During the final week of the school year, BASIS Independent Brooklyn students have time set aside for Project Days, a period when they have a unique platform for collaborative, multidisciplinary projects and engaging activities or trips without the stress of exams or assessments. Students are grouped with dedicated teachers who guide and facilitate their learning throughout the week. This year, we hosted two different international trips for Middle School and two for High School during Project Week, and today we wanted to showcase the Middle School Galapagos trip led by Mr. Chen, along with Ms. Garcia, Ms. Repetto, and Mr. Syetta.
Day 1: After a long and eventful day of travel, the group arrived safely in Ecuador. They met their fantastic tour director, who took them out to explore the vibrant city of Quito, which is home to the Intiñan Equator Museum. Photo opportunities on the equator were a great way to start the trip, and our travelers even sent a special Father’s Day message home to their families.
Mr. Chen reported to families that they are not just learning about the culture and environment, but also about how to adapt to new ways of doing things. For example, they learned not to drink tap water or even use it for brushing teeth, and they were told to dispose of toilet paper in bins instead of flushing it. These little adjustments were all part of the adventure!
Day 2: The group traveled 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.
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: Mr. Chen shared a lovely recap of the trip to families at this point in the trip:
“What an unforgettable experience it has been to date. The students are exhausted in the best way possible—physically from the roller-coaster speedboat rides (two hours each way!) and the scenic treks (over one hour each way to Tortuga Bay Beach), and emotionally from the sheer amazement of everything they’ve seen.”
“Imagine this: enormous sea turtles gliding so close you can feel their gentle presence, colorful parrotfish darting all around, sea lions playfully blocking our paths, marine iguanas sunbathing like they own the place, the famous blue-footed boobies showing off their vibrant feet—and of course, the awe-inspiring giant tortoises roaming peacefully on land, reminding us of the timeless beauty of this ecosystem. It’s the kind of adventure that’s hard to describe in words—you truly have to live it!”
“I’m beyond proud of our young travelers. We’ve crossed paths with many high school groups on this trip, and our students have shared how lucky they feel to experience this unique destination at their age. They’ve pushed their limits and achieved incredible feats, like the day we all walked over 26,000 steps! They’ve also connected deeply with nature and each other, creating memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.”
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. Then they headed to the airport for their flight back to JFK.
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