Simon Jones
Published Nov 4, 2016 at 8:00 am (Updated Nov 4, 2016 at 12:47 pm)

Let’s go boating: pictured, from left, Graham Redford, Neil Stempel, George Butterfield,
Diana Bergquist, Ian Walker, Jamie Bacon, Colin Brown, Michael DeCouto

Generous donors have joined forces to help buy a new boat for the Bermuda Zoological Society.

The 30ft Beachcat, called Callista, arrived on the island in June and has already been used to ferry children to summer camps.

The purchase was made possible thanks to donations from Diana Bergquist, the Stempel Foundation, Clarien Bank, Somers Isle Shipping and RUBiS.

Fabulous floating platform: the custom-built Beachcat from Florida has been used
to shuttle students to summer camps and venture to North Rock

“Our new beach catamaran, Callista, has proved invaluable,” BZS education officer, Jamie Bacon, said. “Whether it was shuttling students daily between BAMZ and Trunk Island or venturing out as far as North Rock, Callista provides a fantastic experience and a safe, stable platform for all.

The boat was specifically designed to have stadium-style seating to allow BZS educators to host classes on board. Furthermore it was designed so that the seats can be taken out to transport trees and equipment out to Trunk Island.

Mrs Bergquist, a benefactor of BZS’s free conservation education programmes, gave the initial donation for the purchase of the boat to mark her birthday.

The gift was matched by the Stempel Foundation that allowed BZS to buy the custom-built Beachcat from Florida and have it delivered to the island.

Clarien Bank also gave a large financial donation for the additional equipment needed for the boat, while Somers Isle Shipping helped import the vessel into Bermuda.

Rubis bolstered its commitment to provide free fuel to Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo vehicles by adding Callista to its donation recipients that had already included MV Endurance and the BAMZ bus.

“We would not be able to continue the important environmental educational classes of the BZS without the very generous donations and in-kind support that we receive from the Bermuda community,” Richard Winchell, BZS president, said.