A Taste of the Caribbean at International Space Weather Camp

For the third consecutive year, Tamarind Island Grille has worked with one of our FTPP summer programs, International Space Weather Camp (ISWC). ISWC is a camp that brings students from the U.S. and Germany to learn about space weather.

Tamarind Island Grille catered a variety of Caribbean foods over the course of the U.S. portion of the camp. The menu also accommodated students with different dietary needs, including vegan and gluten-free options. The ISWC students, as well as the staff at CSPAR, were very appreciative of how diverse and delicious the food was!

Lauren says “I offer vegan dishes because I want everyone to enjoy Caribbean food without feeling like they’re missing anything”.

The collaboration between Tamarind Island Grille and the ISWC began in 2024. Lauren said it is an honor and a pleasure to serve the camp each year. Being able to serve students from different countries and cultures makes the experience even more meaningful for her. The ISWC dining experience gives students a chance to try different food options while they are in the U.S. and experience new flavors from Caribbean culture.

Lauren Herbert is originally from South America, and has been cooking Caribbean food for almost 40 years. Seeing a diverse group of students laughing, playing games, and trusting her with her cooking means a lot to her. She said her food is a testament to the love she has for the people she serves.

Our FTPP team is incredibly grateful to Lauren and Tamarind Island Grille for their continued hard work and support throughout ISWC. We look forward to hopefully working with them again next year! We’re thankful for the opportunity to partner with a local small business and encourage our community to support the local businesses that help make events like these possible.