Ready to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef

This summer, NSSHS members had the opportunity to experience Australia with Advisory Board Chair Claes Nobel and our staff. Hosted by Macquarie University, near Sydney, the group shared unforgettable learning experiences and adventures: enjoying a cruise on the beautiful Sydney Harbour; surfing on Manley Beach; getting up close and personal with kangaroos, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, tropical birds, and even crocodiles; riding a scenic sender to the valley floor of the spectacular Blue Mountains National Park; taking a a skyrail cableway across the canopy of the Kuranda Rainforest; visiting the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park; and capping it off with a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, snorkeling, and scuba diving. A highlight of the trip, the Great Barrier Reef is regarded as the "eighth wonder of the world" and is on the World Heritage listing of our planet's unique and precious places. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest structure on earth made by living creatures, with over 1,500 species of vibrantly-colored fish, which live among the 400 plus species of coral.

"It was wonderful to have Claes Nobel with us to be an inspiration and mentor. I am so happy that NSHSS was able to make this kind of learning experience possible. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Australia is an amazing and awesome place, but it was the people on the trip and moments we shared that made the whole experience memorable." Marie Harding Bishop Kelly High School 2006 Boise, Idaho

While staying on campus, students attended lectures about global leadership; indigenous animals and reptiles, (with live demonstrations!); Australian colonial history; aboriginal culture past and present; and a special treat--a wonderful opportunity to view the artistic achievement of Indigenous artists through art works from the private collection of Professor Di Yerbury and the University's Gallery collection. Professor Yerbury, former Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie and the Gallery's curator, provided commentary on the art works along with a special slide show. Students also spent time with staff members and Mr. Nobel, who shared his personal experiences and wisdom. This trip balanced learning and fun while members formed lasting friendships. And they braved the Aussie breakfast staple of spaghetti on toast, topping it off with a bit of the infamous vegemite.

Click here for more photos of the trip and please contact NSHSS member service manager Gloria Smith to reserve your space for next summer's Australian adventure at gloria.smith@nshss.org.

One of our parents says of the trip: "Please thank everyone for me for helping make this a wonderful dream come true! My daughter even had dreams come true she didn't even know she would ever want to come true! She has made wonderful friendships that will hopefully continue to grow and enrich her life even further and the example of Mr. Nobel and the staff will continue to have a lasting effect on her. She now knows there is a much bigger world out there to discover and enjoy!"