LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
On Oct. 13, Eli Brinkerhoff, a senior at Paris Cooperative High School, embarked on an unforgettable journey to the Galapagos Islands. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was made possible by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a highly competitive selection process aimed at high school students interested in global leadership skills and environmental stewardship. The six day trip was an experience filled with leadership training, environmental education and hands-on community service.
“I first learned about the trip in April of my junior year, when the guidance counselor at my school posted about it in our school emails. It was basically advertised as a leadership opportunity and a trip to the Galapagos Islands, if you were selected. So I applied in May and I was accepted, then in June there was a camp,” Brinkerhoff said. “It was a seven-day leadership camp at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods where we learned about how to be global leaders, how to interact and impact our own communities and we designed projects that we were going to work on with the kids on San Cristobal Island.”
The application process for the all-expenses-paid trip was competitive, requiring essays, letters of recommendation and academic transcripts. When Brinkerhoff was notified that he was selected as one of the 10 students to attend, the excitement was overwhelming.
“I was surprised. I didn’t think I would be selected. I put in a lot of effort, but I knew a lot of people were applying. I was pretty happy and excited,” he said.
After long travel days, Brinkerhoff and the other nine students finally arrived on San Cristobal Island, where they were greeted by local grade-school students. Communication with the children presented a challenge. Many of the local students were ESL learners, meaning English was their second language.
“We didn’t speak the same language perfectly, but we were still able to communicate through simple words, motions and expressions,” Brinkerhoff said. “It was such a cool experience to connect with them, despite the language differences.”
The group also worked on environmental projects. They talked with the children about sustainability and the importance of protecting their island home. One of the standout activities was building carpenter bee homes and planting native flowers, all with the goal of promoting local biodiversity.
“We discussed how we could be environmentally friendly, especially with how they’re on an island. We tried to tackle environmentally friendly things and how they can have a positive impact in their community. And they obviously taught us a lot of stuff as well,” Brinkerhoff said. “We went to the research center that’s on the island, and we learned about how they’re monitoring endangered species and pollution. We got this feel for how they are preserving the islands, and how we can bring that back to the States with us and impact our own community in that way.”
While the trip focused primarily on environmental work and community projects, Brinkerhoff enjoyed the opportunity to explore the island’s unique wildlife. A major highlight of the trip for him was a snorkeling excursion where the group had the opportunity to swim with sea lions, marine iguanas and green sea turtles.
“It was incredible. The animals were so close. In the water, they’d swim right up to you. The sea lions, in particular, were curious and playful. It was a surreal experience,” he said. “You can’t get close to any of the animals on land because you have to remain six feet away from any animal on land. They don’t want you messing with them because all of the islands are national parks, but in the water that rule doesn’t apply.”
Brinkerhoff was inspired by the Galapagos’ model for environmental responsibility. He hopes to take the newfound passion and educate others on sustainability.
“I learned a lot about how to protect communities, both human and ecological. The people in the Galapagos are very dedicated to preserving their environment, and I think that’s something we could all do a better job of here at home. It’s not just about preserving the national parks, but thinking about how we can make entire cities more eco-friendly, reduce carbon emissions and take care of our planet,” he said. “I think the best part was seeing how small actions can make a big difference. I want to continue taking that mindset into the future.”
As Brinkerhoff waits for his high school graduation and prepares for his college career, he cherishes the time he had on the island and plans to use his newfound leadership skills throughout his time in law school.
“I’ve always loved animals and nature. My career path is focused on law, but environmental issues and conservation are something I’ve thought about,” he said. “Whether I end up practicing environmental law or not, being a strong leader and understanding global issues is something that will benefit me in any field.”
The Galapagos trip may have only been a week-long, but the impact it left will last a lifetime, not only on Brinkerhoff, but on the children on the islands as well. As Brinkerhoff moves forward in his academic and professional career, the lessons learned from his journey will undoubtedly shape his approach to leadership, law and the environment.