A group of Rydal Penrhos pupils have been given the opportunity to go on the educational trip of a lifetime next year.
The school announced it will be running a biodiversity research expedition to Honduras next summer, which has been organised in partnership with Operation Wallacea.
There are 16 places available for this expedition, which will depart on June 24 and return on July 7.
During the first week, each pupil involved will be based in the cloud forests of the Cusuco National Park helping to survey one of the world’s rarest and most endangered forest types.
This data will be used to produce a report for the Honduras Forestry Department who will then be able to use this data to sell Carbon Natural Forest Credits that will help to protect the forest and irreplaceable biodiversity in it.
They will also complete jungle survival skills training, monitor forest structures and work with an international team of biodiversity scientists on projects including invertebrate sampling, using mist nets and point counting for birds, mammal tracking and spotlighting for amphibians and reptiles.
In addition to this, the group will complete a course on Neotropical Forest Ecology and have the chance to learn how to access the canopy with a half day training course from the Canopy Access Ltd team.
During the second week, the group will be based on either Roatan or Utila (islands on the Bay Island chain) and can learn to dive to PADI Open Water level.
If pupils are already dive trained or just wish to snorkel, they can complete a Caribbean reef ecology course where they will learn about the importance of the marine environment, survey techniques and basic fish, invertebrate and coral ID.
Anyone requiring more information can obtain it at a special presentation evening on Tuesday, December 17 in the Ferguson Centre from 4.30pm, where Dr Tim Coles OBE (founder of Operation Wallacea) will speak about the expedition in more depth.
Those unable to make the presentation can email Ian Richardson at IRichardson@rydalpenrhos.com for more information.
