BENTON COUNTY — Being stuck for 16 hours on a bus with 26 other people, counting cars through the window for entertainment, curling up as tight as possible in the hopes of catching some sleep on the small seats - was it really worth it for just a week at the beach? Absolutely.
Because we did far more than just lie out in the sand during our AP Biology trip to Gulf Shores, Ala.
Of course we DID spend an unbelievable amount of time on the beach, but the rest of the week was spent getting lost in the numerous passageways of historical sites, being amazed by the incredible wildlife that seemed to be everywhere we looked and getting to know each other much better.
We wandered all over historical places like the ship, the U.S.S.
Alabama, and old Fort Morgan, learning the history of the battles and often going in circles through the hatches and barracks.
Deep-sea fishing, one of our many biology-related activities, was a blast. Not only did we catch huge fish after huge fish, but we saw several dolphins swimming along under the front of the boatand leaping out of the water every once in a while. And that was certainly not our only run-in with aquatic wildlife. On nightly hikes along the beach, finding dozens of washed up jellyfish was not uncommon.
We had also planned an airboat tour of the Delta, although most of us were not really expecting it to be anything all that remarkable. But once we got onboard and the boats started up, our breath was practically taken away as the tour guides took off racing over the river. It was definitely one of our favorite experiences, especially once we spotted an entire nest of alligator hatchlings.
Some of the best highlights happened when no one was planning for them. Simply hanging out and spending time getting to truly know one another was an unexpected plus to the trip.
Morning jogs along the beach, late night volleyball competitions at the retreat, and frightening moments of pure freefall on a 110-foot tall amusement ride tend to bring people together. We all have great memories of going out to eat (where we threw rolls at each other), diving straight into huge waves (where we swallowed salt water by the gallons), and having our group picture taken in true mobster fashion at one of those “Old Tyme” photoshops (where many of us suddenly picked up Italian gangster accents).
This trip was absolutely unforgettable. Even now, over a week later, we still have a hard time believing we were actually able to do it. Our school has been incredible for giving our AP Biology class the opportunity to do something as fantastic as this when any other school would not even consider it, not to mention our wonderful community and sponsors who made the financial requirements achievable. Without all of those who helped us along the way, we would not have the amazing experiences and fond memories that we do.
School, Pages 9 on 04/04/2012