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Galapagos Adventure: BASIS Independent Manhattan Students Explore Ecuador

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As our BASIS Independent Manhattan students settle into the new school year, we’re taking a look back at one of the most incredible experiences of their summer: the Project Week trip to the Galapagos Islands.

During the final week of the school year, BASIS Independent Manhattan and BASIS Independent Brooklyn students had time set aside for Project Days, a period when they can collaborate on multidisciplinary projects and engaging activities or trips without the stress of exams or assessments. This year, we hosted two international trips for Middle School and two for High School during Project Week. Relive the unique travels through their seven-day itinerary, as shared by their BASIS Independent Schools teacher chaperones!

Day 1: Arrival in Quito, Exploring the Equator

BASIS Independent Manhattan students posing at the Intiñan Equator Museum in Quito, Ecuador

After a long and eventful day of travel, the group arrived safely in Ecuador. They met their tour director, who took them to explore the city of Quito and the Intiñan Equator Museum. Photo opportunities on the equator were a great way to start the trip, and students even sent a special Father’s Day message home. Mr. Chen reported that they were not just learning about the culture and environment, but also about how to adapt to new ways of doing things, like not drinking tap water and disposing of toilet paper in bins. These adjustments were all part of the adventure.

Standing in the middle of the world, BASIS Independent Manhattan middle school students arrived at the equator.

Day 2: Encountering Giant Tortoises and Lava Tunnels on Santa Cruz Island

The group traveled to Santa Cruz Island, the second-largest in the Galapagos. Their adventure began with an exploration of the misty highlands, where they saw a diverse range of ecological communities. They paused at a ranch to witness giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Later, they explored lava tunnels, learning about volcanic landforms and tectonic plate dynamics. The day ended with a visit to the Darwin Research Center, where they deepened their understanding of the islands’ climate, geography, and ecology.

The giant tortoise on Santa Cruz Island made the BASIS Independent Manhattan students stare and marvel at their greatness.

Day 3: Snorkeling with Sea Lions and Penguins on Isabela Island

Students explored Isabela Island, focusing on its wetlands and mangroves. Their first stop was Playa de Amor, where they observed flamingos and learned about Darwin’s finches. Next, they visited the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, dedicated to safeguarding the species. There, they conducted species differentiation studies and engaged in ecological relationship activities. The day concluded with a snorkeling experience at Concha Perla, where they swam among fish, sea lions, and even the Galapagos penguin.

Sea lions posing for photos on the dock.

Day 4: Hiking the Sierra Negra Volcano

The students went on an immersive excursion to explore the Sierra Negra Volcano area. They hiked along the six-mile crater rim, viewing lava fields and fumaroles up close. Their guide educated them on the unique ecological terrain and how to identify various types of volcanic rock. Following the exploration, the group headed to Las Tintoreras to enjoy some time in the water and snorkel.

Day 5: Face-to-Face with Unique Wildlife

The students got up close with Galapagos penguins on Isabela Island.

Students spent the day on Isabela Island, where they came face-to-face with some of the Galapagos’ most intriguing residents, including marine iguanas, penguins, lightfoot crabs, green sea turtles, and resting whitetip reef sharks. After exploring the island and its wildlife, they returned to Balta on Santa Cruz Island by boat.

Day 6: Unforgettable Memories

Mr. Chen shared a lovely recap with families at this point in the trip. He noted that the students were exhausted “in the best way possible” from the speedboat rides and scenic treks. He described the “sheer amazement” of seeing enormous sea turtles, colorful parrotfish, playful sea lions, and the famous blue-footed boobies. He also expressed pride in the young travelers, who pushed their limits by walking over 26,000 steps in one day and connected deeply with nature and each other.

Hiking through volcanic rock and giving thumbs ups and smiles.

Day 7: A Taste of Otavalo and the Journey Home

On their last full day, the group had a busy day in Otavalo, Ecuador. They explored a lively open market in the morning before visiting Cuicocha Volcanic Lake and Peguche Waterfall. For lunch, they experienced a unique Pachamanca ceremony, helping to cook food underground. Afterward, they headed to the airport for their flight back to JFK.

Want to learn more about Project Week at BASIS Independent Manhattan? Join our Interest List to hear about all of our upcoming events and opportunities!

Beyond the Classroom: BASIS Independent Manhattan’s Project Week in NYC

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At BASIS Independent Manhattan, we believe that education extends beyond advanced academics. Our commitment to fostering well-rounded, engaged, and globally-minded individuals is exemplified through unique and impactful initiatives like Project Week, which range from domestic and international trips to immersive experiences at school and around NYC.

What is Project Week?

A BASIS Curriculum Schools tradition, this fun week of learning takes place the last week of school. Students have the opportunity to engage in an exciting and new activity, working together with faculty members from various grade levels. Teachers also have the opportunity to show off their skills and interests outside of their normal classroom expertise. The goal of the projects is to challenge students to be cooperative learners and function as a team to work towards an end product. 

This year’s Upper School Project Week for students in grades 6–11, led by our Dean of Students, Ms. Friederike Williams, focused on the vital theme of community service, where their collective work would make a tangible difference across four of New York City’s iconic islands.

“Project Week is a cornerstone of our curriculum,” says Ms. Williams. “It’s where our students actively apply their learning in real-world contexts and have an opportunity to collaborate across grade levels toward a mutual goal.”

After a successful week of hands-on activities, we are pleased to share the details of how these students connected with their city, transformed some of nature’s spaces, and had fun while exploring the beauty and significance of our local environment.

Making a Difference, One Island at a Time

Roosevelt Island: Cultivating Green Spaces & Community

Our Wildcats kicked off the week by partnering with the non-profit organization iDig2Learn at Coler Hospital. They painted benches, prepared arboretum plaques, and revitalized gardens by removing invasive species and planting new flowers. Beyond the physical transformation, students gained a powerful understanding of how local organizations like iDig2Learn empower communities and the lasting impact of nurturing urban green spaces.

Manhattan: Local Stewardship in Chelsea

Back in our own neighborhood, students felt as a sense of ownership and pride by cleaning up litter in the local area of Chelsea. Their dedication quickly caught the attention of local residents, who offered words of encouragement and appreciation, underscoring the students’ emerging role as active and responsible citizens within their own community. This hands-on service was balanced with opportunities for connection and recreation in nearby parks, reinforcing the vital link between community service and enjoying one’s community.

Governors Island: Unearthing History & Protecting Nature

Even under typical New York skies, our students enthusiastically explored Governors Island, unlocking layers of the city’s rich past. With energy and curiosity, they began with an insightful historical tour of significant landmarks like Fort Jay and Castle Williams. In the afternoon, students engaged in environmental stewardship by collecting litter and then enjoyed some well-deserved free time, showcasing their camaraderie and teamwork through spontaneous games and exploration. A visit to the Urban Farm, guided by Earth Matter experts, provided practical insights into composting and its crucial role in fostering sustainable environmental practices.

Coney Island: Ocean Conservation & Coastal Cleanup

Our students enjoyed more than just a day at the beach! A highlight was the unique opportunity to meet with a curator from the New York Aquarium, learning about the importance of ocean conservation and the impact of pollution on our local beaches. This engaging presentation reinforced their understanding of critical environmental issues.

Following the talk, they participated in a brief beach cleanup and then enjoyed classic Coney Island activities, from volleyball to simply enjoying the ocean breeze. This final day perfectly blended environmental awareness, community engagement, and the joy of shared experiences.

The Transformative Impact of Project Week

Project Week at BASIS Independent Manhattan is more than just a series of activities; it’s an embodiment of our commitment to providing a transformative educational experience. It’s about fostering critical thinking, promoting collaboration, and nurturing a deep sense of civic responsibility in our students from PreK through grade 12. By actively engaging with their community, our students learn valuable lessons about empathy, leadership, and the power of making a positive impact.

Does an education that extends beyond traditional academics, fostering real-world impact and deep community connection, resonate with your family’s vision? We invite you to explore how BASIS Independent Manhattan‘s unique curriculum empowers students to become thoughtful, knowledgeable, and engaged citizens, ready to make a positive difference in the world.

BASIS Independent Manhattan (PreK–12)

Learn more about our well-rounded curriculum and programs.

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Summer Programs at BASIS Independent Bellevue

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When the days get longer and the sun shines a bit brighter, members of our Mountaineer community begin to plan for the summer months. After the last day of school in June, classes will be out of session until late August; however, BASIS Independent Bellevue’s campus will remain open, and our team will host various summer programs!

Organized by our Auxiliary Department, our campus will be offering exciting opportunities to explore interests, connect with peers, and engage in learning while school is out. Summer sessions are a great time to pursue interests and sharpen skills while creating lasting memories in the process. This year, our summer programs offer engaging experiences designed to meet the interest of our learning community. Whether diving into art, technology, or athletics, there is something for everyone in our summer programs. 

Spending Summer 2025 with BASIS Independent Bellevue 

In summer 2025, programs will run between the weeks of June 24 to August 15. Programming offered includes day camps, academic camps, specialty camps, and even sports. 

Summer programs mean opportunities to engage with friends, try new challenges, and discover interests in an environment that celebrates curiosity. Some might explore dynamic arts programming or delve into an athletic interest in our sports camps like Beginner’s Basketball. Our camps reflect our Mountaineer community’s wide array of interests and help campers get deeper into the topics and activities that fuel their passions with offerings that focus on fashion, chess, archery, sewing, entrepreneurship, engineering, and more. For parents, our diverse offerings not only promise an exciting break but also support academic growth, social development, and the building of life skills. Summer programs at BASIS Independent Bellevue are designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and encourage exploration.

Day camps are a great way for students to engage with versatile programming where they will have fun while learning. In order to meet the interests of our community, the Auxiliary Department has created a schedule of weekly themes to engage students in unique and fun ways. Campers who join our day camps will solve mysteries during The Great Camp Caper, explore everything about space in Calling Mission Control, appreciate the natural world in The Wilds Beyond, or ignite their inner superhero in Earth’s Mightiest Camper. The daily camp schedule includes activities specifically tailored to fit those themes while mixing indoor and outdoor play. Each week will come to an end with a Fun Friday event. Campers can look forward to exciting special guests that relate to the week’s theme. Parents can register their child for multiple weeks to experience all the adventures our campus has to offer!

Camps highlighting the fundamentals of reading and writing also prove popular amongst members of the intellectually aspirational learning community at BASIS Independent Bellevue. For example, our Creative Writing camp is a standout in this year’s summer lineup. Students in this program will explore how to write characters, build an exciting plot, enrich setting, and engage prompts in meaningful, innovative ways. Creative Writing will enable campers to work independently but also in a small group setting so that they can share work and refine key skills that can invigorate their craft. For those looking to dive deeper into language and literary expression, our Poetry Camp also invites students to experiment with form, tone, and performance in a fun, low-pressure space. Whether students are seasoned writers or a lover of reading and writing, our programs offer the tools and encouragement to develop their unique voice, increase fluency, and craft impactful work

Music is another area where our Auxiliary Department has expanded offerings, with several exciting new options. DJ Camp introduces campers to professional remixing software, helping them craft their own mixes while learning about audio editing and beat production. Jazz Camp offers instrumentalists the chance to refine their technique, explore improvisation, and collaborate in ensemble settings. Our new Music & Sound Production Camp goes even deeper, giving students hands-on experience in storytelling and worldbuilding through audio, including sound design and film production.

Across various fields of interest, our summer programs keep our campus community alive and thriving when school is out of session. These programs help students discover new passions and build essential skills. For more details, check out our full summer guide and register today. If you are interested in learning more about our 2025 Summer programs, please check out our program guide, or feel free to reach out to the organizing team at: blv.summercamp@basisindependent.com.  

Beyond the Classroom: Exciting New Outdoor Space Rendering Revealed

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In addition to providing students with a rich academic experience, we recognize that academics and school enrichment activities are integrally connected to one another and are mutually beneficial. Enrichment opportunities not only help meet students’ academic, social, emotional, and physical needs but they also offer a balanced learning experience that provides numerous opportunities for students to develop into whole, responsible, and enthusiastic learners.

Our approach to sports promotes healthy competition and empowers students with the discipline, grit, and persistence to become leaders on and off the court. It is mastery of these skills that has led many of our student athletes to victory in a variety of competitions, large and small.

Students will have access to not only the gymnasium, but also a multi-use outdoor space between the academic building and the gym.

Virtual Campus Tour

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Since our campus is currently an active construction site, we are unable to offer campus tours until Fall 2025. In the meantime, let’s take a virtual tour of the brand-new campus opening in Fall 2025!

The Campus

BASIS Independent Bothell is nestled in the Canyon Park neighborhood in Bothell, WA. It is 123,000 sq. ft. on 6.2 acres to fit all of our Kindergarten – Grade 12 families. This acreage includes a full-sized competition regulation playfield, outdoor sport court, and a brand-new playground!

The Gym

The gymnasium will be fully equipped and will hold up to 600 guests! We expect to host many sporting and large school events in this space.

The Theater

The brand-new theater is a great space for students to express their creativity and put on many different types of performances for an audience.

The Classrooms

Our campus will be equipped with dedicated state-of-the-art laboratories for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, designed for grades 6—12 students. Other classroom types not pictured here will also be brand new and intentionally designed for student and faculty collaboration. 

The Common Areas

While our athletic and outdoor play facilities allow students to move their bodies and burn energy, our common areas provide a safe environment for students to read a book, work on their studies, and collaborate with their peers. 

The Fields

This amazing space will allow for multiple sports to be taking place at the same time, further driving that ability to host and hold many different sporting events. Additionally, it makes for a great space for students to burn off some energy! 

The Playground

The play area will be a great way for our younger grades to enjoy getting outdoors. It’s a very large area that contains three main zones with active spaces in between as well as a track that can be utilized for Movement and PE classes and recess fun.

Thank you for taking this tour with us! To submit an application for Fall 2025, click here.

A Total Eclipse Adventure: Mr. Chris’s Journey to Totality

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Mr. ChrisOur very own 4th Grade Learning Expert Teacher (LET), Mr. Chris, recently embarked on an astronomical adventure! Traveling with his family to Gatesville, Texas, he experienced the awe-inspiring phenomenon of a total solar eclipse and shares it with us here. Mr. Chris’s dedication to this experience reflects his passion for learning and exploration. He brings this same energy to the classroom every day, inspiring his students and colleagues.

A Glimpse Through Mr. Chris’s Lens

A passionate amateur astronomer, Mr. Chris meticulously planned this trip for a year. Witnessing totality for a breathtaking 4 minutes and 15 seconds was an experience he won’t soon forget. While we can’t fully replicate the magic of the moment, Mr. Chris brings his infectious enthusiasm to life through incredible photos and an engaging video. Read on to hear his first-hand account.

This week, a rare celestial event cast a shadow over our part of the world – the awe-inspiring total solar eclipse of 2024! I hope everyone had a chance to safely observe this remarkable phenomenon.

For me, the experience transcended mere observation. I had the incredible fortune of traveling with my family to Gatesville, Texas, where we witnessed totality unfold on a quiet country road, nestled between a cow farm and an army base. Being just outside the direct path, we were still treated to an unforgettable 4 minutes and 15 seconds of complete darkness.

I’m excited to share some photos and a video with you, including some stunning close-ups captured by my dad’s telescope. You’ll see details like Baily’s Beads and the sun’s corona, which the telescope rendered in an almost mythical green hue, although that is not the actual color.

In the video, you might hear us mention seeing solar flares. While scientists haven’t recorded any flares during this eclipse, what we witnessed were actually solar prominences – massive, long-lasting structures on the sun’s surface. The largest one in our photos is a staggering 3.5-4 times the diameter of Earth!

The sudden drop in temperature and the eerie darkness during totality were truly striking. We had planned to observe the cows’ reactions, but once it hit, we were too busy being awestruck! It was an experience filled with pure wonder and excitement.

Sharing this experience isn’t just about how amazing it was, but also about encouraging you to chase your own astronomical adventure. While total eclipses are rare in North America, they occur more frequently elsewhere. Check out this website to explore the next 15 total solar eclipses. If you ever get the chance to witness totality, don’t hesitate! It’s an experience you won’t forget.

Happy stargazing!

You can meet passionate teachers like Mr. Chris at our upcoming Open Houses and admissions events – learn more. He is also hosting a Nature & the City summer program at BASIS Independent Manhattan Lower School – view details and register here.

Fun at the Pumpkin Patch: TK and Kindergarten’s First Field Trip to Lemos Farm

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BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Lower organized its first TK and Kindergarten field trip, taking our youngest learners to Lemos Farm Pumpkin Patch in Half Moon Bay. As it was their first field trip, this outing provided a valuable educational opportunity for our students outside of the classroom where they had the chance to explore, build on friendships, and expand on their experiences. With seventy-eight students, twelve staff members, and eight parent chaperones in tow, the day was packed with exciting adventures.

Upon arrival, everyone split into groups to explore the farm. Students had a variety of options to choose from including a giant slide, a petting zoo, barnyard jump houses, and, of course, picking out their own pumpkin to take home.

After visiting many farm attractions, students reconvened for lunch and then set out again to explore the farm. They built a house out of pumpkins, jumped on hay bales, and enjoyed the playground rocking horses. Our teachers and chaperones did an amazing job ensuring everyone was safe and having a great time.

“Today was all about fun, learning, and making memories. Seeing the kids so happy and engaged made it a fantastic day,” expressed Dean of Students, Mr. Bosley. “It was a great community builder for our youngest scholars and a fun autumn learning opportunity. I am so happy to have shared this experience with such a wonderful group of students.”

After spending quite some time on the playground, our students headed home with pumpkins in tow. It was a day of simple joys, new experiences, and friendships, marking a perfect start to the autumn season for our youngest learners.

Welcoming Our Newest – and Greenest – Neighbor

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Nearly two years ago our Cub Community moved into a brand new Lower School campus, PreK – Grade 2, at 405 Gold Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The campus was deliberately designed to support the growth of our youngest learners. Now we are pleased to share that the Downtown Brooklyn Alliance is in the final stages of building a brand-new park right across the street.

The lovely new 1.15-acre site of outdoor space is nestled between Gold, Willoughby, and Duffield Streets right across the street from our school. Designed by landscape architecture firm Hargreaves Jones, plans include a new playground, lawn space, dog park, ornamental plantings, and multiple seating areas.

The neighboring green space will be a wonderful resource for recess breaks, and families will be able to enjoy a convenient playtime after school.

Rendering of Abolitionist Place by Hargreaves Jones

In the meantime, one of the most popular spaces at the Lower School campus is the Bear’s Den — a huge indoor play space completed with rock climbing walls, areas for soccer games, and a theater. Recess breaks are an important way to break up our school day, and the Bear’s Den paired with trips to nearby Fort Greene Park have been wonderful ways to get the wiggles out for our Cubs.

Our team of staff and educators are watching the progress of the park daily. Now the play structures have been installed, and the trees are being planted. The grand opening for the park is slated for March 2024, and our community will come out in full force to support all those who made it possible.