Bullis Blog | Global Studies Trips

Dear Bullis Community, We ended our final day in the Florida Keys with fabulous bucket-list memories of swimming with dolphins, snorkeling among octopus, parrotfish, and massive (but docile) barracuda! The other bus ended the week by visiting the Turtle Hospital to learn about how marine scientists are aiding turtles afflicted with "bubble butt," which occurs when sea turtles are struck by boats and their equilibrium is compromised. The students got up close and personal with the testudine patients, and a few brave kids even adopted a sea turtle before heading to Robbie’s Marina to feed wild tarpon! The two groups convened for a poolside pizza party while the Florida sun set behind us. The group reflected on our action-packed week by watching student-created PSAs about how to protect the marine environment, and by sharing "roses and thorns" (highlights and challenges of the week) before hitting the hay in anticipation of an EARLY alarm in order to conquer the secu...

Greetings Bullis community, Wednesday greeted us in classic Florida Keys fashion—with a bright, cloudless sky overhead and crystal-blue waters all around us. Students experienced the Sea Turtle Hospital, more kayaking through brackish mangrove waters, and snorkeling off a dive boat during perfect conditions! We learned that the Florida Reef Tract is the third-largest barrier reef system in the world and the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Please enjoy the day's recap from the 7th graders themselves below: "When we first started our day, we walked in the warm air to breakfast. We ate a delicious breakfast with pancakes and bacon. Then we headed to the bus where our tour guide sang us a morning song that we do every morning. Next, we drove to John Pennekamp to go kayaking! Kayaking was super fun. We learned about the different mangroves and the colors of them which are red, black, and white. Then we pulled our kayaks into the water and started...

Dear Bullis community, Our day in the Florida sunshine was full of aquatic activity, as students steered kayaks through mangroves, swam with dolphins, and snorkeled off the beach at John Pennekamp State Park. The two groups united at a fishery for dinner, and you can hear the day's recap from the travel journalists themselves below: "First, I woke up at 6:50 a.m. and was pretty tired from the day before, so I didn't get out of bed until 7:00. Once my roommate and I got dressed, we headed down to the pool for instructions. After instructions, we went to breakfast at a nice spot next to a massive pool. The breakfast was great; I had bacon, French toast, and cereal. After breakfast, we hopped on the big bus and went to John Pennekamp State Park, and it was super bright and windy outside. We got our snorkel gear and hopped into the cold water. After I did all of the tasks, I got out of the frigid water. After we finished snorkeling, we ate lunch. We had the option to eat lu...

Dear Bullis community, The 7th grade has had a full day of Florida orientation! We're loving our 80-degree weather, and we've seen countless reptiles and birds in the Everglades. Bus 1 and 2 itineraries are recapped by the students themselves below: "We woke up bright and early to start our trip to the Florida Keys. Once we had all arrived at the airport, we went through security and boarded the plane. After landing in Fort Lauderdale, we met our tour guides for the week and then zipped off to lunch, followed by the most delicious fruit smoothie with local tropical fruits. We had such a great time today and I can't wait to keep having fun." -Lila C. "Group 2 went on an airboat ride through the Everglades to scout out alligators and birds. We saw a Great Blue Heron and baby alligators. We hiked the Shark Tram trail by foot (don't worry, no sharks there), but we did see even more gators! From the reptile show, we learned some cool reptile facts, like...

Hi all, We completed another fabulous day in the Keys and closed our visit with locally made ice cream, talent shows, and gratitude circles for the time we spent together. Students received shout-outs from each other for leaning into situations that are out of their normal comfort zone (from "I am NOT going snorkeling" to being the last one out of the water) and being overall community contributors. We reflected on individual daily highlights, such as feeding tarpons at Robbies Marina, as well as week-long highlights, like exercising responsibilities: setting their own iPhone alarms in the morning, showing up to the bus on time with all the materials necessary for a successful day (sunscreen and water—sunscreen, and water!!!), and keeping track of their materials. So, tomorrow we return your 7th graders to you a little pinker and more tired than you left them, but definitely more mature and experienced in the marine wonders of South Florida. Sammi HB "We walked acr...

Hi all, First of all, you may have seen the fires in the Keys. We are safe, just a little inconvenienced by the immense traffic buildup. We also do not have internet at the hotel due to the fires, so please excuse any brevity or typos as I attempt to type this from my small phone.  On the bright side, the kids love the extra bus time together!  Today's activities included education at the Dolphin Training Center, beach snorkeling, kayaking through the mangroves, watercolor painting at sunset, and bonding during beach time. Here are the descriptions from the kids themselves: Cayla G. Wow, what an awesome day! I woke up and went to a tasty breakfast. After that, I hopped on a bus and learned all about the Florida Keys! We even went to the beach to try snorkeling, and I saw an old shipwreck. Then, we went to a dolphin center, where I got to ride with the dolphins! It was a little surprising when I went first and got a face full of saltwater, but it was still fun! We relaxed in ...

Hello parents and Bullis community, Our 7th graders spent the morning as a full group at the Theater of the Sea, learning about the indigenous creatures of the Florida Keys. Students were educated about the differences between saltwater crocodiles and freshwater American alligators—although, when it came to feeding time, it was hard to tell them apart: both heads snapped back and all jaws chomped shut with power. We observed rehabilitated Loggerhead sea turtles and seals. We ended our visit with a 20-minute educational show starring 7 of the most intelligent Macaws and Cockatoos, who wowed us by completing puzzles and solving 5th grade subtraction problems. Our afternoon spent at The Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital in Marathon was truly inspiring; students were educated about rescued Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Green, and the endangered Kemp Ridley Sea Turtles, which are born a dark black color but later turn pale and white as adults. We were awed that Leatherback Sea Turtles, although rar...

Good evening Bullis parents and community, Dolphins were the clear and obvious highlight of the day for our 7th graders. Our groups visited two different dolphin sanctuaries, where we learned about these majestic cetacea, derived from the Greek word for whale, kētos. Students absorbed information about their relationships and history in helping humans, their anatomical features, and participated in a dolphin training simulation based on reward and motivation. But the best part of the day was actually swimming with the dolphins; they were well-trained hosts who welcomed us to their cove as we hitched rides across the water's surface and stole kisses from the cheeky ones.  We also spent time snorkeling and kayaking, and one lucky group dissected squid in an outdoor classroom at sunset. Tomorrow holds more interactive opportunities with marine life. And more slices of key lime pie! From the journalists in their own words: The wind screamed toward Grace and l as we inched toward...