This summer, we have been thrilled to offer Ecoventura passengers on select family teen departures a cultural exchange and scientific project with local students from the Galapagos Islands through our partnership with Ecology Project International (EPI).
July 14th excursion with EPI and Ecoventura passengers at the Pájaro Brujo Reserve (Santa Rosa)
The mission of Ecology Project International (EPI) is to improve and inspire science education and conservation efforts worldwide through field-based student-scientist partnerships. We are proud to be the first tour operator in the Galapagos to incorporate an added activity with the EPI students into our itinerary.
Families on board Ecoventura first class yachts Eric or Letty visited the EPI field camps in the Galapagos three times this summer on July 14th, July 28th, and August 11th. This season the EPI program took place in two different locations of Santa Cruz Island: Pájaro Brujo Reserve (Santa Rosa) and Highland View (Cascajo Town). Our first two groups (July 14th and July 28th) visited the Pájaro Brujo Reserve and the last group visited Highland View (August 11th).
During these excursions, Ecoventura passengers were able to learn about the work EPI does with local students and the support that Ecoventura provides as part of our partnership. These groups have been able to explore the reserve, visit the green house area, and observe the seed identification activity. Our young passengers also had the opportunity to work directly with the local students!
Below are some group photos during these unique excursions.
July 28th excursion at the Pájaro Brujo Reserve (Santa Rosa)
August 11th excursion at Highland View (Cascajo Town)
August 11th excursion at Highland View (Cascajo Town)
August 11th excursion at Highland View (Cascajo Town)
August 11th excursion at Highland View (Cascajo Town)
As previously noted, these excursions offer an exclusive opportunity to engage teens in scientific projects with local students, and is an excursion not currently offered on other cruises in the Galapagos. We only offered three departures during the summer months this year (July-August) and plan to open three additional excursions back up in July of 2017 on our family teen departures.
We urge passengers to book family EPI trips now for summer 2017, as these tend to sell out quicker than other summer family teen departure dates.
