CEA’s first Members Celebration kicked off Thursday October 10, 2002 with a welcome from Charles Shaw, PhD, Executive Director and an update by Kate Robinhawk. A reception followed at Lol Ha hosted by Laura Bush, CEA Board Member and owner of Villas Mayas and Lol Ha Restaurants. It was attended by local members, volunteers, board members and staff.

Friday was full of presentations. Charles Shaw started the morning with “Impact!” the story of the meteor that killed the dinosaurs. Rogelio Villavicencio brought everyone up to date with what is happening with the turtle program. Greg Brown shared his video and underwater experiences mapping the cave system he discovered in Akumal. After lunch, Mauricio Bautista with CEA’s social service student from Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla, Claudia Tejada Gonzales presented a talk about CEA’s Environmental Education programs and showed the first education animation by Mauricio and Debora Soriano Peregrina another social service student. The afternoon wrapped up with Kate Robinhawk’s presentation on Water Quality Management. We ended the evening with a wine and cheese reception.

Saturday was a day of play and interactive tours. We began with a morning geology tour led by Charles Shaw. The walk started in front of The CEA Center and followed the shoreline to Buena Vida in Half Moon Bay. Along the way we saw evidences of the great tsunami, glacial periods and more. Other tours available to members included snorkeling tours by the bay protection leader Alejandro Gutierrez, jungle tours, personal Mayan tours by Hilario Hiler and more. That evening we ended the CEA Member Celebration with a Taste Of Akumal, compliments of Lol Ha, Que Onda, Turtle Bay Café, and La Ecocina. To top off the evening several of us joined Rogelio on a moonlit walk along Akumal beach and released 102 turtle hatchlings.

CEA wishes to thank everyone involved in helping us launch our first Members Celebration. Special thanks to Lol Ha staff, as well as Que Onda, Turtle Bay Café and La Ecocina We look forward to many more CEA Members Celebrations in the future.

If you are interested in learning more about future activities or have a suggestion please contact us.