Month: May 2023

CROSSROADS Maldives’ comprehensive environmental policy covers four key pillars: Sustainable Management, Social and Economic Development, Environmental Practices, and Cultural Heritage. Each of these strategies has been carefully designed to conserve the Maldives’ national resources and preserve the local way of life. Two key facilities – the expert-led Maldives Discovery Centre and Marine Discovery Centre – are helping to drive CROSSROADS Maldives’ social and environmental efforts.

CROSSROADS Maldives has adopted environmental best practices by Green Globe^TM standards, which are recognized worldwide as the highest benchmark in the tourism and hospitality industry. Successfully attaining Green Globe^TM Certification shows that CROSSROADS Maldives integrates sustainable, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly processes throughout its daily operations.

CROSSROADS Maldives offers an exciting Junior Marine Biologists program for children. The program aims to nurture children’s curiosity about marine life and the Maldives ecosystem in a fun and engaging way. The curriculum covers topics such as coral reef ecology, marine habitats, fish identification, and conservation of marine life.

The program is designed to be interactive, experiential, and age-appropriate. Activities include snorkeling on the house reef to observe marine life firsthand, learning about the different types of corals and fish through games and crafts, and participating in mock research expeditions. Children are also taught about the importance of protecting the fragile marine environment and ways they can help, even as young citizens.

The Junior Marine Biologists program is led by experienced marine biologists and environmental educators who are passionate about inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards. They aim to make learning about marine life an enjoyable and memorable experience for the children through hands-on lessons, crafts, stories, games, and role-playing activities.

The program is held twice weekly during the school holidays. Each session lasts around two hours and includes snorkeling time on the reef, classroom activities, and a show-and-tell at the end where children can share what they have learned. The small class sizes ensure that all children get plenty of individual attention to explore their interests and develop a deeper understanding of the Maldives’ unique marine environment.

The Marine Discovery Center offers eco-tourism classes to students of all ages, focused on marine conservation and environmental sustainability. The classes aim to educate participants about the fragile balance of local marine ecosystems while also teaching practical skills for environmentally conscious recreation.

For children aged 6 to 12, the center offers daily classes about the environment and its surroundings centered around ocean exploration and environmental stewardship. Campers participate in swimming lessons focused on water safety and conservation, snorkeling excursions to observe local marine life, and hands-on projects to help restore local habitats. Certified instructors guide campers through interactive lessons and activities designed to foster an appreciation for the ocean and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Whether for children, teens, or adults, the eco-tourism classes at the Marine Discovery Center aim to educate participants and visitors about how to minimize their impact and preserve the fragile marine environment for future generations to enjoy. The courses instill an ethic of environmental stewardship and conservation while also providing practical skills and knowledge for responsibly recreating at the coast.

As the country’s very first lifestyle destination CROSSROADS Maldives has been working with the local community to bridge the gap and disconnection between tourism and culture with monthly educational visits for local school students as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts. The visit aimed to expose students to tourist facility operations, Maldives’ rich cultural heritage, and history through experiential learning exercises at Maldives Discovery Centre.

The educational visit aimed to instill in students an appreciation for Maldives’ unique culture and history that has been shaped by its island geography and close ties with the Indian subcontinent. By experiencing Maldivian culture firsthand through interactive activities, the visit brought history to life for the students and helped nurture cultural awareness and pride from a young age.