The group 4 science project trip is an IB requirement for all IB students where you and your peers embark in using your adventuring, knowledge and communicating skills in order to work together as a group and learn about your in-the-classroom topics through practice based and field work. The groups consist of one student from each of the science classes our school offers and one leader from geography who is in charge of the surveying and data collection. In my group, there was myself from Geography and Chemistry, Aniq and Sofia from ESS, Avi from Biology and Maelle from physics. The trip even though being a school trip was not for the weak of heart. It consisted of daily 3+ hours hikes including a 3 hour hike on the last day straight up a mountain with 2 hours of climbing 100s of feet in the rainforest, multiple hours in the rainforest surveying data and getting bitten by leeches.

However, the memories and time spent with friends was unmatched and an amazing experience. We started the trip early morning Wednesday with a 2 hour bus ride. We started Wednesday with a hike through Sinharaja rain forest to Martins lodge where we were then able to talk and see the land which we were going to survey tomorrow as well as take a trial test run in a 2×2 plot of land. As my group got into the plot I realized the intense fear of leeches 3 of my 5 group members suffered form. As after 5 minutes Avi and I were the only ones who remained. As the rain poured down strongly we called it a day after a successful time counting biodiversity, measuring luminousity and pH, and many other oddly specific tasks. After this, we were separated into 2 groups to stay at the two hotels offered.

As the second day began, a joint groan echoed through our stay as we dragged ourselves onto the bus and gradually headed towards the rainforest as we were set out for a day of surveying. Once there, we split up into different sections of the forest and took different plots of land. Our group took out with our gear and after a few hours of canopy analysis, counting plant species and other organisms, asking our guide for plant names and other strenuously menial tasks. Thankfully after the second plot the rain started raining heavily as it does in a rainforest. This graceful coincidence was amazing as we were able to go back home and hang out as a group for the rest of the night.

At the beginning of the third day, I was able to wake up glad as we were about to leave and I could go home to my bed. However, this was short lived as when we met up with the other group we were told about the multi hour hike up 100s of feet in the middle of rainforest. As we set off pain and annoyance ensued as we realized how unprepared we were as a group. With very little water between us and no sign of when it would end we could do nothing but keep our feet moving. As we ventured deeper and deeper we realized that the forest had faded and the beaming sun was above us. As we got to the top a sigh of relief could be heard as everyone laid down leaving sweat stains in memory of what we had endured. After we all grouped at the top we made our way down back to the buses where we packed, showered and finally arrived home.