50p
A Bamfield Immersion
Two weeks ago, Brentwood’s AP Biology class was introduced to the breathtaking biodiversity of Vancouver Island with a 4-day field trip to Bamfield Marine Center on the rugged West Coast. In a lush ecosystem teeming with wildlife, students had the opportunity to deeply examine the flora and fauna that inhabit both the Pacific Ocean and the temperate rainforests on its shores.
From microscopic plankton to thousand-year-old redwood trees, Bamfield Marine Center is a melting pot of nature. Outside, students observed the many plants that make up the temperate rainforests, the animals that inhabit the tide pools, and even recorded some data from the ocean using special tools. To get a closer look at the biodiversity, students took to the on-site laboratory, where many of the activities involved touching and observing the animals up close. “My favorite part of Bamfield was the touch tank. It was filled with so many animals I never even knew existed,” said Miranda NP, Alexandra ‘23, when asked about her highlight of the trip.
Invertebrates were a strong focus at the Marine Center. Hazel L, Allard ‘23, a vertebrate, spoke on her experience: “We learned that invertebrates are often overlooked in ecology, but after the labs we did at Bamfield I think that they’re really interesting lifeforms that are definitely worth studying.” She also mentioned that the most popular invertebrates for the class were the sea cucumbers, which are nicknamed “cukes” by the Bamfield staff.
Ecology is a core unit of AP Biology 12, and the Bamfield field trip allowed us to get a major jump on understanding the subject material. These excursions enabled us to develop a personal connection with the material we learn and thus develop a new appreciation for the world around us.
We would like to extend a huge thanks to all the faculty who volunteered time away from their families to enrich our learning experience at Bamfield. Fortunately, it seemed that the faculty enjoyed themselves too. Ms Singh, a BFA who was chaperoning the trip, enthused: “I totally enjoyed my experience! It was really cool to be with [the students] in nature actually seeing the things we were learning about!”
Nick C, Rogers ‘23
From microscopic plankton to thousand-year-old redwood trees, Bamfield Marine Center is a melting pot of nature. Outside, students observed the many plants that make up the temperate rainforests, the animals that inhabit the tide pools, and even recorded some data from the ocean using special tools. To get a closer look at the biodiversity, students took to the on-site laboratory, where many of the activities involved touching and observing the animals up close. “My favorite part of Bamfield was the touch tank. It was filled with so many animals I never even knew existed,” said Miranda NP, Alexandra ‘23, when asked about her highlight of the trip.
Invertebrates were a strong focus at the Marine Center. Hazel L, Allard ‘23, a vertebrate, spoke on her experience: “We learned that invertebrates are often overlooked in ecology, but after the labs we did at Bamfield I think that they’re really interesting lifeforms that are definitely worth studying.” She also mentioned that the most popular invertebrates for the class were the sea cucumbers, which are nicknamed “cukes” by the Bamfield staff.
Ecology is a core unit of AP Biology 12, and the Bamfield field trip allowed us to get a major jump on understanding the subject material. These excursions enabled us to develop a personal connection with the material we learn and thus develop a new appreciation for the world around us.
We would like to extend a huge thanks to all the faculty who volunteered time away from their families to enrich our learning experience at Bamfield. Fortunately, it seemed that the faculty enjoyed themselves too. Ms Singh, a BFA who was chaperoning the trip, enthused: “I totally enjoyed my experience! It was really cool to be with [the students] in nature actually seeing the things we were learning about!”
Nick C, Rogers ‘23