Listening to Hear Another Island’s Song

Our final workshop together began with a moment we had all been looking forward to: a live video call with the children of Longyearbyen 3rd Grade in Svalbard.

Over the past months, the children from Iona Primary School, Bunessan Primary School and Longyearbyen have been connecting through ocean science, art and island stories. They had exchanged questions, artwork and ideas, but this was their first opportunity to meet face to face.

There was a lot of excitement as we gathered around the screen, hoping the technology would cooperate. Thankfully, it did! What followed was a joyful and surprisingly moving conversation. The children introduced themselves, shared artwork, asked questions and even sang to one another. It felt like a perfect reflection of the project's title, From the Mouths of the Caves: Listening to Hear Another Island's Song, children from two very different islands listening, sharing and discovering connections across the sea.

The call ended on a high note, but the day was only just getting started.

Back in creative mode, the children worked together to create a long cyanotype print using the seabird silhouettes they had made the previous week, along with seaweed, shells, pebbles and other treasures gathered from the shore. Then it was off to the beach with NTS ranger Emily Wilkins for one final field session. Emily introduced the children to some of Iona's seaweeds, explaining where different species grow and the habitats they support. There was plenty of hands-on learning as everyone enjoyed collecting, identifying and comparing the seaweeds they found.

We finished the day back at the Village Hall, turning our attention once again to the unnamed cave that started the project. Working with the words, sketches, and observations gathered in their notebooks over the past few weeks, the children began to find a name for the cave.

More to come on the name soon!