Wild and Free

Lagos kept us very busy! We spent Tuesday morning snorkeling, which was a chilly but exciting experience. Many students identified cuttlefish, schools of fish, and aquatic plants.

In the afternoon, we continued observing aquatic ecosystems by collecting data from tide pools. Of course, we also spent plenty of time enjoying the nearby beach!

Wednesday morning we waited for the clouds to pass while exploring the Lagos Science Center, which was full of hands-on learning activities!

Our stay in Lagos drew to a close with one of our most spectacular experiences yet: dolphin watching. Students boarded two boats Wednesday afternoon for the chance to spot these magnificent creatures.

Although the weather didn't cooperate with us in the morning, the sun came out in the afternoon and the boat ride was enjoyable in itself. Still, as our time on the boat grew long, many of us began to have the sinking feeling that we may not get to see dolphins after all. After almost an hour with our trusty guides at Wild Watch Algarve, we finally spotted some splashing fins. 

It was worth the wait. We followed a pod of about one hundred common dolphins, many of whom were juveniles, for about half an hour. 

After we got off the boats, marine biologists debriefed with students about identifying dolphin species and genders, past trends in their studies, and threats to dolphin populations. Coming face to face with these animals is a special experience, and one our students are all working to protect. Wild Watch Algarve has adopted Henry David Thoreau's words as their slogan, and we couldn't agree more: "All good things are wild and free."

We're now back in Lisbon to wrap up group projects, make presentations, and enjoy our last few days in beautiful Portugal!

XOXO,

Libby and Jing