with the
owners who moved their vehicles.Hopkinton Goes to the Galapagos
by Gita Dandekar
February 14, 2014 — This February vacation, a group
of students and teachers from Hopkinton High School
are traveling to the Galapagos Islands to explore
the island’s unique wildlife features as well as
learn about its culture.
The group from Hopkinton will be traveling
with a group of students from the neighboring town
of Westborough MA, as well as a group of students
from the town of Dover-Sherborn MA.
“I met the other teachers [of Westborough and
Dover-Sherborn schools] last year at a student
leadership summit in Costa Rica,” said trip advisor
and HHS science teacher Charlotte Shire, “we became
friendly and decided to plan this Galapagos trip
together,” she said.
The trip is set to last eight days. For the
first few days, the group is staying in the city of
Quito, Ecuador where they will learn more about the
region. Then they will travel to the Galapagos
Islands, where they will stay for the next three
days. Finally, the group returns to Quito where they
will participate in a leadership summit, and they
will be discussing pressing environmental issues and
possible solutions.
“I am currently taking a research course and
studying ecotourism in the Galapagos, which gives me
a purpose to look at the country of Ecuador in a
more political/economic perspective,” says HHS
senior Renna Bushko, who is preparing herself for
the trip, “I find it fascinating that there is a
clear evidence showing the evolution of finches on
the island and that we are going to the place where
Darwin noticed it.”
Even
though this trip is partly educational, many HHS
members are looking forward to learning about such a
unique place.
“I feel like the purpose of being in the
Galapagos is to learn about the animal life and to
see Darwin’s research facilities as well. We are
going to his museum to learn about his studies,”
continued Bushko.
“The Galapagos Islands are so unique because
they are not connected to the mainland so all the
animals had to have gotten here through swimming or
a land raft. A lot of the wildlife we see is only
found on this island,” said Shire.
“I am most excited to see all the animals,”
stated HHS senior Lauren Armstrong. “I have always
been an animal lover and I hope to get a true taste
of the diversity of animals on this island.”
As an enriching, once-in-a-lifetime,
educational experience, the Galapagos trip is truly
different from any other.
“In past trips with just my family, the
purpose was to explore and enjoy ourselves but this
is different. I have never been to South America, or
on a school trip with my friends, so the experience
is going to be unforgettable,” included Armstrong.
February
14, 2014, Hopkinton, MA -- In the first 3 months of
the “1000 Homes for Hopkinton Library” Challenge, over
120 families, individuals, businesses and local groups
have pledged or given $1,000 or more to the Hopkinton
Public Library Foundation for the renovation and
expansion of Hopkinton Public Library. The combined
effort of these community leaders totals over $250,000!
