Barry pupils' Amazon rainforest adventure (From Barry And District News)

Barry pupils' Amazon rainforest adventure

12:40pm Monday 9th March 2009 in News

BRYN Hafren Comprehensive school recently took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to help save the earth! Over February half term, a group of sixth formers aged 16 and 17 journeyed to the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador to work on reforestation projects as part of a volunteer programme.

The work was tough, especially in the intense heat and massive downpours of rain the Amazon region experiences regularly throughout the day.

Their project leader was incredibly impressed with the amount of effort the seven girls and their teachers put in.

They managed to cut and complete a disabled access footpath as well as re-plant a significant number of high canopy trees.

The team were based at Huasqulia lodge on the border of the Amazon jungle for most of the ten days there, but they did find some time to relax.

They visited the equator site where they experimented with the changing forces of gravity, as well as rafting on one of the main tributary rivers to the Amazon itself.

The trip was a huge adventure for all concerned. Experiencing the very different culture of South America was challenging in itself without all the sights and sounds of the jungle to contend with – there were plenty of creepy crawlies to keep the whole team alert!

Pupils were also given the opportunity to meet members of the local Quechuan Indian tribe, learnt how to make jewellery from seeds and plants, and were even ‘cleansed’ by a village Shaman.

The school would like to thank all the people who helped in their fundraising activities to send the pupils to Ecuador.

One member of the team said: "This trip has changed my life – I’ll never look at anything the same again."

Bryn Hafren intends to continue its link in Ecuador by assisting a disadvantaged school in the Quito suburbs.

For more information on this, contact Mrs A Smith at the school.