Words by Mrs. Colleen McCormick, Science Department Chair, 7th and 8th Grade Science Instructor
Colleen McCormick is the Middle Division Science Teacher and Department Chair. She works with Ms. Sheri Mahoney to put together amazing trips for the Academy students to use their knowledge and love of science in the world around them. Her favorite places that she has travelled are the Amazon, the Galapagos, and Alaska. Mrs. McCormick says that the best thing about traveling with students is seeing the joy in their eyes as they experience the wonder of the world.
When you say the word “amazon,” the mind conjures up images of wild animals, vast bodies of water, and remote indigenous people. These were my images prior to my journey with Amazonia Expeditions seven years ago.
On my first trip to Peru, I travelled solo. I was a confident traveler, excited for the adventure, but the images of the word “amazon” kept peeking into my brain. Would I be able to navigate this on my own? Would I wake with creepy crawlies covering my mosquito netting each morning? Could I swim safely in the waters of the Amazon? Despite my travel experience, these questions still haunted me as I boarded the plane.
Leaving Tampa, flying through Lima, and eventually landing in the city of Iquitos, Peru is like travelling through a time warp. The two modern industrialized cities of Tampa and Lima give way to Iquitos; the largest city in the world that is not accessible by road, but only by plane or boat. Cut off from many conveniences by geography, Iquitos is in many ways an island.
After landing and passing through customs, I boarded a boat for a three-hour journey up the Amazon river. What initially started as a massive river gave way to a calm, yet powerful waterway and then branched off onto the Tahuayo; a modest tributary of the upper Amazon River, about 100 miles SSW of Iquitos, Peru. That was the front yard for many of the native people who called “Amazon” home.
The view from the boat windows was one of stilt homes abutting the banks, women cleaning the clothes on the shoreline, and children happily waving as we passed by. As the boat rounded one last bend, the view of the Tahuayo Lodge came into view. This beautiful stilted, wooden lodge would be my home for the next several days.
As I entered, I was greeted with a welcome drink and introduced to my private guide. I was directed to my room with a comfortable bed, mosquito netting, and a modern bathroom.
Over the next week, I was led through three different excursions each day. These included: ziplining in the canopy, fishing for piranha and other local fish, canoeing through flooded forests, swimming while looking for pink dolphins, trips to Terra Firma to find poison dart frogs, cultural visits to the nearby villages, and hikes through a variety of jungle areas in search of amazing wildlife. In between each excursion, was time to relax, enjoy delicious Peruvian meals, and visit with other travelers from around the world.
As my trip came to an end, I remember reflecting on those initial questions and concerns that I had about visiting the Amazon. Would I be able to navigate this on my own? Absolutely, the guides and the staff were so accommodating. I could tailor my trip to the experiences and the exact excursions that I wanted to participate in and the level of challenge that I wanted. Would I wake each morning with creepy crawlies covering my mosquito netting? Absolutely not. Were there bugs? Yes, but no more than we experience here in Florida. The staff maintained an immaculate lodge keeping the area as bug free as possible. Can you safely swim in the waters of the Amazon? Definitely. The guides are from the local villages and know exactly where to swim. The cool waters of the Amazon are a welcome break from the warmth and humidity of the jungle.
Leaving the jungle during this trip and every subsequent one leaves me always wishing I had one more day in Peru. Each visit is a new and equally amazing experience that I have enjoyed sharing with Academy families and students.
If you are on the fence about going on this trip, please come and talk to Sheri Mahoney or myself. We will help you put those fears aside and welcome the adventure of a lifetime.
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The Amazon Expedition is a student and family trip to the Peruvian Rainforest that will take place from Saturday, June 20 – Tuesday, June 30. Students and families will travel to the lodge and research center for a 10-day adventure that includes ziplining through the rainforest canopy, canoeing through flooded forests, hiking, searching for poison dart frogs, swimming with pink dolphins, fishing for piranha, feeding Amazonian manatees, and observing monkeys and other vast variety of wildlife.
An informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6pm in the Middle Division Science Lab. For more information on the trip, or to RSVP for the informational meeting, please email Colleen McCormick at cmccormick@academyatthelakes.org.