2022 Island School Preview: Return to The Bahamas

This spring’s trip marks the students’ first trip to the Island School in The Bahamas since 2019 (pictured above). The students will explore marine conservation and biodiversity, all while strengthening the relationships with their peers.

On April 24, the ninth grade class will be going to the Island School to collect data on the projects surrounding Marine Ecology that they developed in Biology class. During this trip, the students will engage in multiple activities with the goals to collect data for their Biology projects. They will also be able to enrich their learning from researchers and educators on the island, and form stronger bonds with their classmates along the way.

“The purpose of this trip is to explore outside the classroom, and to apply the science skills that you're gaining in the classroom and to use them in an outside setting, to learn a bit about the world by going and seeing beyond the classroom.” Emilie Wolf, Chair of the Science Department said.

Over the past few years Browning has been very fortunate to have developed a strong relationship with the Island School according to Ms. Wolf. This partnership began all in thanks to a parent who took initiative and raised the idea of the Island School to the administration.

Ms. Wolf and Dr. Betty Noel (a former science teacher) took a trip to Eleuthera Island to assess if it would be a suitable environment and learning opportunity for the Browning students. During their visit, Ms. Wolf and Dr. Noel realized how perfectly the Island School would relate to the ninth grade Biology curriculum. The Island School also provided team bonding opportunities and fun activities such as scuba diving and rock jumping.

“We met with the founder Chris Maxey, and we really loved the campus, and we really liked the programming they had to offer as it tied in really well with the ninth grade biology curriculum since it has always been a field biology based course,” Ms. Wolf said.

Despite COVID putting a hold on the Island School trip for the past two years, Browning has still strived to keep in touch with the Island School and maintain a strong connection. Recently, Browning has even been able to send students who are interested in the program to study abroad for a semester. As a result, Browning revisited the idea of going back every year and made efforts to keep in touch. As COVID has eased, the opportunity has come to finally return to The Bahamas. 

Beginning in early April the freshman biology classes began preparing their projects that they will collect data on in the Bahamas. From the exciting memories Ms. Wolf articulated of the previous trip the freshmen should be in for an incredible experience connecting them to their environment and looking forward  to creating lifelong memories.