An Ecuadorian Adventure
By Laura Lamont ’16
On the night of March 11, the Ecuador/Galapagos Service Project group headed to the airport for the trip of our lives. Nearly 8 hours on a plane altogether plus a 3 hour layover in Miami was a long journey and yet, there was an air of excitement and anticipation that’s hard to compare.
We started off our trip with a tour of Quito, Ecuador, exploring the local culture, tasting chocolate and ice cream, and learning about Ecuadorian history. After a few days of settling into the country and the altitude, we travelled further up to the Andean mountain range and stayed with Casa Condor, an Aboriginal community near the base of Mount Chimborazo.
Casa Condor treated us to fresh (if thin) air and fresh food. We spent three days working with the locals to better the surrounding environment. We planted trees and created sheep paths, played with dogs and trekked up a seemingly never-ending hill. Perhaps the most thrilling part was our hike up Black Rock. Though clouds covered most of the view, it was still exhilarating and beautiful, and though it was exhausting we all went down the mountain feeling very fulfilled.
On day eight we travelled back to Quito, a long bus journey down through the clouds taking us back to the airport. Four hours later we landed on Baltra Island, where we took a short boat ride to the more populated Island of Santa Cruz. Here we toured the Charles Darwin Research Centre and explored a Galápagos Tortoise sanctuary. The next day we took a 2 hour boat ride to San Cristóbal Island, where the service began.
We went to Hacienda Tranquila, located in a small farming community. Here we re-painted their community centre, ran activities for local school children, and helped control invasive species. We also had an incredible opportunity to go snorkelling on Kicker Rock, a famous spot in the Galápagos where we saw rare, incredible species of animals such as Blue Footed Boobies, Galapagos sharks, Eagle Rays and sea turtles. It was an incredible experience to spend this time in this unique place. It was a one of a kind experience and one we would all definitely recommend.
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Lakefield College School is a private, coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades 9 through 12, located in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada.
We respectfully acknowledge that Lakefield College School is located on the Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations. Lakefield College School respectfully acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.
We respectfully acknowledge that Lakefield College School is located on the Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations. Lakefield College School respectfully acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.
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