Students from CedarBridge Academy will traverse the rainforests and rivers of Venezuela on a trip to encourage greater understanding of environmental science.

The visit, from April 4-15, is the Academy's first Science school trip and covers several varieties of eco-systems in the South American country.

As well as hiking through rainforest, the group of 15 students and three teachers will visit the capital Caracas, the city of Canaima, Angel Falls, the Orinoco River, the lightning phenomena of Catatumbo and see condor research and cloud forests in Merida, as well as mangrove swamps and other eco-systems.

Science teacher Leone Samuels said the Rainforest Adventure Venezuela Expedition or RAVE would "get students excited about real world science". She said: "We will criss-cross the country of Venezuela. It's a place where students can really be immersed in the environment and where they can become better global citizens in terms of understanding the global aspects of conservation."

In a statement CedarBridge Academy said the goals of RAVE were: "To expose students to the rainforest ecosystem, the lungs of our planet; to create an appreciation for the natural environment; to encourage stewardship of our own Bermuda Environments; and to develop citizens' and decision makers' sensitivity to the importance of the environment to global health and prosperity."

The school added: "As part of our commitment to learning about and supporting natural environments in Bermuda, RAVE participants will be working with organisations dedicated to the preservation of Bermuda's natural environment: The Bermuda National Trust, The Bermuda Audubon Society, and Save Our Soils."

This Monday, students will take part in the first of three community service events — removing invasive species at the Bermuda National Trust's 11-acre Tivoli Nature Reserve in Warwick.

Organisations and individuals are invited to sponsor the students, with five percent of the funds raised donated to the Bermuda National Trust's and Bermuda Audubon Society's Buy Back Bermuda campaign.

Ms Samuels said: "We want our students to build up stewardship right now. We want to get them out in our own eco-system to give them an appreciation of our own environment."

If you would like to sponsor the students, contact Ms Samuels on 534-6424 or email her at: lsamuels[AT]cedarbridge.doe.bm