I have had the good fortune of being able to travel around the world with my children (30 countries and counting), so we’ve shared a lot of interesting and unique experiences together. Last year I was introduced to Margo and Kids Sea Camp at a travel trade show I was speaking at. As soon as I learned that we could travel to some of the world’s best dive sites together as a family AND have our boys involved in the fun, we were sold! So we got the kids certified and booked our trip to Palau, which happened to overlap with Thanksgiving.  Not to worry though, we were assured that a turkey feast with all the trimmings would be included.
My only complaint with the KSC experience is that we didn’t know about it sooner! The activities for the kids who are not yet old enough to certify were wonderful and the kids just loved them. It also doesn’t hurt that they have no problem meeting other kids their own age. So now we’re eagerly discussing where to go next with KSC. The Galapagos sounds wonderful! Â
By: Rainer Jenss
Hi Margo;
We hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas … everyone here has been dreaming of Palau so much, they all thought another trip would be in their stockings from Santa!!
I just thought I would share some very exciting news with you, to show you what an impact you and diving have had on my kids … particularly Hannah!
She wrote a compelling letter to the Prime Minister of Canada encouraging him to make Canada a Shark Sanctuary, just like Palau! She also copied our local member of Parliament. So far he has written back to her already and said the PM will hopefully respond too!! I have included the letter for you to read. WE included a photo of us with the President of Palau, at the opening ceremonies
She has become such an advocate for sharks it is so incredible. Hannah hated reading and always had difficulty finishing any book. Now all she reads are books on sharks – she even started writing her own book. I am so pleased that KSC has been able to foster such a love for our oceans at such an early age – I love knowing this next generation will make drastic changes for all sharks and ocean life.
Thanks so much Margo – I cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for having these programs available for kids … you do an amazing thing!!
All the best for the New Year!!
Lynn
Read Hannah’s letter below:
Dear Prime Minister Harper,
My name is Hannah Weller. I’m in grade 5, I am 10 years old, I just might be Canada’s youngest certified scuba diver and I love sharks!!!!!
Toronto and Mississauga have banned shark fin soup. Â I was hoping you could ban shark fin soup from all of Canada.
Did you know that almost 70,000,000 sharks are killed each year for their fins and for fun.
Some people think shark fin soup is good – but I wonder if they know that their fins were cut off and the shark was left to drown after being thrown back in the water.
Some people think sharks kill people. Did you know that you are more likely to be killed by a coconut than a shark? Or a toaster? Or lightening? Or a pop machine?
Our oceans need sharks. They clean our oceans of sick and dead animals and keep our world clean. People are not on shark’s diets. Without sharks there is no life in the oceans, because they are at the top of the food chain.
When I was in Palau this summer, I swam with sharks and they didn’t harm me. On one dive I saw 12 sharks and none of them ate me.
Palau is the world’s first Shark Sanctuary. I think Canada should be the second. Canada should also ban shark fin soup in all restaurants and shops.
I have put a photo of, Mr. Johnson Toribiong; the President of Palau and my family in this letter ( I’m the one in the front).  If you would like, I can introduce you to him and he can tell you how to ban shark fin soup and make Canada a Shark Sanctuary ( even though there are not a lot of sharks here ).
I want to be able to dive with sharks my whole life and if there is no ban on shark finning, there will be no more sharks.
Please help the sharks!!