Santa Cruz Island
A new year has begun, and one can feel how much energy there is in the air. Everyone feels renewed with dreams and projects, novel ideas boil in the minds of most people and the Galápagos Islands even look different, like painted in renovated colors.
With the invigorating spirit of a new year, we want to continue with an old commitment, a commitment that Lindblad Expeditions has with the community since the very first time Polaris came to the Galápagos, 10 years ago. It is the responsibility of giving back, to the islands and their ecological balance, and to the people who inhabit this place. Lindblad has countless programs, but one of my favorites, in which we can directly see the results of our contribution, is the Teachers On Board program. Many Galápagenian teachers now have seen their home Islands on board Lindblad ships, both Polari and Islander. We have extended this program to students as well. When we have the possibility, we invite kids from different schools to have a close encounter with nature through our Zodiacs, glass bottom boat and equipment on board.
Today we had 25 kids from Galápagos School's seventh grade. In the past year they have also participated of an after school program, supported by Lindblad Expeditions as well, through one of the Environmental Education Centers we sponsor in three of the inhabited islands. In the last month these kids learned all about sub-tidal rocky habitats, so the glass bottom boat around Caamano Island was a complete blast for them; it was the practice needed for the theory they had learned. I did not have to talk too much while I guided them this morning; they knew the names of all marine invertebrates and most fish. I am sure a few will become biologists and naturalists, like Mishel de la Torre (11) and Paola Garcia (12), who told me so. But many others manifested their interest for other professions. After visiting the ship, and touring the engines and the bridge in the company of our captain Wilfrido Chavez and first officer Edgar Torres, they made the following comments:
"My favorite thing today has been visiting the bridge, to see how they maneuver the boat with the helm, and all the instruments that officers use to navigate."
-Andres Robles, 12
I loved to see the radar, how it can detect anything above water. I may become an officer in the future."
- Alex Parra, 13
I liked the galley. In our school we have an industrial kitchen and the possibility of specializing during high school. I may take that specialty in my last school years, so I become a chef, and who knows? Someday I may be back as a cook!"
–Keyla Castro, 12
We had pizza and ice cream, beautifully arranged by Sofia Plonski and her team in the hotel department. In the meantime our guests were also having a blast on Santa Cruz Island, visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station and its tortoises, and the highlands, with giants in the wild, lava tunnels and Darwin’s finches.
This was another good day that leaves in our hearts a deep contentment. The stars look brighter tonight!
A new year has begun, and one can feel how much energy there is in the air. Everyone feels renewed with dreams and projects, novel ideas boil in the minds of most people and the Galápagos Islands even look different, like painted in renovated colors.
With the invigorating spirit of a new year, we want to continue with an old commitment, a commitment that Lindblad Expeditions has with the community since the very first time Polaris came to the Galápagos, 10 years ago. It is the responsibility of giving back, to the islands and their ecological balance, and to the people who inhabit this place. Lindblad has countless programs, but one of my favorites, in which we can directly see the results of our contribution, is the Teachers On Board program. Many Galápagenian teachers now have seen their home Islands on board Lindblad ships, both Polari and Islander. We have extended this program to students as well. When we have the possibility, we invite kids from different schools to have a close encounter with nature through our Zodiacs, glass bottom boat and equipment on board.
Today we had 25 kids from Galápagos School's seventh grade. In the past year they have also participated of an after school program, supported by Lindblad Expeditions as well, through one of the Environmental Education Centers we sponsor in three of the inhabited islands. In the last month these kids learned all about sub-tidal rocky habitats, so the glass bottom boat around Caamano Island was a complete blast for them; it was the practice needed for the theory they had learned. I did not have to talk too much while I guided them this morning; they knew the names of all marine invertebrates and most fish. I am sure a few will become biologists and naturalists, like Mishel de la Torre (11) and Paola Garcia (12), who told me so. But many others manifested their interest for other professions. After visiting the ship, and touring the engines and the bridge in the company of our captain Wilfrido Chavez and first officer Edgar Torres, they made the following comments:
"My favorite thing today has been visiting the bridge, to see how they maneuver the boat with the helm, and all the instruments that officers use to navigate."
-Andres Robles, 12
I loved to see the radar, how it can detect anything above water. I may become an officer in the future."
- Alex Parra, 13
I liked the galley. In our school we have an industrial kitchen and the possibility of specializing during high school. I may take that specialty in my last school years, so I become a chef, and who knows? Someday I may be back as a cook!"
–Keyla Castro, 12
We had pizza and ice cream, beautifully arranged by Sofia Plonski and her team in the hotel department. In the meantime our guests were also having a blast on Santa Cruz Island, visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station and its tortoises, and the highlands, with giants in the wild, lava tunnels and Darwin’s finches.
This was another good day that leaves in our hearts a deep contentment. The stars look brighter tonight!
