Haileybury pupils embark on rainforest conservation expedition
Added to website: 02 September 2006
Published in the Haileybury Hearts and Wings magazine, summer term edition.
Twelve Haileybury Sixth Formers are embarking on a five-week rainforest conservation expedition to the Philippines during the Summer holidays, during which they will be helping to gather quantitative data on the bio-diversity of the fauna and flora of the region.
From left: Some of the pupils who will experience the jungle this summer include Louise Kimpton, Elissa Davies, Katherine Polley, Cheryl Loughton (project leader), Jessica Curnock Cook, Sophie Baird and Harriet Hewitt.
The trip is being undertaken in collaboration with Coral Cay Conservation, an international conservation organisation which helps protect threatened coral reefs and tropical forests.
Dr Cheryl Loughton, Haileybury’s Head of Biology and the leader of the trip, says this is the first time a school has been involved in a trip like this to the North Negros Forest Reserve.
“Depending on its success, I hope to make this an annual event for our Sixth Formers: that way we can truly support Coral Cay Conservation and ‘see’ the direct impact that Haileybury has had,” she adds.
During their stay, the pupils will live as part of the local community - with access to the same facilities, and using the same resources.
Coral Cay Conservation’s Managing Director, Richard Surma, says Haileybury’s commitment to make a lasting annual contribution to rainforest conservation by “getting out and doing it” really impressed him.
“Many people theorise, but only a few actually get out to the coal face to make things better,” he adds.
“I hope the expedition will enable the pupils to see first-hand how community interaction and education can have a real part to play in environmental protection and conservation. In addition, it will also give them the opportunity to see some truly breath-taking scenery and to meet some of the warmest people on the planet who - at least by our standards - live very poorly but love their life. It is very humbling.”
One of the students who is going on the trip, Harriet Hewitt, says she jumped at the chance to go to the Philippines as soon as she heard about it.
“The idea of trekking through a jungle, not purely for fun, but for reasons which will help not only the local ecology but also the community, was more than appealing to me. I by no means chose to go simply because I study Biology at school, but because conservation work has always interested me. I plan to take a gap year based largely on conservation work, and to get some experience in a year or two early seemed an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
“All I can hope is that this month’s worth of conservation work will not deter me from my main ambitions in life but will spur me on to go and help our ecology worldwide!”
Mr Surma says that conservation is about people, time and energy. “It’s an ongoing process and I think it is best served by having a firm relationship in place with interested partners like Haileybury to make sure the right goals are achieved. I would like to see Haileybury come back every year and grow their own commitment with us instead of inviting others in their place.
“People who believe they can make a difference invariably do make a difference. I have no doubt that this is true about Dr Loughton and her group and it is something they should be very proud of,” he says.
The trip will also serve as a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and, in the future, may provide material for Extended Essays for the International Baccalaureate pupils.
The pupils going on the trip include Chris Petrovic, Pantellis Pericleous, Katherine Polley, Jessica Curnock Cook, Louise Kimpton, Kate Sullivan, Elissa Davies, Sophie Baird, Victoria Chase, Harriet Hewitt, Alexandra Marsh and Isabel Wustrow.
About Haileybury
Haileybury is a co-educational boarding school, situated 20 miles north of London and 30 miles south of Cambridge in rural Hertfordshire. Set in spacious grounds and enjoying unrivalled facilities, Haileybury combines traditional values with a progressive outlook, aiming to provide the very best all-round education. Renowned for community spirit and vibrant atmosphere, Haileybury was recently described by the Sunday Telegraph as ‘one of the brightest lights in the Independent Sector’.
For more information, contact:
Dr Cheryl Loughton
Tel: 01992-706-265
Email: c.loughton@haileybury.com
Released by:
Val Proctor
Press and Communications Officer
Tel: 01992-706-295
Email: v.proctor@haileybury.com
About Coral Cay Conservation
Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) is a non-profit organisation at the cutting edge of ecotourism. We send teams of volunteers to survey some of the world’s most endangered coral reefs and tropical forests. Our mission is to protect these crucial environments by working closely with host countries and the local communities who depend on them for food and livelihood. Anyone can be a CCC volunteer. Anyone can help make the difference.
For further information on Coral Cay Conservation please visit www.coralcay.org or contact Ms. Laura Timms (PR and Communications Manager) via e-mail at lt@coralcay.org or telephone on +44 (0)807 750 0668.
