Guided Scavenger Hunt a Success. Team “Salt Pond Seekers” overall winner

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Building on the success of the Little Explorers program held last year—where students participated in a cultural exploratory tour of key monuments in the Philipsburg area—the Teacher Heritage Scavenger Hunt was developed as a natural next step in deepening cultural engagement within education.

Following strong feedback from educators, Jill Maria, project manager was encouraged to create a similar immersive experience tailored specifically for teachers—one that they could translate into meaningful classroom learning for their students.

With the support of Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied, Focus Forward Media, We Own T’ing, and Sol Antilles, this initiative came to life on Sunday, March 29th, bringing together primary school teachers, dance educators, and cultural enthusiasts for a dynamic and interactive journey.

The event created a space where education, culture, and community intersected, reinforcing the importance of experiential learning within the cultural landscape of St. Maarten.

Participants explored a thoughtfully curated route that highlighted both historical and natural heritage sites across the island, including Emilio’s Wilson Estate, Fort Amsterdam, One Tete Lokay, Freedom Fighters Monument, and the recently introduced bird-watching location in Philipsburg, offering a unique dimension for nature lovers.

The experience was designed as a guided scavenger hunt, featuring assignments, tasks, and interactive activities that supported active learning and strengthened knowledge retention. Through this gamified, hands-on approach, educators engaged directly with the stories, symbolism, and cultural significance embedded within each location.

The scavenger hunt culminated with Team “Salt Pond Seekers” emerging as the overall winner among the three participating teams (team Heritage Adventures and Team Island Explorers), reflecting strong collaboration and engagement throughout the experience.

More importantly, the initiative achieved its core objective: empowering educators and cultural enthusiasts with renewed cultural insight and practical tools to bring history, storytelling, and identity into their classrooms. By investing in teachers as cultural ambassadors, the project ensures that St. Maarten’s heritage continues to be actively shared, celebrated, and preserved for future generations.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all partners and contributors who made this initiative possible. Special thanks to Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied, Focus Forward Media, We Own T’ing, and Sol Antilles for their valuable support, including the generous contribution of gas vouchers. We also extend heartfelt appreciation to the guides who successfully developed and executed this experience within a short timeframe, ensuring a well-structured and impactful program for all participants.