Making a Splash with the Dolphins of Greece

As an educator at an inner-city elementary school, I am constantly seeking opportunities that will enhance my students' educational experiences beyond the four walls of our classroom. When I was informed that I was awarded Travelocity's Change Ambassador Grant, I was truly ecstatic. I was filled with excitement about the adventure I was about to embark upon, and thrilled to consider the learning opportunities this would mean for my deserving second graders. Traditionally, it is difficult to find funding that will allow us to visit locations outside of the school that will bring learning to life for the children. With Travelocity's Change Ambassador Grant, I will be able to bring these experiences to my children, through a wide variety of formats, such as digital images and videos from my expedition, artifacts, and much more. I participated in Earthwatch's Dolphins of Greece Expedition, based in the Greek village of Vonitsa on the Amvrakikos Gulf, for approximately nine days. A typical day included first going out in the morning with my team of four other volunteers and two scientists (a Principal Investigator and his Research Assistant) in order to conduct surveys, such as group size and behavior, on the area's 150+ bottlenose dolphins. We also spotted sea turtles and a wide variety of birds that resided in the waters. In the afternoon, we would work together in order to crop, match, and catalog photographs of the dolphins that had been taken that day. Finally, we would participate in evening lectures that related to dolphins, as well as greater environmental issues, through scientist-led discussions, documentaries, and more. Cooking and cleaning were also group activities, which gave the five volunteers lots of time to get to know one another and more about our diverse backgrounds and interests. The most amazing part of the experience for me was learning so much about what unique and intelligent creatures dolphins truly are! I also had no idea that each dolphin can be identified by distinguishing characteristics, such as different shapes on their dorsal fins or markings that set them apart from one another. The scientists have even named each of the dolphins and we often spotted dolphins they recognized immediately while we were out at sea, such as one dolphin that had a very distinct white coloring across the top of its dorsal fin. Another memorable experience was when we were out in our small boat in the middle of the gulf and we were surrounded by over 50 dolphins! Some were feeding, some resting, and some impressing us with their aerial behavior as they performed tricks for us high in the air! I sincerely believe that my participation in this expedition has made a positive difference. I have learned so much about dolphins and conservation efforts that can be made in order to ensure dolphins continue to flourish in the wild. I can then take this knowledge and share it with others I interact with, such as my students, colleagues, family members, and friends. Throughout the upcoming school year, I plan to educate my students about dolphins through efforts such as role plays, games, interactive lessons, and technology integration. The more people that are aware of threats that dolphins are faced with, the more we can work together to promote the well-being of these beautiful cetaceans.

Courtney R. ( Decatur , Georgia , United States )