Blog

September 28, 2017
Read more about updates on our Center and the South Caicos community.

September 21, 2017

Several SFS staff recently returned to South Caicos to assess damages from Hurricane Irma. The rebuilding timeline is still unclear, as there has been significant damage to both the Center and the infrastructure of the local community. Relief efforts by aid organizations are operational and the community is receiving food and clean water.

Our damage assessment effort has been hampered by the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Maria, which is expected to impact the Turks and Caicos Islands this evening. After the storm passes, we will continue assessing damage to our center and the community and work with local residents in the rebuilding effort.

Many friends of SFS are giving generously to the recovery and rebuilding of South Caicos and the SFS Center for Marine Resource Studies. Learn more about how you can contribute to our effort.
Support Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

We thank you for your continued support and will continue to provide updates on our Center and the South Caicos community as we receive more information.

September 12, 2017

While our staff have not yet been able to return to the Turks and Caicos Islands to see the full impact of Hurricane Irma, we continue to receive updates regarding the status of our Center and the local community. The reports have indicated widespread damage to the local infrastructure, environment, and community, particularly on South Caicos.

As we receive information from TCI, we are making plans to aid in both the recovery of the local community and the rebuilding of our Center. We have received an outpouring of support from the SFS community, including questions on how to best offer assistance to the SFS and South Caicos community. Please visit the following link for more information on how to donate to our recovery effort.
Support Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

In addition, we were able to offer the opportunity for students from the suspended Turks and Caicos fall program to continue their SFS educational experience at our Center in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Many students opted to transfer to Panama, where they will learn about natural resource management and biodiversity in tropical island ecosystems. The remaining students returned to their respective home campuses for the fall semester, some of whom deferred enrollment at SFS until the spring semester.

Thank you again for your well wishes. We will continue to provide updates on our Center and the South Caicos community as we receive more information.

September 8, 2017

We have been monitoring the storm closely, and can confirm that the Turks and Caicos Islands sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Irma yesterday evening. Since then, we have been receiving reports of widespread damage, although we are relieved to hear that there has been no loss of life. At this time, we do not have a clear update on the status of our Center, but based on current damage assessments, SFS has made the difficult decision to cancel the Fall 2017 semester.

We are working with students and their families, as well as with the home institution of each student, to provide options for completing the semester. We have received an outpouring of support from the SFS community for the Turks and Caicos and we will continue to share updates on the status of our Center and the South Caicos community as information is available.

September 7, 2017

In anticipation of severe storm conditions associated with Hurricane Irma, The School for Field Studies (SFS) evacuated all students and staff from the SFS Turks and Caicos program on South Caicos on September 6, 2017. The entire group is safely accommodated in the United States and continuing with academic programming until the status of the Center and infrastructure on the Turks and Caicos Islands can be assessed.

We have received many inquiries and well wishes from SFS alumni, parents, and sending institutions, and appreciate that SFS and the Turks and Caicos community is in the hearts and thoughts of so many. We will be posting updates as information is available.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.