Today on the first day we rode up on the bus with Mr. Fulk and Sid Negus. We left early and got to the church where we are staying earlier then the train group. It was a struggle to find a parking spot and from there Sid, Mr. Fulk, Charlie, and I carried all of the bags upstairs. Since we were first we got to choose where we put our beds and get comfortable. We were informed that we would be going to the zoo, so we were excited. The zoo was fun, but it was very hot and Joe bought a vest! We saw cheetahs, lions, and anacondas to name a few.
After the zoo, we ate dinner at California Tortilla. After dinner Mr. Fulk took a squadron of kids to the super market to carry all the food so he didn’t have to. While there we also purchased some candy. We trudged on back to the metro and walked back to the church. We then reflected on service, and what it means to serve. A good point made during the reflection, was that while serving that some people may feel selfish but there is a difference between feeling good while serving and serving to feel good. We plan to walk to the White House in a few minutes.
The Cougars trekking to the zoo!
Grace and Caroline learning about the mysterious DC Metro.
Today on the first day we rode up on the bus with Mr. Fulk and Sid Negus. We left early and got to the church where we are staying earlier then the train group. It was a struggle to find a parking spot and from there Sid, Mr. Fulk, Charlie, and I carried all of the bags upstairs. Since we were first we got to choose where we put our beds and get comfortable. We were informed that we would be going to the zoo, so we were excited. The zoo was fun, but it was very hot and Joe bought a vest! We saw cheetahs, lions, and anacondas to name a few.
After the zoo, we ate dinner at California Tortilla. After dinner Mr. Fulk took a squadron of kids to the super market to carry all the food so he didn’t have to. While there we also purchased some candy. We trudged on back to the metro and walked back to the church. We then reflected on service, and what it means to serve. A good point made during the reflection, was that while serving that some people may feel selfish but there is a difference between feeling good while serving and serving to feel good. We plan to walk to the White House in a few minutes.
The Cougars trekking to the zoo!
Grace and Caroline learning about the mysterious DC Metro.
The first time I heard about this amazing opportunity, I was sitting in Oates Theater with some of my friends. The video showcasing the international trips that Collegiate offered began to play. The trips to Spain, France, and Italy; all ones that did not catch my attention, began playing. This year being my second year in high school meant that I had already seen this video. I began to avert my attention to something else when a new trip began playing. It was a unique trip offered only one year to go to Namibia and study cheetahs. At the time, I was excited; knowing that I could have an opportunity to go on this trip. I went home, did some research, and presented the trip to my parents. Surprisingly, both of my parents agreed on allowing me to go on the trip. I received the application and filled it out. Several days later, I was thrilled to find that I was one of the five students going on the trip. I was just as excited as a child finding out they are going to Disney World. Then I quickly began to prepare for the trip.
Since my realization that I was going on the trip, I have completed an extensive course; learning the history and culture of Namibia. This course used both videos and articles to teach us the income gap that Namibia faces (one of the largest in the world), the horrible Namibian genocide during the early 1900s, and the information on the Cheetah Conservation Fund; a group that we will get to know very well as we spend several days with them during our trip. In Namibia we will spend several days with the Himba tribe; learning their culture. From their, we will travel to Etosha National Park to explore the big game. Then, we will finish our journey at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in which we will study cheetah DNA, collect cheetah scant to study, and observe the cheetah's in their habitat. I am very excited to be going on this trip and I can not wait to share my story.
The first time I heard about this amazing opportunity, I was sitting in Oates Theater with some of my friends. The video showcasing the international trips that Collegiate offered began to play. The trips to Spain, France, and Italy; all ones that did not catch my attention, began playing. This year being my second year in high school meant that I had already seen this video. I began to avert my attention to something else when a new trip began playing. It was a unique trip offered only one year to go to Namibia and study cheetahs. At the time, I was excited; knowing that I could have an opportunity to go on this trip. I went home, did some research, and presented the trip to my parents. Surprisingly, both of my parents agreed on allowing me to go on the trip. I received the application and filled it out. Several days later, I was thrilled to find that I was one of the five students going on the trip. I was just as excited as a child finding out they are going to Disney World. Then I quickly began to prepare for the trip.
Since my realization that I was going on the trip, I have completed an extensive course; learning the history and culture of Namibia. This course used both videos and articles to teach us the income gap that Namibia faces (one of the largest in the world), the horrible Namibian genocide during the early 1900s, and the information on the Cheetah Conservation Fund; a group that we will get to know very well as we spend several days with them during our trip. In Namibia we will spend several days with the Himba tribe; learning their culture. From their, we will travel to Etosha National Park to explore the big game. Then, we will finish our journey at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in which we will study cheetah DNA, collect cheetah scant to study, and observe the cheetah's in their habitat. I am very excited to be going on this trip and I can not wait to share my story.
Beginning Sunday, June 8, 12 students will be traveling to Nicaragua. The purpose of the trip is to gain an understanding of the world around us. We will work with an organization called Los Quinchos. Collegiate students will work along side the boys and girls of the organization to gain a new perspective and to learn from one another. Please check back to see what we’re up to.
This year we have the most students participating in the YSOP trip than in recent memory. We are excited to be embarking on this adventure on Sunday (6/7) morning. Please check back in throughout the week to see the Cougars' progress!
Students:
Caitlin Allocca
Charlie Bugg
Brad Cornell
Kieran Cottrell
Katie Fleming
Hayden Gee
Caroline Hall
Spencer Lyons
Anna Catherine Martin
Connor McGloin
Maya Mehta
Kenya Minor
Ashray Namala
Sidney Negus
Annie Ryan
Polly Sommers
Helen Stoever
Grace Stratford
Joe White
Colson Williams
Chaperones:
Karen Albright
Aaron Fulk
Helen Markiewicz
Allison Seay
This year we have the most students participating in the YSOP trip than in recent memory. We are excited to be embarking on this adventure on Sunday (6/7) morning. Please check back in throughout the week to see the Cougars' progress!
Students:
Caitlin Allocca
Charlie Bugg
Brad Cornell
Kieran Cottrell
Katie Fleming
Hayden Gee
Caroline Hall
Spencer Lyons
Anna Catherine Martin
Connor McGloin
Maya Mehta
Kenya Minor
Ashray Namala
Sidney Negus
Annie Ryan
Polly Sommers
Helen Stoever
Grace Stratford
Joe White
Colson Williams
Chaperones:
Karen Albright
Aaron Fulk
Helen Markiewicz
Allison Seay
First of all, I am extremely grateful to have been given this amazing opportunity to go on Collegiate's international trip to Namibia. I look forward to every aspect of this trip, whether that be researching cheetahs, proposing conservation strategies, working with the Himba tribe, or forming relationships with other students. Because of the fact that we have been enrolled and actively participating in an online class called "Sustainable Conservation: Cheetah conservation 101" since January, we have been able to familiarize ourselves with the both the country of Namibia and the group with which we will be traveling. Homework assignments varied between articles, speeches, and videos, each with follow up questions to reflect upon what we had just learned. Additionally, there were numerous early-morning video chats with the entire group where we discussed new information and proposed solutions to current issues in Namibia. The online class was an overall success because we now have a better understanding of where we are going, who we will be with, and what Namibia has gone through as a country. I am so excited to travel to Namibia on this research trip, and can not even begin to imagine how incredible of an experience it is going to be!
Collegiate will join the Global Education Benchmark Group in their expedition to Namibia this summer. Collegiate will embark on this adventure with students from Hotchkiss, Cape Henry, Wilbraham & Monson, Head-Royce, and Hathaway Brown. There will be 25 students total that will spend 15 days in southern Africa and traveling all over the country of Namibia. The main focus of this expedition is to study the techniques implemented by the Cheetah Conservation Fund to conserve the delicate cheetah population in Namibia from extinction. The students will focus their research on topics of their choice ranging from DNA and genetics, tracking of kills, tracking of feces, health and reproduction, and behavioral and social interactions. The students have been preparing for this experience since January, 2015 by exploring (through an on-line course) the socio-politco-economic structure of Namibia and the history of the country and it's peoples. Upon returning from Namibia, the students will spend additional time in the classroom collating their data, writing up their results and experiences, and creating presentations for faculty and administrative teams at Collegiate. This blog will be turned over to the students at this point so that they can convey their experiences and their thoughts as they venture to the southern tip of Africa and explore the habitat of the Cheetah.
