College Students Travel to Baja for Ocean Studies

LAS VEGAS - June 7, 2013 - PRLog -- Las Vegas, NV., June 7, 2013. Roanoke students had the opportunity to study and explore one of the most biologically diverse marine systems in the world during their school’s May Intensive Learning term. For 11-days, the students lived on the World Heritage Site, Espiritu Santo Island located within a marine preserve in the Gulf of California, better known as the Sea of Cortez. They conducted fish and invertebrate species abundance surveys, water chemistry tests, and studied the culture of the region.

Student K. Johnson posted on her Facebook Page; “Back in Salem after an AMAZING trip to Baja, Mexico! I can't believe it has only been 10 days since I left for this incredible adventure, and yet so many awesome things have happened. I camped on a beautiful beach, ate delicious Mexican food every day, saw whales and/or dolphins every afternoon, saw over 8 different species of marine animals, swam and played with some adorable sea lions, visited a goat farm in the desert, and so much more. I'll share my almost 2000 photos as soon as I can, but for now I need some serious shut-eye.”

Through outdoor adventures such as snorkeling, SCUBA diving, sea kayaking and hiking the students were able to explore desert, coral reef, mangrove, and tidal ecosystems.

Highlights included swimming with a colony of over 500 wild sea lions and close encounters with the second largest animal on earth, the Fin Whale.

This is the second expedition to Baja for Roanoke students with Green Edventures for a May Intensive Learning term course led by Professor Jorgensen of the Biology Department with the assistance of Lindy Thibodeaux, Teaching Associate in the same Department.

For photos of the students taken during this expedition please visit this link on the Green Edventures Facebook Page at:https://www.facebook.com/GoGreenEdventures#!/media/set/?set=a.10151591412564360.1073741826.71847569359&type=1