Galapagos Islands
Currently in the middle of her trip to visit the Galapagos Islands as an inaugural recepient of the Borgmann Inspiration Fund award at Sycamore, teacher Jennifer Hendry says the trip “has been amazing so far and I’m only halfway through.”
Hendry’s project is titled “Community, Culture, and Conservation in the Galapagos Islands” and will include visits to four of the 13 islands in the Galapagos, with opportunities to explore the local culture, wildlife, and conservation efforts.
“The wildlife we have gotten to experience has been jaw-dropping. The local people are so kind and passionate about their islands and protecting their natural resources,” she says. ‘It has been so inspiring to learn about all of the wonders these islands contain. When I tell people about Sycamore and the Borgmann Inspiration Fund, they simply cannot believe what they hear. First, to hear that a school like Sycamore exists to serve the amazing, unique kids that we do. Second, that the school and its community believe so strongly in their teachers that they would create a fund like we have."
"When my students leave my classroom at the end of the year, I want them to view themselves as members of a global community,” says Hendry, who has taught for 11 years at Sycamore. “I want them to recognize that they have a responsibility to care for and support this community. For me, this is an opportunity to explore parts of the world that many people will never see, and bring it back to the classroom to share.”