Richmond Vale Academy wins the Tourism Social Enterprise, a special award recognising an initiative by an individual or group/association which addresses social problems by applying innovative tourism development ideas. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has recognised eight tourism entities from CTO-member countries with its top awards for e...

  Stina Herberg will speak at The annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development is part of the information dissemination and regional awareness component of CTO's Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. It looks at how member states can design and implement sustainable tourism policies and programmes offering a regional forum for in...

The horse school at Richmond Vale Academy (RVA), which catered primarily for international clients, is welcoming local students, thanks to sponsorship from Tus-T Water. With the sponsorship, RVA, whose curriculum focuses on sustainable livelihoods, has been able to recruit a Vincentian horse trainer as well as welcome local students. The new traine...

When you join a program at Richmond Vale Academy it is possible to become a certified Diver. We started to engage in protection and conservation efforts in 2015 by investing in a Diving Center.  Shortly after we a trained instructor and the second instructor is in the process to being certified. We started to learn about the importance of mari...

It’s 9 pm at Richmond Vale Academy, and a small circle of drummers sends rhythms into the darkness of the hills. The stars seem to be on steroids, but we still need flashlights for our dragon quest. Franklyn—the local hiking guide, night watchman, and nocturnal pollinator-in-chief—ambles ahead of our motley group: two young Scandinavian honeymooners, two mature ladies from Barbados, and a burly Dane who is minding a teenage boy with unspecified problems. Franklyn leads us into rows of tall, twisting cacti whose flowers reach full bloom only at this time. Lacking the right moths, they need human hands and a paintbrush to stimulate the production of dragonfruit, Hylocereus costaricensis. The huge white blossoms have a monstrous beauty. Tonight there are 54, significantly less than the record 1000, but enough to contribute to a crop. The succulent red globules that they’ll turn into helps make this institution the largest producer of this exotic fruit in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The extraordinary Richmond Vale Academy is full of such surprises. The first is that it exists at all. A part of the International DRH Movement (Danish “Travelling Folk High School”), RVA can trace its origins to 1970, when pioneering educators took a busload of Danish youngsters into Asia Minor to expand their horizons and learn by experience. Their encounters with poverty led to engagement, and eventually...

[caption id="attachment_10058" align="alignleft" width="320"] Moringa forest My daily task in taking care of the horses is to feed them moringa. Moringa, also called The Miracle Tree, really is a miracle. It's a very healthy plant that can be eaten by humans and animals and it's very easy to plant. Almost all of the parts of the tree are edible, raw or cooked. It contains an incredibly high dose of vitamins, minerals and proteins. At the academy we eat moringa leaves in our salad and drink it in tea. The horses and the pigs eat the whole branches. Raw it tastes a little bit like radish and cooked it has a mild neutral taste. At Richmond vale is a forest where they plant the moringa. There is enough and it grows very fast. For the horses I cut the whole branches. New leaves will appear in several days. If you love horses it's a great joy to spoil them with moringa. They're really fond of it. They know exactly when I'm going to the forest and waiting for me to come back. They're looking with the prettiest faces ever and calling for me. They immediately start eating and won't stop before they are finished. To get the moringa, it is also good exercise and keeps me fit. I cut as many as I can carry. The branches...

Most of the time when people communicate with horses it's just one-way. People do speak but mostly fail at listening. When you want to accomplish something with your horse without force it's important that you can understand each other. Communication is speaking and listening. Stina told me that it’s important to take time, wait and listen. Think about what's going on in his mind, where is his attention? To understand what the horse is saying you don’t need much knowledge of horses. Just some good sense and lots of interest will manage. Be curious, when you focus on details it becomes very interesting. It's like communication with people. How often aren't we just listening to confirm our own thoughts instead of being interested in what's going on in someone else's mind? Now I become more aware of how often I ask something while the horse is still processing or focused on something else. Stina taught me that it's not that the horse doesn’t want to listen. It’s just that he can't hear you. When the horse is distracted, wait wait wait. If necessary ask for his attention and then ask your question. Repeat this every time you ask something while the horse is distracted or isn't reacting directly. You also will notice that the horse tells a lot himself, mostly when you are not aware. He...

The sea is an amazing place to explore. A space of the earth that, throughout the history, has caught the attention of the human being. Enigmatic, grandiose and dangerous in a way. And perhaps for that reason the ideal place for explorations of all kinds. In which the individual feels embraced by all its immensity. So, the best way to enjoy the ocean, is with your favorite types of scuba diving [caption id="attachment_7090" align="aligncenter" width="710"] photo credit: Pexels Scuba diving is one of the most popular activities for both travelers and for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Unlike free diving or snorkeling. Scuba diving utilises breathing apparatus containing compressed air, carried by the diver themselves.  In order to dive freely to larger depths and for longer amounts of time. Whether your goal in diving is to experience marine life. To dive deeper than would otherwise be possible. Or just to explore the sea without worrying about breath hold. We present you the types of scuba diving that suits you. Types of Scuba Diving Though there are more diving locations strewn throughout the world than you’ll ever be able to dive in a lifetime, there are only two types of diving; freshwater diving and saltwater diving. Each type has its own unique properties, concerns, and life forms, and both will render different experiences. (Click infographic to enlarge .) Share this...

I came to St. Vincent horse school because I want to learn how to develop a real connection with my horses. After just one week I have learned already so much! I have two miniature horses. Every day I spend lots of time with them to provide in their needs, but I'm missing something. The first lesson with Stina was all about social behaviour and politeness. When I met her horses I saw something I had never seen before. Very polite and well-mannered horses but still pure and natural. Not drilled by training but more like they had a lovely nurturing with very clear boundaries. The perfect environment where everybody is allowed to speak but also listens. So I realized my minis aren't polite at all, they behave like spoiled kids. To accomplish this kind of environment you need a whole new mindset. You can't use ego, productivity and focusing on results. You need the whole process to grow and for that you need awareness. To develop awareness it's important you learn to listen to your intuition. Your intuition can tell you exactly what your boundaries are, what you need and how you can react in a very clear and peaceful way. But this is not so easy. My mind is struggling because my ego really wants to interfere. The biggest challenge for me is, even...

[Tweet "The practice of hiking is perhaps one of the activities of greater gratification for the human."] That's why, the direct contact with nature makes this practice one of the most popular worldwide. So, people of all ages can do different types of hiking routes. Also, enjoy the differente benefits of hiking. So, the best of all is that the routes offered by different hikes are adaptable to the conditions and tastes of each person. Hiking has a direct relationship with camping activities, since usually a good hiking route, can get to occupy several days. Then, for some hiking trails, climbing skills are required and in others abseiling. So, everything varies depending on the adventure of hiking that you are willing to perform. So, additionally of the benefits of hiking, walking is an activity that relaxes the mind while exercising the organism. (Click infographic to enlarge .)   Share this Image On Your Site <span class="mceItemHidden"><span></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><strong>Please include attribution to http://richmondvale.org with this graphic.</strong></p><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><a href='http://richmondvale.org/13-benefits-of-hiking/'><<span class="mceItemHidden"><span class="hiddenSpellError">img</span></span> <span class="hiddenSpellError">src</span>='http://richmondvale.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/13-benefits-of-hiking.jpg' alt='There are many benefits of hiking for your health. So, in this <span class="hiddenSpellError">infographic</span> you will see 13 of them!' width='540px' border='0' /> </p><br /><br /><br /> <p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /> <p></span> Benefits of Hiking Many sports activities and games require special equipment or training to get started....

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Americas, located at the north of Venezuela and the island of Granada, in the chain of the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean Sea. The country has a British colonial history and is now part of the Commonwealth of Nations and Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ). Its capital and more populated city is Kingstown, located in the island of St. Vincent. Formed by the greater island of St. Vincent and by a series of smaller islands in the south, the country has a very pleasant climate, with an average temperature of 27ºC in summer. Tourism has been an important source of income for this Caribbean nation, which has hotels, cabins and restaurants to receive visitors in each of the islands that comprise it. There are many things to do in St. Vincent. However, today we will present the best options. Enjoy it! Things to do in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Scuba diving St. Vincent is called the “Critter Capital of the Caribbean”, thanks to the abundance of marine life flourishing in its coral reefs. One of the things to do in St. Vincent, is search for baby seahorses, frogfish, and more while you're practicing scuba diving . Also, the waters of the northern part of the island of St. Vincent are unspoilt, virgin and scenery....

Are you looking for a healthy sport that allows you to be in contact with nature and suitable for any type of person? Without a doubt, that sport is hiking . The frenetic pace of life, the work and the jungle of asphalt in which we live are passing the bill. It is not a purely physical matter, but a mental one. Depression is already a pandemic and rare is the person who has not experienced stress, anxiety or insomnia. Spending time outdoors may be better than you think. Hiking is obviously healthy for our body, but few stop to think that it could also be beneficial to our mental health. That is why more and more people are aware of the benefits of hiking, and therefore, fans are increasing. And is that, when we hike, besides just walking, we enjoy unique landscapes and we are in contact with nature. In addition, as hiking gets more and more followers you can find mountaineering or hiking centers that periodically offer routes for all those enrolled in it and outsiders who want to try the experience. We goin to help you take the next step. That's why in this post we present to you 7 reasons why you should go hiking. Beautiful reasons why you should go hiking 1-Doing Sport Is Always Beneficial As everyone knows, doing sports...

Can you imagine getting up from your bed, going to the patio and having a view of a volcano? We present to you our backyard in Richmond Vale Academy : La Soufrière volcano. [caption id="attachment_7270" align="aligncenter" width="500"] La Soufrière Volcano - Our Backyard One of St. Vincent's most dramatic vistas is a volcanic mountain situated in the rugged north. La Soufrière, often shrouded in cloud, waits for the hearty and energetic to climb its 4,000 feet to be stunned by its immensity. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is part of an island chain in the southeastern Caribbean called the Lesser Antilles, or Windward Islands. Referred to as the “Gem of the Antilles,”. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of St. Vincent.  Bequia , Canouan , Mayreau , Mustique , Union Island  a nd many smaller Islands and Cays. Mainland St. Vincent is relatively young, about 3 million years old. La Soufrière volcano occupies a central place in Vincentian history and psyche. Then, reflected in numerous times it is mentioned in the Bequia Mysteries . So, La Soufrière eruptions, and the volcanic nature of the soil, shaped St. Vincent’s history, population and culture. It created the black sand beaches along the northern coasts of St. Vincent. Then, the rich, fertile volcanic soil spawned a densely forested interior. Which provided refuge and strategic launching pads for the...

Traveling has been vastly popular for centuries now. No doubt about it. However now with climate change and global warming as a hot topic. People are becoming more and more aware of the impact their travel habits can have on the place people visit. And now is the start of the term Ecotourism . It is responsible travel to a natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people. As a traveler this means to minimize physical, social, behavioural and psychological impacts. As travelers we should have the compassion and interest to support local people with their art, food and traditional ways of expressing themselves. Local products in some cases may be more expensive. However it is authentic and one of a kind. Not mass produced in sweatshops in China  or Bangladesh .  Ecotourism is built around the awareness and respect for the environment and culture. For many tourists when arriving at a new destination there is a tight schedule with all the pit stops that the tour guides have decided. Usually the guides make arrangements with the big brands, and then, there is no time for buy local products. As an example, last Saturday there was a special event happening in Chateaubelair called “The Fair of Flair in Chateaubelair”. And it was meant to bring awareness and interest to buy local...

[caption id="attachment_6931" align="alignleft" width="300"] Photo Credit: Richmond Vale Diving and Hiking Center Few recreation activities offer as much benefit in return for as little as hiking does. Hiking is a basic mountaineering modality it does not need heavy backpacks with expensive equipment, nor climbing steep slopes nor knowing complicated techniques of knots or risky climbing maneuvers. Hiking allows us to enjoy something that we have done all our lives: walking. So, walking beyond going from the house to the car and from the parking lot to the office... Walking is healthy, we gain strength in the legs, the heart beats with more vigor, the lungs work more effectively, biceps, stomach muscles, chest and shoulders are benefit from the simple fact of walking. To motivate you to go out there and get in touch with nature, we present you these inspirational hiking quotes. We hope you like them! 20 Inspirational Hiking Quotes “In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous” –Aristotle “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity”. ― John Muir “Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory. – Ed Viesturs, No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World’s 14 Highest Peaks “I walked slowly to enjoy this freedom, and when I came out of the mountains,...

Scuba Diving is one of the most rewarding activities you can do. A relaxing hobby in which you will experience different experiences. In each dive you will observe and learn new things while having the opportunity to make new friends. So, the relaxing atmosph ere offered by the sea and the snorkeling activity itself are probably the main reasons for the existence of a camaraderie among divers. Then, you do not always find this in other activities.   [caption id="attachment_6834" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Photo credit: pixabay Sharing ex periences and even tips and tricks while navigating makes learning something new. So, this is an activity of coexistence in which if you travel alone. Then, you will always find a partner. And if you do it together. You will meet other people who share the passion for the exploration of the seabed. Learn to dive and scuba dive underwater to observe all the mysteries that locks can be a magical experience. So, to enjoy this experience, you need to have the proper scuba diving gear. Then, since it facilitates greatly the power to do this activity of its kind. Scuba Diving Gear Mask or visor It is the element that allows to see under the water avoiding the direct contact of salty or chlorinated water with the eyes. The mask interposes a layer of air between the eyes...

[caption id="attachment_6779" align="alignleft" width="233"] Photo credit: unep Most of the time, we are thinking of going on vacation. Also, we want to know new countries, learning about culture, gastronomy, and have fun. But have you ever thought about how your vacation can affect the planet? No, we're not telling you not to go on vacation.  But, you can help take care of the environment and enjoy your vacation while you do it. To do this you only need the United Nations Green Passport. The Green Passport  (http://www.unep.fr/greenpassport/) was developed in the International Working Group on Sustainable Tourism Development.  It was launched at the Berlin Tourism Fair 2008 by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). And by the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Territorial Planning. Also, by the Ministries of Environment and Tourism of Brazil and other partners. By browsing the Green Passport website consumers will be able to find practical and ecological tips.  So, this tips help them reduce their environmental and social footprint. So, tourists will discover that traveling green is not as hard as they imagined. The Green Passport website is designed to look fun and user-friendly. And you can even submit your own green travel tips. So, A large part of the program is focused on traveling responsibly. In other words, educating yourself about your destination and culture before going on...

Background This report is a partial fulfilment of the GEF funded project to rehabilitate the La Soufriere Leeward Trail on St. Vincent .  No maintenance work was done on this trail for a number of years and in 2010 it was made worse with the passing of hurricane Thomas which totally devastated the trail. Huge trees were uprooted and blocked the trail, landslides took out sections of the trail which caused persons to use alternative route.  In 2013 further damage was done to the trail by the passing of a trough system that affected the whole island.  Despite these negative impacts the trail remained untouched, visitation was low because of the trail condition, shrubs and trees grew up on the trail way covered by vines thus making the trail impassable.  To get to the summit one had to bend down and go through dark vine tunnels amid obstacles of shrubs and dangerous vines for most of the way.  At the end of the tree line grass completely covered the trail past waist height with just a very narrow foot path which was barely visible almost to the top.     Trail Clearing At a meeting on 5 th September the stakeholders decided to implement work on 19 th of September, to clear the trail. A crew of 8 was decided on however one did not turn...

The Richmond Beach count with the Richmond Vale Diving Academy who teaches how to deal with dive emergencies and prepare the full program to the most vocational rescue diver. Here’s the story of Bjarke. Rescue Diver Experiences [caption id="attachment_6700" align="alignright" width="500"] Photo Credit: Richmond Vale Diving and Hiking Academy . “Rescue Diver Stop. Breathe. Think. Only then should you act. And rushing into a rescue can make you both victims. Also, in the level 3 of scuba diving courses, you’ll learn how to deal with dive emergencies using a variety of techniques and skills. By the end of this course, you’ll know how to avoid risks and how to respond in case things do go wrong. Rescue Diver emergencies My best experience in Rescue Diver is that I have gained so much knowledge. And Jesper examines the practical part really well with Isa and me. So, one thing I really like is the knowledge review, is there you really suck so much knowledge to you. Isa has been such a good partner because we are always helping each other, discussing things and the good thing about having her as a partner is that she wants it as much as me. And, the second best thing is that she is passionate. Hence, you can tell that she loves to dive. So Isa has also been a good...

Going up to La Soufrière: The natural king and guardian of St. Vincent.   Richmond Vale Academy  Climate Compliance Program – Team 13  Study task 2 – Experience  María Olano. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not far from that. La Soufrière is the country volcano, a natural monstrous marvel that can be seen from almost every point of the island. It stands there, with all his imperial magnitude, the king and guardian of this portion of land that carries all the warm of the lava within their citizen kindness. Every country have they own appealing characteristics with historical monuments, unique landscapes, and particular roadways. These touristic assets that are frequently use by travel agencies to show how attractive a destiny can be, and carry an interesting number of people to get astonished by different wonders. La Soufrière is the most highest peaks in St. Vincent. It’s 1.234 meters (4.049 feet) and the last time it erupt in 1979. Is especially releveant more than 14 thousand people evacuate from the fervent red thick blood of the volcano. But, no worries, by now it keeps calm and quiet, like a baby sleeping with a lullaby. At 9:00 in the morning we left the school to start the crossing journey to reach the highest point of the mountain, willing to see the crater and tests how far we...