“They’ll Remember This Forever” Llanishen High School’s Epic Azores Geography Tour

Natural Wonder

When Rayburn Tours plan your Azores educational tour, we focus on the biggest island, Sao Miguel, as it is rich in educational nuggets for your students to discover.

Think volcanism, seismic activity, the Triple Plate Boundary, microclimates, mild weather, and visible volcanic material all opening up lanes of discussion for your school. This is what Llanishen experienced:

• Gruta do Carvao: “It was really good with some fascinating features!” They got under the island’s skin with this lava cave, seeing the remains of a historic volcanic episode
• Vulcanological & Geothermal Observatory: “We really enjoyed this as it was informative and had an excellent guide.” A great introduction to the islands geographical history with loads of earth-based samples for students to analyse
• Terra Nostra Botanical Park: “Very enjoyable.” A gorgeous garden with a Jurassic style backdrop
• Microbial Observatory in Furnas Valley: “We saw how the residents use the heat and geothermal energy, and eating eggs cooked in the fumaroles went down a treat!”
• Ribeira Grande Geothermal Power Station: “The geothermal power station was cool.” Students saw how Azoreans convert the islands natural energy into energy that’s used by humans
• Caldeira Velha Geothermal Pools: “Probably one of the highlights! Really fun, exciting and in a beautiful setting.” Students took a dip in a natural pool heated by the Earth, all whilst surrounded by lush jungle

Incredibly, there was even more, with Mike and his students particularly enjoying the panoramic views of the caldera lakes of Sete Cidades.

Field Study Tutors – The Gold Standard

Having carefully crafted school geography tours for years, we know researching and talking about the landscape on tour may not be possible when considering your daily responsibilities, which is where our Field Study Tutors come in.

They’re passionate geographers with a robust knowledge of the destination you’re visiting. Most are former teachers who have led school tours, so they fully understand what it takes to lead a group of young people outside the classroom.

Val Vannet is an extraordinary example of what an FST brings, with accolades and well-respected positions part of her 40-year history in the teaching profession. Leading tours with Rayburn since 2011 and with a budding curiosity and passion for the geography of the Azores with every visit, we knew Val was the perfect fit for Llanishen.

“Val is a legend! She was beyond expectations in terms of knowledge of the island and the landscapes we were studying. She was really good with the students and very friendly to all the staff. Of course, we could have talked our class through the features, but she had stats and stories that took students learning to the next level! She made our lives so much easier and added a new depth to the trip.” Mike Prince Llanishen High School.