Service trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Archipelago

A group of 22 Lower Sixth students were lucky enough to participate in a service trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Archipelago this summer. The group was privileged to spend five days working with a group of inspirational biologists, ethologists, zoologists and vets at the Yana Cocha Animal Rescue Centre in Puyo. The highlight of this part of the trip was witnessing the release of a sloth back into the wilderness of the Amazon, which involved a challenging trek deep into the Amazon rainforest and was an amazing opportunity to learn more about the incredible biodiversity of this unique ecosystem and its fragile existence. The group of students and their teachers then moved on to the Galapagos Archipelago where highlights included: staying on Isabela and Santa Cruz islands, snorkelling with the amazing variety of marine wildlife; and visiting the Darwin Centre, learning more about the lifelong impact of his theory and about the inspirational conservation projects in place, while marvelling at the huge tortoises! The students also climbed the Sierra Negra caldera, while eating wild guavas along the way and learning so much geology and vulcanology. They also spent a day on the uninhabited island of North Seymour and, finally, visited Quito’s fascinating Anthropological Museum. What an unforgettable, and truly once in a lifetime, experience for these students. A huge thank you to Mrs Segalini-Bower, Miss Brown and Mr McConnell for leading and organising this inspirational trip!