During the final week of the academic year, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley celebrates Term Project Week, an enriching experience for students across all grade levels. This week provides a unique platform for collaborative, multidisciplinary projects, and engaging activities or trips. Students are grouped with dedicated teachers who guide and facilitate their learning throughout the week. 

Each year, we offer a diverse range of project options, continually seeking to expand our offerings based on the interests and input of both our faculty and students. These projects challenge our students to be cooperative learners and to function as a team. This Term Project Trip was to the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands located west of South America. 

Day 1: Students and their chaperones departed from SFO to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival at the airport in Quito, students were met by their course leader and headed to their hotel. Once at the hotel, they were formally welcomed by their course leader and given an overview of the key concepts they would learn and the sites they would visit throughout the program. 

Day 2: The group traveled from Quito to Santa Cruz Island, the second largest in the Galapagos archipelago. Their adventure began with an exploration into the misty highlands, where they encountered a diverse array of ecological communities.

During their highland expedition, they paused at a ranch and witnessed giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Later in the day, they explored lava tunnels, where they learned about volcanic landforms and tectonic plate dynamics. Their day culminated with a visit to the Darwin Research Center, where they deepened their understanding of the islands’ climate, geography, and ecology.

Day 3: Students explored Isabela Island, focusing on its estuaries and endemic mangroves in the Wetlands. Their first stop was Playa de Amor, where they observed flamingos and gained insights into Darwin’s finches. Following this, they visited the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, dedicated to safeguarding the species throughout its life cycle. There, they conducted species differentiation studies and engaged in ecological relationship activities with their host.

The day concluded with a memorable snorkeling experience at Concha Perla, an underwater haven teeming with fish, sea lions, and the Galapagos penguin, providing an ideal snorkeling opportunity.

Day 4: The students went on an immersive excursion to explore the Sierra Negra Volcano area. They hiked along the six-mile crater rim, where they closely viewed lava fields and fumaroles. As they explored the area, their guide educated them on the distinctive ecological terrain and how to identify various types of volcanic rock.

Following their exploration, the group headed to Las Tintoreras where they enjoyed some time in the water and snorkeled. To end the day, some students engaged in a friendly game of basketball with local residents. 

Day 5: Students explored Isabela Island, where they came face to face with some of the Galapagos’ most intriguing residents, such as marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, lightfoot crabs, green sea turtles, and resting whitetip reef sharks. After exploring Isabela Island and its wildlife, they returned to back to Balta on Santa Cruz Island by boat. 

Day 6: The students flew back to Quito from Santa Cruz Island and made a memorable stop at the Mitad del Mundo, which translates to “The Middle of the World.” Here, they stood precisely on the equator at zero degrees latitude, engaging in interactive exhibits that illuminated the distinctive scientific aspects of this unique location. After visiting the Mitad del Mundo, the group headed by bus to the neighboring city of Otavalo, Ecuador. 

Day 7: On their last full day, the group had a busy day in Otavalo, Ecuador. They explored a lively open market in the morning and then visited Cuicocha Volcanic Lake and Peguche Waterfall. Lunch was at a unique Pachamanca ceremony, where they helped cook food underground. They squeezed in a game of soccer before dinner and then headed to the airport for their flight back to SFO.