Wreck, and how Bermuda and Turks and Caicos were very much intertwined in the early 18th century. Many of the residents of the Turks and Caicos are decedents of Bermudian families. Some of the teachers came upstairs to view the new Hutchings collection (see other blog) as the Hutchings name is a popular name in Bermuda.
On Saturday evening we were invited by Captain Colley to a reception at the Cruise Center, where plaques were exchanged between Governor Wetherell and the Captain. Students took anyone on the ship that wanted to tour the Spirit of Bermuda. A slab of Bermudian limestone was also presented to Salt Cay’s “White House”. We watched on Sunday as the Spirit of Bermuda, under full sail made its way to Salt Cay for a day, then onto Dominican Republic to help construct homes as part of the students learning experience.to learn about the islands history and the many differences between Bermuda and the TCI.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum