Picture this: you’re snorkeling through clear blue water, taking in the beauty of the dozens of multicolored fish that swim by you as you go along.
Now, you’re on an island turned 400 years back in time, where only a few people are allowed each year, seeing species you’ve never seen before.
Now, you’re walking along a beach filled to the brim with sea glass, picking up your favorite pieces along the way while entranced by the unique beauty of each ancient stone.
Welcome to Bermuda. Wait, hang on, you’re not there yet.
First off, can I go?
If you’ve taken Marine Biology I or AP Environmental Science in previous school years, congratulations! You’re automatically eligible to go on the trip. Otherwise, talk to your counselor about switching classes around or plan ahead if you want to take the trip next year. Most of the first half of the year will revolve around sorting out payment, while the second half will be a collection of classes designed to teach you about the history, culture, ecology, and geology of Bermuda.
This is also the time when you will receive your journal, your new best friend and worst enemy for the entire trip. Don’t know what type of fish you’re looking at? Journal’s got you covered. Exhausted and unable to think after a long day in the field? Whoops, you missed one of your two daily journal entries, time to scribble down today’s thoughts or risk doing three entries the next day. Your journal is also a convenient spot to plan out your end of trip project, where you’ll be discussing something you studied while on the island.
What do I bring with me?
You’ll be allowed to bring one checked bag and one carry-on for your flight, so plan accordingly to pack all you need for the six nights you’ll spend in Bermuda. Make sure to keep all you need for Day 1 in your carry-
on bag, because you’ll be up and moving the entire time from the second the plane touches down. The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) where you’ll be staying has delicious meals covered by your expenses, so don’t worry about loading your bag with emergency rations. The chef, Mukesh, is so unbelievably good you won’t even feel bad as you pass by the many restaurants in Hamilton (though you’re still able to go to them while shopping on your final day.)
Other important, yet easily forgotten, items to bring include a sweatshirt (Bermuda waters can be freezing if you’re a stick figure like me) first aid supplies (everyone gets hit with something) and laundry tablets (you can do
laundry on-site!) If necessary, you’ll also be able to pick up things you need while you’re there, not to mention high-quality Cadbury chocolates, at one of the many convenience stores in Bermuda.
Any final advice?
Overall, the trip was one of my favorite things I got to do last year. It was also a lot of work, and a lot of physical exercise I wasn’t prepared for. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have fun; in fact being exhausted was when I was having the most fun. Bermuda is once-in-a- lifetime experiences one after another, and to some that can be a bit overwhelming. But with a willingness to try and a mindset based around having the most fun you can while there, you’ll be as laid back as any Bermudian while you enjoy your trip. So dust off your snorkel gear, pick up your brochure, and get excited for the trip of a lifetime this May. I can already hear the plane in the distance…
