Box Elder students to assist marine biologists in Mexico this month

Eight Box Elder School juniors and seniors will find themselves flying to Baja Mexico in two weeks to participate in a seven-day Marine Science Program where they will assist a pair of local biologist, an opportunity students and teachers are excited to participate in.

The trip was organized by Box Elder teachers Connie Reichelt and Kelsey Miller through the Ecology Project International, a field science and conservation organization that partners scientists with local and international students and educators in environments like the Galapagos, Costa Rica, Belize, Hawaii and Yellowstone, as well as Baja Mexico.

Reichelt said over the summer she had the opportunity to go to the Galapagos and in the past students were able to go to Costa Rica as part of a Spanish language program.

This year, however, it is science’s turn, and students say they’re excited to go.

Jonaye Doney said she was most looking forward to seeing the reef and animals they would be working with and other students said they were excited to see new ocean life.

However, others said they were interested in the opportunity just to see a new place.

Tianna Cochran said she was happy just to travel to a new country and see new people.

Others said seeing a new environment will be interesting as well.

“I’ve never even really been on a beach,” said Kyla Momberg. “So I’m pretty excited.”

“It’s kind of a once in a lifetime trip,” added Kortney Wolfchild.

Reichelt, a science teacher, said being able to show students of a landlocked state such a new environment will be a great experience for them.

“I feel the more people travel and see the world the more understanding those people are,” she said.

She said she’s not sure what specific kinds of research they will be helping with just yet, as it will depend on what scientesit are doing when they get there but it will probably involve working with the reefs and possibly local sea turtles as well.

A press release about the trip said students will work with local researchers to better understand the wildlife that shape the landscape.

“Students will focus on self-directed research projects while immersed in the diverse ecology of the area, home to abundant terrestrial wildlife on Espiritu Santo Island and aquatic animals in the Sea of Cortez,” the release says. “Days spent in and around La Paz will include collecting baseline data on marine species abundance, contributing to ongoing research projects on the crown-of-thorns starfish, and whale shark observation.”

Reichelt said this trip required a fair bit of fundraising, but the community, including Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation’s tribal council, helped out a lot.

Miller, the trip’s other organizer, said the last trip of this kind they did saw student setting up a class blog where they shared photos of their trip every day so younger classes could see it, and they hope to do something similar this year, as she’d like to see this experience shared with elementary-level students.