Fourteen students traveled to Tanzania to conduct ecological research and explore various African ecosystems. The trip, led by Upper School Science Teachers Ned Heckman and Andrea Bailey lasted from June 14-29.

“It was an educational, memorable and really emotional experience that I will never forget,” junior Greta Sirek said.

Each research group put together a presentation reporting their discoveries in Tanzania, which they shared in the Lecture Room on Sept. 28. The event  was free and open for everyone.

On the trip, students worked in groups of 2-3 people and conducted experiments to answer ecological questions. Local Tanzanian students from Mwera worked with the students as they examined coral reefs, mangrove trees and tide pools.

“It was really cool because they got to work together and the [Tanzanian] students spoke a little bit of English, but they mostly spoke Swahili,” Heckman said.

In addition to the lessons gained through research, students learned about Tanzanian culture and lifestyle when they visited and met the families of the students.

“It was really cool to learn about their culture and lifestyle that was so different from ours,” junior Dina Moradian said. “Shabiri [the student her group worked with] was so excited to show us his village and his family. All of his siblings kept following us around and looking at us funny.”

Along with their research activities, the group took part in recreational activities like snorkeling and safari and were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of African giraffes, elephants, baboons, zebras, and a leopard.

They could hear lions from the tents where they camped: “We could hear them roaring all night. It was spooky but cool,” Heckman said.

“We became a weird little family; that was the essence of the trip,” Heckman said.