The Cape Eleuthera Institute offers a unique atmosphere for people of all ages to learn about tropical environments and sustainable design. Our commitment to connect primary research to education and outreach helps to promote environmental awareness and creates a diverse array of opportunities for scientists and students alike. Primary research can be conducted in the fields of tropical marine and terrestrial sciences, resource management, aquaculture, and sustainable design. Courses offered at the Cape Eleuthera Institute also reflect these disciplines. Additionally, our facilities and environment allow us to design curricula that embody a more integrated approach to learning catering to students at the middle school, high school, and college/university levels.
The buildings and grounds at CEI provide modular spaces for primary research, courses, workshops, and even professional retreats. In this way, our campus in its entirety is a classroom. With ecological design principles in mind, we have tried to minimize our footprint on the environment through the conservation and sustainable use of resources. All buildings were constructed using a vaulted ceiling design oriented toward the prevailing trade winds, offering high ceilings and great ventilation that promotes cooling in warm summer months. Our sea-side dormitory style living spaces can accommodate groups as small as 6 and as large as 72, and meals are served in a common dining area with much of the food produced in our farm and aquaponics facility. For research or teaching needs, we also have a 5000 ft2 flow-through seawater system with tanks of a variety of sizes and separate dry lab spaces for bench top work. A fleet of boats ranging in size from 19-40’ can be used to access the marine environments surrounding the Cape Eleuthera Institute, while vans and trucks are available to move people and equipment to various points of interest on Eleuthera.
An array of diverse terrestrial and marine environments are within a 10-mile radius of our campus (24º50’40”N, 76º20’70”W). Whether you are looking for shallow waters of the Bahamas Bank or deep-sea environments, our location on the leeward side of Eleuthera affords sheltered, easily accessible areas to conduct water-based research and field courses. For instance, a short boat ride will bring you to shallow oolitic sand banks, seagrass meadows, mangrove creeks, patch reefs, and the eastern wall of the Exuma Sound; many of these habitats are accessible by road as well. Terrestrially, there are also great opportunities for research in ornithology, herpetology, botany, and agricultural studies.
Getting to Eleuthera is relatively easy because of its proximity to Florida and Nassau. In addition, Eleuthera offers many of the amenities found in more developed regions of the world, yet still retains the feel, safety, and serenity of a remote tropical island. For instance, our campus is located only 40 minutes from the town of Rock Sound, offering easy access to an international airport, hardware store, grocery market, and bank with an ATM. We are also close to the small town of Deep Creek which offers wonderful cultural opportunities.
Located on adjacent property is the Cape Eleuthera Resort & Yacht Club. Call 242.334.8500.
If you would like additional information regarding courses at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, please email Karen Knight, or call 609.945.0710. To download a flyer on our Educational Programs, please click here.