Bow Valley students get ready to get their feet wet in Hawaii … for science.
After two years of planning, Bow Valley School will be sending 34 students with teachers and supervisors for “Science in Hawaii 2016” educational excursion from Feb. 10-18 through Education First (EF) educational tours.
“The important part is that they understand how big the world really is and that there are different cultures out there,” explained Scott Allard, Bow Valley High School teacher, who is travelling with the students.
“This trip will allow the kids to experience a lot of things in a very short time – it’s basically to get them to start thinking about what they want to do.”
Instead of lugging around textbooks and papers, the students will be able to experience Hawaii and some of the interesting things the islands have to offer, including swimming with manta rays, exploring coral reefs, hiking in the rainforest and visiting the Imiloa astronomy sector.
“We are seeing Hawaii for more than sun and beach, we are looking at all the different types of ecosystems that you’d (normally) have to go quite a few places to actually see,” Allard said. “On the big island you can go from rainforest to dessert to cattle country – so it gives them a different perspective of what Hawaii has to offer.”
The nine-day trip goes through Honolulu, Hilo and Kona, mixing learning with free time. The high school teacher said he is also very excited about the trip and is most looking forward to swimming with the mantra rays, while the feedback Allard has gotten from students is they are most excited to explore the different areas of the islands – “I am quite impressed.”
After finishing school exams, Allard said the reality of the trip is starting to sink in for the students.
“It is not really work – the students are just there to experience it and observe,” Allard said. “I think now it is basically starting to hit home – they are pretty excited.”
For more information on EF education tours go to eftours.ca
