C.A.R.E.S. Preservation Program

C.A.R.E.S. for Education Flagship
Aqua Havens CARES

Background

In 2002, through the establishment of a partnership with the American Cichlid Association and Aqua Havens, I had the good fortune of meeting Bob Keddell, instructor as well as founder of Aqua Havens.  Bob is one of those rare individuals whose enthusiasm and innovation have turned the entire school into one of productive energy.  A highly informative article on Aqua Havens, authored by Bob, appears on page 118 of the August 2005 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine (www.TFHmagazine.com).  It is here that Bob’s philosophy, “if you can capture their hearts, you can capture their minds,” is exemplified through his Aqua Havens teachings.

The students and faculty at Lime Kiln Middle School in Fulton, Maryland took on an impressive role in aquatic conservation as their innovative Aqua Havens Program, under Bob’s exceptional guidance, was asked in 2006 to flagship C.A.R.E.S. for Education, Aqua Havens CARES.  Fish at risk, donated through the generosity of renowned collectors and hobbyists across the country, many of them from members of the American Cichlid Association (ACA) at www.cichlid.org, and the American Livebearers Association (ALA) at www.livebearers.org, arrive at the school to be met by the eagerness and meticulously planned aquariums of the students of Aqua Havens CARES.  These species at risk, some already possessing the unfortunate distinction of being extinct in the wild, could not be in more exceptional hands.

Aqua Havens CARES, now running over 2,000 gallons of aquariums, with the goal of a tank in every classroom (and a great deal spilling out into the halls!), and a special research center, the A.R.C., have received wide recognition from, among others, the World Wildlife Preservation, the Baltimore Aquarium, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C., where students have been invited to set up tanks and hold summer school courses.  It is with great pride that we move forward with Aqua Havens C.A.R.E.S. for Education as a part of the C.A.R.E.S. Preservation Program, and we look forward to a future that is brighter for at risk species as a result of the altruistic efforts by all.

Networking C.A.R.E.S. Students from Kenya, the United Kingdom, and across the United States

Many exciting projects are underway as we work with Dr. William Ojwang of the Lake Victoria C.A.R.E.S. Conservation Through Education Project in networking the Kenyan students with the students at Aqua Havens CARES.  Bob has the knowledge, experience, and equipment to champion this effort.  Our C.A.R.E.S. flagship club, the Hill Country Cichlid Club has been working with instructor Terry Maxwell here in the United States, and we have several other schools onboard as well.  Our next step will be to connect Terry’s school with the Aqua Havens CARES students, followed by a tri-connection between Aqua Havens CARES, Kenya, and Terry's students. 

C.A.R.E.S. for Education Curriculum

As a professional curriculum writer, Bob has been working with an Aqua Havens CARES Team of teachers, and the input of knowledgeable scientists and hobbyists, to put together a formal CARES curriculum.  This has been an ongoing effort spanning the past two years.  Bob and I are both great believers in slowly but surely to produce a final well laid plan of longterm success.  Funding for the effort provides the expected challenges and we look forward to receiving good news from grant applications.

We have many interested schools coming on board and, with the help of Bob and the members of the Hill Country Cichlid Club, such as Greg Steeves, Dave Hansen, Troy Veltrop, Barbara Wooton, and Dave Schumacher, who have placed great dedication into this effort, we look forward to a solid strategy of a final unified curriculum in place in the near future.
           
C.A.R.E.S. for Education and You

If you and your school (or classroom) are interested in being a part of C.A.R.E.S. for Education, please e-mail C.A.R.E.S. Schools Coordinator Barbara Wooton at BarbaraWooton@aol.com, or me, Claudia Dickinson, at Claudia@CARESPreservation.com. 

C.A.R.E.S. for Education Fry Drive!

 For those of you with species registered in the C.A.R.E.S. Program, through one of the affiliated C.A.R.E.S. clubs or organizations, that have extra fry that you may wish to donate to Aqua Havens CARES, please note that you will receive your C.A.R.E.S. Red Seal of Achievement Award for each species donated.  Thank you so much for your great generosity in considering this!

All CARES outreach schools receive offspring from the base stock maintained and bred at our flagship Aqua Havens CARES.  Your generous donation to the Aqua Havens CARES base stock will allow students across the continent the opportunity to experience these species under supervised instruction, and to play an educational role in ensuring the positive future of at risk species.

For further information, please e-mail C.A.R.E.S. Schools Coordinator Barbara Wooton at BarbaraWooton@aol.com or, Claudia Dickinson, at Claudia@CARESPreservation.com.

Aqua Havens CARES Students Champion the C.A.R.E.S. for Education Path

 A smile still crosses my face as I recall one e-mail that Bob wrote to me, “…just finished with the State of Maryland Science Department touring and interviewing kids…the really fun part is that one month ago they did not know where Madagascar was, let alone what the country was like…today they introduced Madagascar to the State Department of Education….” 

 A proven leader in education and conservation efforts, Aqua Havens CARES serves as an exemplary model in championing this effort in guiding others.
         

The C.A.R.E.S. Preservation Program is about our fish,
and it is about people.
We are one team, working together. Please, clear a tank ~ save a fish!
Because of you, we are making a difference!