27 students took a trip to the Galápagos Islands with science teachers Al Cann and Cindy Reese from Feb.16 to 26. This was the first trip for Pascack Valley Regional High School District to the Galápagos Islands.
Cann describes the trip in two different parts, their time on the mainland in Ecuador and their time off the coast on the Galápagos Islands.
On the mainland of Ecuador, “There’s a lot of high elevation. The weather was misty and rainy and cold at times. And other times it was hot. Hiking in the higher elevations and seeing these beautiful mountains was nice,” Cann said.
After two days, the students traveled to the Galápagos Islands. Cann described the islands to be at very high altitude with shops, bars, and restaurants.
“It was almost like being in two different places at the same time,” Cann said.
According to Natalie Weissman, a junior on the trip, a notable part of their trip was the tortoise sanctuary.
At the sanctuary, students participated in a service project, in which they planted trees to help preserve the forests in the Galápagos Islands.
Reese said that she felt that planting the trees was the most meaningful activity that they did on the trip.
The teachers and students on the trip also enjoyed their time at the Equator.
Students tried to balance an egg on the Equator and four of the students were successful.
Cann also noted that “There’s actually two equators. There are two lines that they celebrate in Ecuador. The first one was discovered by the natives of the land. And then when the Europeans came over [they recalculated it].”
The native Ecuadorians were ultimately found to have calculated the line correctly.
Cann also explained that the tour guides leading the students on the Galápagos Islands trip showed the students how the water doesn’t spin as it goes down at the Equator. Depending on the hemisphere, the water will spin clockwise or counterclockwise, but at the Equator is does not spin at all.
Besides the Equator, Reese said, “The most fun activity on the trip was the snorkeling.”
Reese also noted the time they spent on Ecuador’s beaches was a memorable activity.
In the future, Reese hopes to host future trips to the Galápagos.
