St Andrews Secondary Faculty of Social Subjects

Geography Field Trip 2014

St Andrews RC Secondary Faculty of Social Subjects S3 Geography Trip - Potential Destination

Dear Parent / Guardian, The Geography department is delighted to offer our pupils a very exciting opportunity. As part of the new National Qualification we are proposing an overseas field trip for the current S2 pupils moving into S3. The benefits of residential field trips are becoming increasingly recognised as an important part of learning and development. The trip will help reinforce classroom learning and bring Geography to life in one of its most exciting locations. In turn this will be invaluable for your childs course work for their added value unit and exams. The trip will be organised through Discover The World, who specialise in such residential field trips. Three potential destinations have been selected as most relevant to the National Qualification curriculum and will provide the pupils with a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience Geography outside of the classroom in an exciting and engaging environment. As the costs for such a trip are significant, the proposed date of the field trip is scheduled for the beginning of April 2014. The purpose of this hand out is to present the three potential destinations, costs and example itineraries associated for each trip. So that we can assess interest levels and the preferred destinations can you please complete the cut off slip below if you wish your son / daughter to participate in this once in a lifetime experience and return it to Mr. Metcalfe in Geography room 2. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me at the school on 0141 582 0240. Yours Sincerely Mr R. Metcalfe I would like more information on: Iceland 5 Days / 4 Nights - 735 Sorrento (Itlay) 5 Days / 4 Nights - 625 Bay of Naples (Itlay) 5 Days / 4 Nights - 560 Pupil Name- - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------ Class- - - - - - - - Parent/guardian signature_____________________________________________________

Departure Date - April 2014

Group Size 20 students + 2 staff

Estimated price per student with a guide, flying with Icelandair (airline) 735
YOUR SUGGESTED ITINERARY Day 1 - Blue Lagoon Perlan - Reykjavik Fly from the UK to Keflavik and transfer to the Blue Lagoon where you can take a dip in the milky blue geothermal waters of Icelands most famous attraction, or simply take a look from the viewing platform. Continue to Perlan, a Reykjavik landmark. This futuristic glass-domed building comprises large circular tanks holding the citys naturally-heated water reserves, above which sits an outdoor viewing platform. Transfer to your accommodation in Reykjavik for an evening meal and overnight stay. Day 2 Eyjafjalljokull flood plain - Seljalandsfoss Stora Dimon - Meet your guide and travel eastwards until you reach an area affected by a jokulhlaup (glacial burst) from the recent Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption. Here students will see evidence from where glacial flood water has washed down the valley. Visit Seljalandsfoss, a narrow plunge waterfall where the

water plummets over a former sea cliff, far enough away from the bedrock to allow you to walk behind it. Continue to Stora Dimon - a small volcano that rises to approximately 80m that sits above the flat sandur outwash plain. Next is Skogar, a broad, block waterfall that thunders 60m over a cliff edge. Close by is an interesting museum which looks at rural life through the ages, complete with re-constructed turf houses - a great opportunity to see how the Icelandic way of life has been influenced over the years by the countrys geography and harsh climatic conditions. After this exploration, travel to the Solheimajokull glacier to study the moraines and see first-hand how the glacier is shaping the land. Enjoy an optional glacier walk or trip up onto the Myrdalsjokull icecap which sits above the volcano, Katla. Overnight in the Vik area. Day 3 - Vik Reynishverfi Dyrholaey Hveragerdi - Reykjavik Visit the black sand beach and dunes at Vik, the most southerly point of Iceland. See the incredible hexagonal basalt columns and impressive cliffs of Reynishverfi. The coastline between here and Dyrholaey is worthy of study, with a variety of features including Icelands answer to Durdle Door an immense natural rock arch. If the roads are open, visit the lighthouse perched on the headland. En route to Reykjavik pass through the small greenhouse town of Hveragerdi, a place where there is so much geothermal activity that it is possible to swim in naturally heated waters here and to even boil an egg in them! If you wish it is also an ideal place to carry out a rural settlement study. The latest hot springs to have appeared here did so after the Olfus earthquake in 2008. Overnight in the capital or, if you prefer, in a rural guesthouse. Day 4 - Hellisheidi Kerid - Gullfoss - Geysir - Thingvellir Reykjavik Head east to the geothermal power plant at Hellisheidi and enjoy an interactive display and guided tour. Continue to Kerid, a dramatic volcanic crater lake, originally believed to have formed following a huge volcanic explosion. Yet more thorough studies show that Kerid was a cone volcano which erupted and emptied its magma reserve. Next, observe the immense power of the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall. Here, the Hvita river flows from a glacier into a rift valley. Stop at nearby Geysir, where Icelands most reliable geyser Strokkur spouts every 5 minutes or so. Day 5 - Reykjavik tour or Whale Watching and / or Reykjanes Peninsula Home You may like to spend time in Reykjavik sightseeing, shopping or conducting studies on the urban environment. Alternatively, join a three-hour whale watching trip from the harbour (weather dependent) or visit the Reykjanes geothermal area, and see the bubbling mud pools on the way to Keflavik for your return flight. NB: Depending on your flight times your itinerary maybe subject to change. Please also bear in mind that activities and your itinerary may be influenced by weather conditions; a flexible approach together with an experienced, professional and friendly guide are essential components in a successful study trip to Iceland.

Departure Date - April 2014

Group Size 20 students + 2 staff

Estimated price per student with a guide 625 (5 Days, 4 Nights)

Departure Date - April 2014

Group Size 20 students + 2 staff

Estimated price per student with a guide, 560 (5 Days,4 Nights)

Day 1 Arrival Rome Airport Fly UK-Rome and transfer to your hotel in the Bay of Naples area, enjoy dinner and settle in. NB: Dependent on the times of your arrival and departure flights to/from Rome, it may be possible to add in a Sightseeing excursion in Rome, taking in The Vatican, Spanish Steps etc. Please see our Optional Activities document for further information, or contact our team. Day 2 Mount Vesuvius - Pompeii After breakfast transfer to Mount Vesuvius, picking up your guide en route. Mount Vesuvius is just one part of a vast area of volcanic activity that provides an ideal opportunity to witness lava and pyroclastic flow residues. Despite the volcano being dormant there are sulphur emitting fumaroles and solidified lava, pumice and tuffs which can be witnessed from the crater rim. Very few places on earth can illustrate the destruction caused by a large volcanic eruption as well as Pompeii. Buried at the time and now preserved for all to see. The streets and villas illustrate how man and nature struggle to coexist. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 3 Solfatara - Naples After breakfast meet your guide and transfer to Solfatara - a shallow volcanic crater with much evidence of volcanic activity, still emitting jets of steam

with sulphurous fumes. The crater floor has many fumaroles and bubbling mud pools. Being so close to the Eurasian/African plate, the region is noted for bradyseismic uplift and subsidence, and because of this you may also experience seismic shakes. After a lunch stop continue to Naples. With stunning views of Mt Vesuvius and the Isle of Capri, Naples is an ideal place to explore on foot. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 4 Amalfi Coast - Today will be spent exploring the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of the Amalfi Coast! Following breakfast, meet your guide and set off on one of the worlds most beautiful drives. A triumph of engineering, the road clings to the rock face, soaring and plunging past picture-postcard villages (this route is the star of many a film location or car commercial). The day includes stops at view points and a visit to the stunning town of Amalfi itself. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 5 Naples Rome Airport Transfer from your Naples accommodation to Rome Airport for your return flight.