They're all learning about Bermuda fish!  Yesterday the BIOS '23 Crew finished up their study and presentation of aquatic species we may encounter during our studies.   Julian finished the presentations with the cutest of them all: the Porcupine Fish!  

We embarked on our first of two trips to the Ellington YMCA to practice our water skills. Ranging from "Curious and Cautious" to "Ledecky and Phillips Proteges,"  we all have a lot of goggle adjustments to make!  

On Thursday we made our second and final trip to the Ellington Y to continue practicing our snorkeling skills.  We did well and we should blend in perfectly with the fish on the reefs.  

May 11, 2023---Getting accepted to the program felt so surreal. I couldn't believe it. I was jumping around my house for an hour when I found out. Everyone was happy for me and we celebrated by going skating. My mom sent me a little gift basket as a congratulations. This is going to help me when it comes to my future due to my love for marine biology. Going to bermuda is going to 

I started my passport process back in March, I was a little nervous at first, thinking that I started it a little late. I got more nervous when they wouldn't accept it due to my mom needing to sign forms for me to be able to get it. I got those forms signed like 3 weeks before I needed to give it to the teachers, and that was cutting it really close. The moment I started to sweat rivers was when I still hadn't gotten it, even though it was like a week and a half before we left for Bermuda. My stepmom started to freak out when they told us we couldn't get it due to the forms needing to be signed by my mom. My dad never really freaked out because he is very positive and resourceful. 

My parents talked to Senator Blumenthal to push it through so I was able to get my passport. I also helped Antonio with getting his passport. When I finally got my passport and I finally got to hold it, I was excited. I was floating on cloud nine. Though my picture doesn't really look too good, that is the only bad thing about my passport.

With three days left before we leave, I'm ecstatic. I can't wait for it to come. It's going to be so amazing and it's going to open up a lot of opportunities for me in the future. I can't wait to get on the plane and leave the country. I can't wait to go to an island.  I get to jump into an inverted crater and I get to go on a night boat tow. So, thank you to Mrs Pierce, Mr Furey and everyone else that made it possible for me to experience this once in a lifetime adventure.

By: Holly Phillips

May 11, 2023---When I got accepted into the Bermuda Program I was so surprised.!  I love everything about aquatic life. From age five to now I have been so obsessed with fish and sea life. I could not wait for this trip. It was the only thing on my mind. I kept thinking to myself “I'm going to Bermuda! I'm going to Bermuda!” I knew this trip would be once-in-a-lifetime. 

It was February 22nd when I was trying to get my passport. Me and my parents went to  get my picture taken. It was my first step to getting the passport and going to Bermuda. I ended up waiting weeks, which turned out to be months to get my passport. I started to worry that I might not get it in time. My mom started to do anything possible to make sure I get that passport. It was about 3 weeks before the trip to Bermuda that I ended up really freaking out. Mrs. Pierce and my mom did everything possible and I started to realize I really might not get this passport in time. But, my mom, through all the stress, did not give up. My mom talked to Senator Blumenthal to make sure I got the passport. Finally, we got an appointment to get the passport on May 8th right before the trip on May 14th. We woke up at 5 am to begin our journey to Stamford. It was a long drive but I prepared to get the passport even though it took all day. And it took all day. We had to go there very early in the morning, go through a long process of waiting and had to walk around Stamford before fully getting my passport. Me and mom got to spend a lot of good quality time together. When I got the passport I was like “This is happening!!! Ain’t nothing can hold me back now!!! Bermuda here we come!!!” Now that there are three days left until I get to Bermuda I am so excited. It’s going to be my first time on a plane and out of the country. I would not be going on this trip if it were not for my mom and Mrs. Pierce. So a big thank you to them for everything they do and all the teachers coming along. 

By: Antonio Millette

How excited is the crew?  Watch to find out!

Sunday May 14, 2023---It was dark when we arrived at VCMS at 4:15 am on Sunday, Mother's Day.  But we were ready!  The kids and chaperones were here, the parents were here, the alumni group from 2019 were here, Mr. Caruso was here. The only thing not here; the bus.  We waited as long as we could until we had to come up with Plan B.  Parents had to caravan down to LaGuardia.  When they all thought they would be back in bed by 4:40, they were now loading up students into their cars and planning out the best way to New York.  Even Mr. Caruso gased up his car and loaded three of the chaperones in for the long drive.  Luckily, we made great time!  No one on the road on this early Mother's Day.  We all met up at the Jet Blue terminal and we all said our good-byes and made our way to check-in.  Phew, we made it through that little hiccup.  Let's get to our gate.  

Except... not yet.  We had a little bit of difficulty getting checked in. First, we were told that students had to pack their computers.  When we were outside the terminal, Mrs. Pierce was informed that students should have them in their carry-ons. So all the students had to dig out their computers from their neatly checked bags. Next, Mrs. Pierce waited in line for the help desk when she was directed for the group to use the automated check-in machines.  So all the students spread out and tried to navigate the "save time" technology.  That worked for some, but for others, they were considered unaccompanied minors so they were directed back to the help desk.   So some of the students had to get back in line.  It took a little while but luckily we made it through! 

When we finished that phrase, we headed to security.  You can imagine how that looks with 20 students and 5 adults having to take out their computers, take off their shoes. sweatshirts, and hats and getting through the security check.  But we did.  Now we head to the gate. It was about 8:00 and we had about an hour to get food before we could board for our 9:30 departure.

"Flight 2177, Delayed to 10:30."  Of course. 

By: Mrs. Converse

Sunday May 19, 2023---Landing into Bermuda was like a dream.

The whole day I was so nervous, I was leaving my family to go to Bermuda for a school trip for a week. It was finally time for us to take off on the plane. I was sitting next to Gabbie. As we talked about how nervous we were, the plane finally took off. We put on Legally Blonde as I tried to cure my nerves, I never liked planes and it was even weirder to not be on one with my parents. My heart was beating and I was trying to get it off my mind by the movie. The ride wasn't long though so I wasn't as worried as I would be on a longer one.

As the 1 hour and 40 minutes turned into 10 minutes, I started to see the beautiful island. The water wasn't just clear, it was blue, it was like the color of our shirts. I have never seen water like this. I've been to Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, and other places and have seen amazing water but never this color. I was shocked by the beautiful place I got to spend a week at.

Gabbie and I started freaking out, it was finally happening. We were going to be living people's dreams. As we started to exit the plane we had to fill out customs. I messed up the first time so I had to re-do them. As we handed them in we all did a number check, and then we headed out to the bus. As we left the airport and drove to BIOS. I felt a sigh of relief, we finally made it and it was going to be the best week of my life, and it finally started.

By: Maddie Maynard

Sunday May 19, 2023---Walking through Whale Bone Bay was an experience. We crossed the not-so-busy roads with Shea picking every flower she saw, and ended at the sea glass-filled beaches. It felt great walking around after the hours we spent in those tiny airplane chairs and in the airport itself. Besides the stunning cliff top views, there was so much learning at Lover’s Lake and the cedar cemetery. Oddly enough, a lot of people died because of Lover’s Lake and its mosquitoes carrying Yellow Fever. The cedar trees were used for blocking winds, which is very useful. The cedar tree graveyard was there because of an invasive species of bug that used to eat the cedar trees and sugar cane, which was transported across the island. Whale Bone Bay is the old train tracks that were used for transporting sugar. 

Some more fun thing that happened was the water after the hike. We went to Horseshoe Bay earlier with coral and shells, but this swim had a lot more to look at. There were a multitude of different fish, sea slugs, and sea cucumbers. It was a great lookout with nice 72-degree water. The first feeling was another story. It was freezing! I started by dipping my toes in and getting splashed by my friends. Eventually, I pushed myself into the very gross salty water. Gross being the saltiness. It was especially frightening when these jellyfish-like creatures were floating in the water. Under those conditions, it took about 5 minutes to get used to the water and go under towards the bubble jellyfish. Do I know whether it was an actual jellyfish or not? No, no I do not. Overall, it was a great day and I had an amazing time.

By: Lucy Powers

Sunday May 14, 2023---This is my first time experiencing a beach in Bermuda and it was nothing less than exciting! The beach we were thankful enough to visit on our first day here was Concrete Beach, appropriately named for the slabs of concrete that were broken up along the shoreline. When we found out that we were going to get to swim in the ocean after hiking to Whalebone Bay, me and my roommate excitedly put our bathing suits on and met in the outside common area. We had bags that included only the essentials like, water bottles, towels, and, of course, water shoes. Personally, when I think of Bermuda, I picture it as being a tropical paradise, where the water is always warm and the grass is always green. 

This theory of mine was quickly shot down as soon as I entered this water. I was immediately bombarded with freezing water, being as it was only 72 degrees. I began to slowly wade around, the water only going up to my knees. That's when the first jellyfish blew right past. Fear began to fill up inside of me, all the “if, ands, or what's” began to fill my brain. What if I get stung? What if when I get stung I can’t participate in fun activities any longer? I began to move away from the invertebrate when another beast began to float past. That’s when I realized that this beach was full of them.

I tried moving around the jellies but realized that I was surrounded by them. The sand beneath us quickly dropped up, creating little pools and pockets for us to fall into. I did not stay in the water for long due to the cold, but there were many other things around to keep me occupied (besides my friends). Just around the corner, there was an aged wooden swing held together by a weather rope. Although I did not swing on it at the time, I do wish I had taken the opportunity to. My friends and I found some sort of sea creature, and were not sure what it was. It looked kind of like a sea slug that had a tan shade to it. Although we wanted to further inspect, it had a dark colored ring patterned on it, which If you did not know, can represent being poisonous. 

Overall, the experience at Concrete Beach was enjoyable and a good remembrance as my first swim in Bermuda.

By: Kayla Weinman

May 15, 2023---When we got to BIOS the BIOS building from the front of it looks like it's a regular sized building but as you step inside it is much bigger than you would expect it to be. The dining areas are big enough to accommodate lots of people. The building from the back is giant. You can see the airport and watch the planes landing and taking off. You can also see the boats moving in and out or the boats that are anchored at the dock and either loading or unloading or just remaining there for now. 

The girls' bedrooms each have their own bathrooms in each of their rooms but we only have one bathroom for the 6 of us boys in our hallway, but there are other options on the floor as well.  The other rooms are similar to each other except the ones that are on the other end of the hallway. They are bigger than the other rooms and have a little more space,  but I am too tall for them and sometimes keep hitting my head on the slanted ceilings. The bathrooms are quite small compared to the bathrooms that are at home, but we aren't home, so we make it work! 

The food here is pretty good. There is a good variety of food to eat during each day and throughout each different meal. The kitchen staff is very kind and welcoming to us. The guide staff is great. They are teaching us very unique information about the island. They are also very respectful to us and are respectful back towards them. 

Doug the cat is very calm and peaceful and also very timid and shy towards new people. He is friendly sometimes but prefers to be left alone in the shade.

By: Liam Krupienski

Monday May 15, 2023---Hey y’all. The first activity that was on our schedule for the 2nd day of the fabulous Bermuda trip was going to Cooper’s Island Nature Preserve. The ironic thing is though, that Cooper’s island isn’t actually an island anymore, because during WWII, England and the US decided that the Western countries also needed protection. So, the two countries turned the island into an air and navy base. Lots of little islands, including Cooper’s Island, were leveled with the larger island. Cooper’s island is now part of a larger peninsula. Our lovely driver, Kenny, drove us to the Island, which we were accompanied by our equally as lovely guide, Claire. There, Claire told us about some of the native plants on the island like the Palmetto, Jamaican Dogwood, and the Olivewood tree, and some invasive species, like this grass, that we would soon annihilate. Another interesting fact is that Bermuda used to be almost fully covered in the Bermuda Cedar. It’s an endemic species, meaning that it could only be found in Bermuda. In the late 1940’s to the early 1950’s, the Bermuda Cedar was accidentally wiped out because of an invasive species, the juniper scale insects. The cedar served as a home for many animals, as well as a wind blocker. This was a very large problem, so the Whistling Pine, a thinner tree that served that same role as the Cedar. 

Claire then split us into two groups; one that went to the beach to collect microplastic and trash and the second that stayed and got rid of invasive species with tools. We would switch after 30 minutes and then go swimming at the private beach. My group went down to the beach first with an empty trash bag for trash. 

The water at the beach was pristine; a beautiful light teal color that looked like it was just painted onto the ocean. The sand was near to white and very soft, but filled with small microplastics that were a danger to animals. We walked along the beach, our hands were filled with plastic and other trash, and our bag was slowly filling up. Suddenly, Ethan went on a streak of finding trash, he found multiple bottles, large miscellaneous pieces of plastic, and also a whole shoe! He was named the Trash Master because of his impeccable luck of finding the trash. We walked up to the small tower at the end of the peninsula. We climbed up some swirly stairs to the top, where the wind was very strong, but the views made up for it. 

After half an hour, the two groups switched, and now I got to experience the wrath of yard work. We picked up garden tools, and got to work removing the invasive grass. We really let all of our anger out on that poor grass. We were able to get a good deal of plants out before the other group came back, and as it turned out, our group won the trash collecting contest. We then ran down to the beach, put on our masks. The water was really refreshing and it was a good cool off after the hard work. We snorkeled a bit and took some fun photos. The morning was filled with hard labor and work, but in the end it all paid off.

By:  Bianca Morawska

Monday May 15, 2023---Today, one of the places we went to was the Walsingham Nature Preserve. While there,  we saw some mangrove trees. These mangrove trees can help provide a stable habitat for animals that live in that area. These trees also help provide a good area for the young fish to be able to hide or it gives a good place for fish to be able to breed. The mangrove trees help us by absorbing wind and wave energy which can help prevent erosion. Our tour guide, Alex, had us collect propagules, which are the mangrove tree seed pods, and she had us plant the good ones because humans had taken down a lot of them in order to build houses and other buildings or to use the land. I got to plant two of them and it was really cool how it works. Instead of burying the whole propagule, we only buried the bottom half of it. 

When we were walking on the trails, Alex lead and brought us to an underwater cave. It had a barrier so we couldn’t enter this one. It had a lot of formations inside. These were stalactites, stalagmites, and columns. Stalactites and stalagmites are this pointed cone-ish shape that for stalactites point down from the ceiling and stalagmites point up from the bottom. Columns are when the stalactites and stalagmites form together in the middle.Then we got to go inside a different cave which was also underwater. When I got to feel and look more closely at the formations, they aren’t a perfect cone shape. The top of them were pointy but they weren’t really sharp. The water was freezing cold and it gave me goosebumps. That cave was really deep and in some areas you couldn’t even see the bottom. I got to take really cool videos for my family to show what they looked like.

Before we went to the underwater cave we could swim in, we made our way to blue hole park, where I got to jump off a cliff. Everyone got the option of either jumping off the cliff into the cave or not and I chose to jump off. This cave was another underwater cave so it was safe to jump in. There was a man who counted us down so we could jump in and made sure everyone was out of the way before he let you jump. This was a really fun experience. When I jumped, I forgot to plug my nose or even blow out of it so when I got in a ton of saltwater got up my nose and it burned for a while. On our way out of that cave we were warned about the sea anemone that grew and attached onto a stalagmite so we had to be careful.

Near the end of the trip, three of our chaperones got lost. They were walking so slow that when we got to the fork in the trail they couldn’t hear us anymore. This is surprising because we were a loud group of middle schoolers and those of  us near the back of the group were really loud. They say we lost them, but they really lost us. This is a team effort. So, even though we may have left them behind, they should’ve walked faster. We had to pick them up at the entrance of the trails because they ended up walking back there. Everyone slowly clapped for them as they entered and I thought that was funny.

By: Sage Toner

Tuesday May 16, 2023---Today started with an eventful trip to Saint George’s for a scavenger hunt around the beautiful city. We woke up bright and early at the ripe hour of 7:00am to start on the lengthy walk to the bus stop. The roads were very compact and the same with the cars that drove by. We had to walk in a line like little ducks on the narrow street to not get hit by the fast moving cars. We finally got to the bus station and hopped on a coral pink bus that would bring us to St. George’s. The bus ride flashed before my eyes because of how rapid it was. 

When we got to the brightly colored square, which is named Kings Square, we were given a sheet of paper with questions about different places all around the town and were given a map. My group started with St. Peter's church. We were guided there by a very nice local to the historic building that was just across the road from King’s square. We looked around for an aged gravestone that happened to be on the other side of the building. We gathered fascinating information and raced to our next destination. All of the buildings were so vibrant with color. The flowers and plants were stunning like the hibiscus and oleander. I wish we had them in Connecticut. 

The scavenger hunt was a little dated so there were some obstacles along the way, like how the police station had moved! It took us a quick second to realize it before getting back on track. My team worked efficiently and fast in hope to be the first finishing team. At last we made it to our final destination. We now just needed some help to find the last couple answers for our question sheet. We went into the town hall in hope to find some help. Sitting at a desk in a historic costume was the former mayor of St. George! He gladly answered all of our burning questions and even gave us a little tour of the City. He guided us to the answer of our last question and gave us his best wishes. We thanked him and began sprinting to the final clue. Here it was in Somers Garden next to the Moon Gate which is theorized to bring good luck to anyone who passes under it. We collected the information needed and dashed to the chaperones. Hearts beating, we gave them our sheet which was now to be looked over. In general we were the second finishing team but we would still need to wait for the overall winner of the scavenger hunt. We crossed our fingers and hoped we could come out on top.

By: Gabrielle Smulski

Tuesday May 16, 2023---“All aboard! Please keep your feet on the floor if you are sitting on the edge. Stay seated while the boat is pulling in and out of the dock. Keep your eyes open in case someone falls into the water and if someone does, please don’t be shy to yell ‘Man overboard!’ until Captain Qwe stops the boat to throw a life vest. We are setting sail to Nonsuch Island. Enjoy the ride and the view!” 

Our tour guides Claire and Alex weren’t that enthusiastic about the potential for danger because they wanted to keep us safe,  but they did mention these rules. And the view truly was nice. The houses in the distance on top of the cliffs seemed like the perfect spot to live in. Just imagine always waking up next to the ocean. Seeing the waves crash onto the landscape and rock formations. Hearing the tides douse the island is breathtaking. Everyday would feel like you’re inside a dream.

It took a half an hour to get to Nonsuch Island from BIOS, meaning a half hour of staring into the horizon and admiring the view. After the not so long boat ride, we finally arrived on the shore of Nonsuch Island. We had to gear up in our snorkeling gear, jump off the boat and swim to the shore. We weren’t allowed to dock near the beach because Nonsuch Island is a protected island and we couldn’t allow any invasive species that may have come with us on the island and to also avoid contaminating endemic species such as the Bermuda Palmetto which looks almost like palm trees but smaller and is native to Bermuda. There was also the Chinese Fanpalm which looks very much like the Bermuda Palmetto except it’s invasive. The same goes for the shells (alive or dead) and sand on the island since the island is protected and outside species are unwanted as well as native species getting off of the island.

By: Julian Goodick

Tuesday May 16, 2023---After taking a tour of Nonsuch and David Wingate’s property, we went down the steps past the nests full of longtails and we arrived at the cement dock. Before we even finished climbing down we were in awe. A huge, dilapidated, teeming-with- life shipwreck laid lying in front of us waiting to be explored. 

When we got to the dock itself we were in awe at how many corals and fishes we could see before we were even in the water. We saw fan coral plastered on the dock walls, parrotfish darting around everywhere; we were excited. After getting safety instructions from the teachers, we went into the water one at a time, in the water we got our fins on.  

Everyone stayed in the same little area for a while, looking at the corals and fishes we had seen when we were on the dock. Then everyone started to circle the ship like a school of fish. Everyone was  peering inside the many holes and gashes in the sides of the ship to see what fish were swimming around. The coolest place to see fish was around the bow. There, if you dived down a little, you could see a lot of big fish just hanging out there. On the port side (left side), there was a school of little fish swimming. Anybody could just swim over them and they wouldn’t rush away. Apart from the fish, there was coral covering most of the ship’s walls. There was yellow brain coral and also purple fan coral.  When we were tired, we swam towards the BIOS ship.

We had to first take our fins off and hand them to Claire, then use a rope to pull ourselves up. After everyone got on the boat started to take us back to BIOS. Most were shivering because it was very windy and the waters were choppy, meaning water was splashing onto the deck and the people on it. Nevertheless everyone enjoyed the boat ride back, talking about the wonders they experienced and saw only minutes before.

By: Ethan Powell

Wednesday May 17, 2023---After walking through the colorful city of St. George’s, the beautiful ocean came into view with water so blue it made the blue on my bag look bland. The water was so clear that you could look straight through it, even if you tried not to, and see all the coral and fish. Once we made it to the beach and got all of our snorkeling gear, I rushed to the water, unprepared for what was to come. Once in the water, I was surrounded by freezing cold water. I  tried to run out, but when I looked behind myself, I saw a colorful object darting around. A fish! After standing in the water and getting used to the temperature, I put my mask on and dived under the waves to see for myself what life was down under the water. After swimming out more to the center, I looked under and saw hundreds of colorful fish, large and big, all swimming in what looked like an organized pattern around the rocks and coral, but, in reality, it was just fish doing what fish do. A lot of the fish were really big. There was a big group of red and white fish swimming around the rocks and each one was about the length of my arm. There were also hundreds of small white and black fish swimming inside the rocks and around all the other fish. Under the rocks too, I saw a big blue fish, a Midnight Parrotfish, the biggest one I saw yet.

After  swimming around more and taking more pictures of all the fish, even if they did try to swim away most of the time, I went with a few others to the side of the bay where there were massive rock pillars sticking out of the sea floor, making a kind of barrier from the rest of the ocean. Under the water, the coral covered the entire rock, so much so you couldn’t even see the rock behind it. We went out really far in hopes of finding a Barracuda, but  instead found other cool stuff. Before we even got out super far to the ocean, I saw a flounder before it was able to camouflage itself with the rock floor, and spotted its incredible hiding spot. After that I saw a long silvery tail go into a hole in the rock. At first I didn’t think much of it since a lot of fish had done this same thing, but when I looked at the chart later where we could identify the fish, it was a Barracuda tail I found, not just a regular tail. We swam out further and further, but swam so far that the fish began to stop venturing out this far even, and even the coral began to stop being so abundant.

 After coming back into shore with no luck, kinda, we identified the fish we did see and dried off while playing pool on the beach. An amazing experience that I won't soon forget.

By: Tyler DeMarco

Wednesday May 17, 2023---As we walked over the crest of a hill, we saw it. Tobacco Bay. The sparkling blue waters, the sun shimmering against the waves, it was a dream. With the clearest of the ocean, you could see the fish darting through the water, kicking up sand behind them. All of us, anxious to get in the water, quickly rushed to put on our snorkeling gear and sun protection. Most people were hesitant to get into the chilly waters, but after a few minutes, everyone knew that it was worth it. 

In the first minute of being in the water, I immediately saw a silver, shiny fish swim out from around a rock. Its coloring was so discreet that I barely made it out against the pale sand. But, now that I saw one, I couldn’t help but notice others too. A bit further out, there was a very brightly colored coral reef filled with even more brightly colored fish. Immediately, as more and more people started to point out, there were teal and rainbow-colored parrotfish, later to be identified as Princess Parrotfish. 

After a bit of time snorkeling, we came back to shore and started to hear exclamations and squeals from the other students, only to find that Mr. Woods had found a Sea Cucumber! Most people were too scared to touch it because its surface was rough and slimy, but for the few brave people who did, this was an experience to never forget. 

I and a small group of people were led by Mr. Furey and Mrs. Ross out to the far side of the reef. As we swam, there were crowds of hundreds and maybe even a thousand small minnow-like fish, all in a swarm. It was so cool to swim through it, all of the fish surrounding you like you were part of the school as well. When we got out to the far part of the reef, everyone marveled at the sheer amount of fish that there were, all in this one little area of the reef. At one point, Lucy had pointed out a huge Yellow Spiny Lobster that seemed to be the size of my whole arm! Not long after that, I saw not only a flounder but a barracuda too. Both had excellent camouflage. 

Unfortunately, our time at Tobacco Bay had come to a close. After a few games of pool and the struggle to get sand out of our shoes, we were picked up by the bus driver, Kenny. If I were to speak for everyone, I would say that it was a day none of us would ever forget.

By: Livia Castle

Wednesday May 17, 2023---Tonight was the night of the plankton tow. I headed down around six o'clock and waited for the rest of my friends. We were going to take a relaxing boat ride and pick up plankton to examine under the microscopes. We rode on the boat for a while under the shining sun. The water was gorgeous; I was going to miss it so much. 

Once we reached our destination we were explained to that we would be catching these plankton. I wondered what was going to catch these tiny but impactful creatures in the sea. Our tour guide pulled out something that looked like a long net with a cup attached at the end. The cup had to be filled because plankton need water. So, we had a student dip the cup in the water over and over until it was full. The net was placed into the water. The view was too pretty not to capture so of course, we had to take some photos.  For a while we went very slow, capturing every moment with a click of a camera.

Once we got back to BIOS we went inside a classroom to learn more about plankton, their role in the ocean, different types, and other information to figure out more about plankton. I learned a lot of interesting facts about plankton and some other animals. But a lot of people were anxious to look at what these plankton looked like under a microscope. 

We headed out to the lab and received some plankton in water. We placed them under the microscope and adjusted the microscope until we could see clearly. There was also a paper filled with pictures of plankton and their names so we could identify each plankton. I looked in the microscope and was able to see a bunch of small creatures close up. We rotated for a while looking at many different types of plankton. Some microscopes had a lot to look at, and others did not. 

Soon it was time to go. Those two hours had flown by and I was ready to get some sleep. Seeing the plankton close up was different from hearing about them. I was grateful for this experience and want to see more. 

By: Cam Doyle

Thursday May 18, 2023---The British Underwater Exploration Institute. AKA BUEI. It was already Thursday; our trip was nearing its end, but we still had a fun day planned. We started our day like any othe:, we had a delicious breakfast and walked to the public bus. We had to make it in time for the 9:10 bus to bring us straight to BUEI. It was very hot, and I was glad we didn't have to do much walking. However, with us, you know buses do not like to show up. We stayed there for around 30-60 min before realizing that the bus was never coming. We hopped on a different bus (Bus 11) and took a very long trip (45 min) to The Institute. 

When we arrived, Hannah, (who was our tour guide) greeted us, and gave every student a question sheet and pencil. The first thing I noticed was a huge squid hovering over me, it was insane to think that it was swimming in ocean water. I know for a fact, that if I saw that I would freak out! Anyhow, we started our tour by learning about William Bebe and Otis Barten. They created the Bathysphere, which would carry the two explorers into the deep.(Here's a link for more information- https://divingmuseum.org/artofabyss/bathysphere/) 

One of the most interesting things that we learned about was The Bermuda Triangle. There were a total of 13 theories as to why boats and planes had gone missing. From Aliens to the magnetic field (which seems more reasonable to me) to even underwater sea creatures. There are still no signs of anyone who had gone missing near or in the triangle. To add onto that, we learned about Jack Lightbourn, whose shell collection is one of the largest privately owned collections in the world, featuring over 1,200 specimens. Sadly, he is no longer with us, but his collection did. He even collected deadly specimens, which could paralyzed of kill a human. We ended the tour by talking about what we can do to help, by doing some research to actually find “eco” friendly items. And to double check that they're actually eco friendly. Overall, the tour was way more fun than I expected and the time flew by!! 

By: Annie Agggarwala

Thursday May 18, 2023---A  wise man named Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”  Today me and my friends traveled to John Smith’s Bay, a very clear body of water. It took us a while to get there, but we all had so much fun! Before we even arrived in Hamilton, the bus we were supposed to take never showed up. Sounds familiar, right? But, even though it didn’t show, we waited until another bus showed up because we were not missing all the fun stuff we had planned. Instead of taking the number one bus, we took the eleven. After having lunch and shopping in Hamilton,  the capital of Bermuda, where it was very hot, well, at least to me, we walked to another bus where we drove our way to John Smith’s Bay. The bus ride was very nice and I got to see a goat for the first time in Bermuda! Chub, my best friend, was with me, of course, and when I stepped my feet onto the soft, beige sand, I knew this was gonna be the best day of my whole trip.

At first, when I went to Tobacco Bay, I was terrified of swimming with fish. I just couldn't stand them being so close to me with their slimy gills and big black eyes. But, as the day went on, I gained more courage and was able to go out with my friends and the two teachers who came farther in the ocean than I've ever been before. I guess that's why I wasn't so scared to look around at John Smith’s Bay with my goggles for fish. I saw a really cool fish which looked clear and gills had a rainbow shimmer to it. I also played chicken with a lot of my friends in the water. I honestly didn't think that I would be able to get on anyone's shoulders, but I kept trying and telling myself that I'd get it at some point. And, I did! Playing in the water with every one, laughing, and joking around with the teachers was something that will stay with me forever. 

As we were leaving the beach, the sand was so sticky that I could barely get any of it off! I tried and tried but nothing was working. Even the two boys that were sitting with me at the bench couldn’t get them off either. I guess it’s just the way the sand is in Bermuda, but I'm not complaining. Swimming with everyone and seeing them look at and get excited seeing all the cool fish helped me get over my fear of swimming with them. I know that it’s not that big of a deal, but I feel that this experience of getting over this small fear was something that will contribute to helping me with things in the future. T

Today was the best day in Bermuda and I will never forget it or every other day here. Staying with people from school and teachers without our phones helped me find a new part of myself that I didn't know was there before. Being without my phone for a week and going to new places was the best. Before the trip I was a little scared to be without my phone but with all my friends here, it made the trip so much better without it. With courage comes success.

By: Shealeigh Thomas

Friday May 19, 2023---As we walked into Hanson Hall, you could feel the excitement, nervousness, and hope about who would be crowned winner of the Bermuda Bowl. We took our seats in the audience as Mr. Woods, the Bowlmeister, called up the current first and second-place teams: the Savvy Sea “Slugs” and the Fishbowls. I wasn’t part of those, so I waited in the audience as Round 1 started. One by one, back and forth, the members of both teams answered questions. With some luck and correct answers, the Savvy Sea “Slugs” had maintained their daunting lead with a first-place standing. 

As we took our seats for the second round, we knew we had a long way to go if we were to win. Our team, the PentaChubs, were facing the Bubble Guppies who were currently in last place, which made us third. For those of you who don’t know, the 4 categories for Bermuda Bowl questions are “Bermuda and Bios,” “People, Places, and Things,” which we nicknamed “Nouns,” “Plants and Animals,”  and “Wildcard.” Personally, my favorite is “People, Places, and Things.” Also, I think I can speak for everyone, except Livia, that “Plants and Animals” is the worst category. We started answering questions, getting some right, some wrong. My record was 1 for 2, which wasn’t the best I had gotten so far, but better than getting 0 for 0, right? The other team did much better than us, but we ended up with second place overall, which wasn’t bad considering where we started. 

Shoutout to the Savvy Sea “Slugs” for getting first place. Looking back on the Bermuda Bowl, I think we can all agree that it was one of the most memorable things about staying at BIOS, no matter who lost or won. Of course, we would all say that our respective teams are the best, no matter what the final standings say. PentaChubs rule!!!

By: Soumil Jain

Friday May 19, 2023---I am really going to miss this place, from the clear bright water to the amazing food here at BIOS. It has been such a great journey being here and I don't want to leave. 

I remember seeing the water for the first time on the plane and hitting Annie and Cam to make sure they saw what I saw and snorkeling many places. These are things I will never forget. The teachers all said the time would fly by but I didn't quite know how fast it would fly. I have also made some really great friendships that I never would have made if I wasn't here. And, for the friendships I already had, they are stronger than ever.

My favorite experience would probably have to be snorkeling at Tobacco Bay because this was just such a great and memorable experience. I saw so many beautiful fish. One of my favorites was the rainbow angelfish. Seeing its bright colors in the clear water was so cool! Annie, Cam, and I all saw a barracuda.  Although it was really scary, it went under Cam and me and Annie screamed, “BARRACUDA!” I don't think I have ever swam faster in my life; my heart started beating so fast. I was most scared to see a barracuda on this trip, so seeing one was a very scary moment.

I also learned more about myself. I learned how much I truly enjoy science, lab work, and just being in nature (except for when there are barracudas). This trip made me so much more interested in learning more about nature and science. I saw so many things I would have never seen if I wasn't on this trip and I found so many new interests. This trip also showed that we don't need technology to have fun. And, as much as I miss talking to my friends and going on Snapchat and social media, I was still able to have an amazing time. I was able to look at the world around me not on a screen. 

Overall, Bermuda is one of my new favorite destinations and I hope someday I can come back. I am so glad I got accepted into this trip in the first place and I will miss it so much.

By: Allie Autieri

Friday May 19, 2023---Have I ever  been out of the country, out of the state? Sure, but people have usually acted the same as ever. Every person is different, but you can tell certain patterns of behavior in different areas. The people of Bermuda have been nothing but kind to us. Even when not prompted to interact with us, they are still sweet and respectful! 

On Tuesday we had a scavenger hunt in St. George’s. My group was a little frantic over one of the questions; we just couldn’t find it. We met up with another group of 5 and we decided to work together to find the answer. We went around and actually started asking random people questions about it. I was really nervous about it. I wouldn’t say I’m a very shy person, but usually it is such an awkward interaction when asking a stranger a question that isn’t urgent.  Everyone was so unrealistically kind. I feel like a lot of people here would just say “I’m not sure” and quickly walk away. However it wasn’t like that in the town. Even though a few people had no clue, they were very kind. They exchanged a few words with us and told us to have a wonderful day. It was so nice! 

There was one kind lady who we asked; she wasn’t sure of the answer, but she brought us over to the place where she worked. She looked through her office and was about to search online, but then she referred us to another woman, which she didn’t have to do. I expected her to say something like “I’m sorry I couldn’t find it, good luck” but out of the kindness of her heart she continued to help. Eventually, we did get the answer, and we absolutely wouldn’t have if those people weren’t so nice. Everyone was as helpful as they could be, and it honestly warmed my heart.

Later that day, in a different part of the town, me and my group were huddled around a map of the town. We couldn’t seem to find where our next stop was. A kind man who was driving pulled over and asked if we needed help with anything. We must have looked pretty lost. Of course we said, “no thank you,” and he said, “Have a good day,” and drove off. I couldn’t believe he did that. Most people don’t stop to help strangers when they don't ask, especially when you are driving. But, he still stopped and offered to help, which was so kind!

Throughout the trip we kept meeting these kind people, Mr. Furey actually befriended quite a few, including a man named Sydney on the bus. All of the BIOS staff would always greet us with a smile. The same goes for seemingly every Bermuda citizen. I am truly happy to have interacted with everyone on this trip, no matter who it was, from Bermuda or one of us. Every person is different, but the Bermudian people have shown us that kindness really does stand out and make a happy impact!

By: Meadow Bornhorst

Bermuda has a magical quality.  It touches your senses like no other. The air smells sweeter, the water is a clear turquoise blue that sparkles in the sun, and when the Kiskadee chirps in the morning you know it is going to be a great day.  I have had the privilege of taking kids to Bermuda for about eight years and each time I go I am filled with mixed emotions.  

Excitement is first! The second set of emotions is that I know I am one of the adults responsible for the care and safety to ensure that 20 students return back to Vernon with smiles on their faces.  These concerns are always at the back of my mind 24 hours a day for the five days we are gone.  This year was no different, only we added the layer of our chartered bus not showing up to take us to the airport.  The other emotions that I always feel are a bit of sadness for leaving my family at home for such a time as well as anxiety over what my kids in my classroom are doing while I am away.  These feelings resonate and always make me ask myself the question, “is the trip worth the time away and the stress that comes with it?”   

Each time I see a student with wide eyes looking at the ocean vista for the first time, each time I see a student get excited over seeing a skink run by (a local lizard), each time I see a student raise their hand to ask a question about what we are learning, or smile when they remove an invasive species of plant from a conservation area I say, “Yes, it is all worth it.”  

This year's students were no exception to this. This year's trip was a special one. After a three year hiatus due to COVID it felt so good to get back to the island.  We added some new activities such as our Walsingham Nature Preserve visit and the Night Plankton Tow and Lab work while keeping some old traditional ones including Cooper's Island Nature Reserve and Nonsuch Island, that I felt helped tie together old and new experiences for the kids.  

A tradition that has been going on since the inception of the program is our awards ceremony that happens on the last night. Each student is given an award and I typically give closing remarks.  This year my remarks were hard to give, because, like the kiddos, I was not ready to leave.  Former students always talk about the impact the program has on them and how they continue to look back fondly on it, and I know, without a doubt, most of the students on this year's trip will feel the same way.  There were tears of sadness about leaving and tears of joy for what we all experienced.  The main takeaway for me was the growth I could see in so many.  

To close out this post, my main sentiment and words for the 2023 years trip would be words of thanks.  Thank you to my co-chaperone: Mr. Brian Woods, Mrs. Michelle Converse, Mr. Michael Furey, and Mrs. Megan Ross.  The week would not have been such a success without you.  Thank you to the parents for their ongoing support of their kiddos as well as the program.  A final thank you to the student:, you were amazing and helped me see the value of the program and making those five days away so special and every moment away worth it. 

By: Mrs. Pierce

Saturday June 3, 2023--- It's fair to say that we all left a piece our hearts in Bermuda.  Members of the crew check in with Mrs. Ross in the Main Office.  We will ignore the fact that many of the crew may have taken the long way to class that included going down to the 6th grade floor to check in with Mrs. Converse and Mr. Woods. And, of course, they have little chance of avoiding Mrs. Pierce and Mr. Furey on the 2nd and 3rd floors.  

Mrs. Ross attended the school concert last week and couldn't say enough good things about the talent within our little group.  Last night, Mrs. Converse, Mrs. Pierce, Mr. Furey and Mr. Wood attended the 8th grade formal. As we cheered for each VCMS student as they arrived, it's "possible" that we cheered a little bit louder for these awesome people.  

Honorable mention to Sam who missed the announcement to come outside for the pic!

By: Mr. Furey