£2,000 Discover the World inaugral grant for schools

You could win our inaugral £2000 grant towards a school field trip to Iceland - we believe this wonderful country is the world's best living textbook!

We are offering a £2,000 grant for one school group to use against a field trip to Iceland. Any school can apply, you just need to let us know why you think your school should qualify for this fantastic opportunity.  The winners will be awarded the grant on the basis of the application that most impresses the adjudicators at the Geographical Association.  As a result of the grant you could organise a school trip to Iceland from as little as £340 per person (based on 20 paying passengers and 2 free staff in low season for a 3 day tour).
All applications must be received by 20 April 2012. To find out about full terms and conditions and how to apply, click here »

More information about our student trips to Iceland and beyond.

 

Missed the Northern Lights in the UK?

You lucky few in the North with that stunning display of the Northern Lights over the UK last week.  We in the South were quite envious of the glorious photographs displayed on the BBC website.

However, all is not lost for us Southerners - you can still see the Aurora Borealis on a student trip to Iceland during the months of October through to  April.  We are currently getting a lot of requests for 2012 and even 2013 so if you are thinking of planning a trip do get in touch soon.  These dates tie in very nicely with the forecast by Nasa that these next two winters are likely to be the best show of Northern Lights for over a decade - if not more if some reports are to be believed.

The Alaska website offers you and your students a chance to see what the likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights - sun solar flare activity and clear skies permitting!

Schools Out for Summer - get ready for September!

As most of the schools are now about to finish, or have finshed already, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who have taken a school trip with us. 

We have enjoyed working with you again this year and your travel testimonials are an inspiration for us.  Especially the ones where you have quoted your students and let us know how much they felt inspired by the countries you have taken them to - especially Iceland and Morocco.

Have a great summer break and if you want to hit the new term running with another trip ready to roll we are here throughout the summer and have some wonderful NEW DESTINATIONS to tempt you as well as the inspirational Iceland and amazing Morocco.

Have a lovely summer and best wishes from all of us in the schools' team

Britain to be powered by Iceland's geothermal wonders?

The British government believes that a 700 mile cable from Iceland via Scotland could supply million of homes with affordable and renewable power from Iceland’s 200 volcanoes and hot springs. 

Britain is trying to meet carbon emission targets and is becoming more reliant on energy produced from renewable sources. This Iceland initiative would reduce the risk of power cuts and would be more consistent from Iceland’s hydropower and geothermal energy resources.

Iceland’s government owned energy provider, Landsvirkjun, is currently undertaking a feasibility study involving Norway, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. This is a positive step in the right direction, towards a greener Britain and a more sustainable future for the energy consumption of Europe.

Today, over 80% of Iceland’s primary energy is derived from renewable energy sources. Much of the country’s energy and hot water is provided by harnessing the power of the earth, such as Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant and Irafoss Hydroelectric Power Plant, which are attractions to school groups visiting Iceland! If you are studying renewable energy you may find the Hellishedi geothermal plant processes useful.

Discover the World offer school trips to this outdoor classroom, where your students can experience a variety of sites relating to renewable energy; including the Blue Lagoon, geothermal power plants, hydroelectric power plants, the world’s first hydrogen filling station. Combine this with a wealth of geographical wonders such as volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs, geysers and thermal mud pools. But don’t take our word for it - see what others thought of their school trip with us!

For more information on our Iceland educational programme, please click here.

 

TEACHER INSPECTION TRIP TO ICELAND MAY 2011

TEACHER INSPECTION TRIP TO ICELAND  MAY 2011

 

 
 
Addy and Jan from Discover The World along with 25 teachers recently returned from a busy 4-day Teacher Inspection trip to Iceland. In view of the recent eruption of Grimsvotn we wondered what awaited us… would we really be walking around knee deep in ash?

How wrong could we be? Unlike some incorrect press reports, the ash only impacted small, isolated areas on the country. We also saw first hand how the fertile volcanic ash from last year’s eruption has now transformed areas to lush green grass.

 Day one - Upon arrival at Keflavik we met up with our tour guide, freelance journalist and long term friend to Discover the World – Cathy Harlow. We were immediately whisked to the Blue Lagoon, on the spectacular Reykjanes Peninsula, for a laze in the geothermally heated lagoon. Later we were treated to a magnificent sunset at 11 pm and when it was still light at 11.30 we had to convince our brains that it really was time to sleep…

Day two - A very full day which enabled us to experience, first hand, the natural resources of Iceland and how they are used to full potential. After an early breakfast our first stop was the  world’s first Hydrogen Filling Station, providing an interesting insight into fuels of the future. On to the  Geothermal and Hydro Electric Power Stations, which supply the country with cheap, renewable hot water and electricity. The Hveragerdi Geothermal Centre was particularly interesting - why boil eggs in a saucepan when you can dip a net into a Geothermal pool? The Rye bread, cooked overnight in the geothermal oven was absolutely delicious!

Lunch was at Thingvellir National Park, where you can see the Mid Atlantic Ridge on the earth’s surface. Afterwards our coach carried on along the famous Golden Circle route where we marvelled at Geysers and awe inspiring waterfalls including Gulfoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful which flows from a glacier into a rift valley. An exhilarating day was topped off by a good meal and nights sleep out in the country, at the Hotel Dyrholaey.

 Day three – Another early start as we headed to Vik and Reynishverfi for an invigorating walk along the spectacular black sand beaches with their amazing basalt columns, caves and stacks.

 Then the highlight of the trip for us all, a glacier walk on Solheimajokull. We listened attentively to the safety instructions before heading onto the ice.

Excitement mounted on the drive to Mount Hekla  - one of Iceland’s most active and prominent volcanoes. We learnt that pumice is an important export for Iceland for use in creating the stone wash effect in jeans.

At the beautiful Hjalparfoss falls (complete with rainbow), we treated the group to a gourmet feast of rotten shark and dried fish, washed down with Icelandic Schnapps then Icelandic chocolate for dessert! You can’t visit a country without trying the local delicacy!

 Dinner at Reykjavik’s finest restaurant: Restaurant Reykjavik rounded off the day nicely. Storyteller/comedian Sandra kept us on the edge of our seats with her  eccentric tales of the history of Iceland. A great end to a very busy, but awe inspiring, day for most of us! Some had energy left to further explore Reykjavik.

 Day four - Another early start followed by inspections of local hotels, it was clear there is great standard accommodation to suit all from hostel type with really good recreational areas to a traditional Viking style hotel, complete with singing waiters dressed as Vikings and a storytellers cave, with chance for teachers to relax in a hot spa or sauna after their strenuous day!

We drove around the spectacular Reykjanes Peninsula next, and stood on the Bridge Between Continents, it was agreed the school groups will find it fascinating to stand between the American and Eurasion plates.

  We headed to the airport in awe and amazement of the natural beauty of Iceland. A packed itinerary full of outstanding natural beauty, an experience not to be missed by anyone interested in the natural world. Iceland has it all, without the commercialism of many other tourist destinations. What better way to bring geography, geology and science to life!

Grimsvotn erupts!

 

 
 

Now is an exciting time for all those geographers, geologists and scientists who are as passionate about Iceland as we are!

The Grimsvotn volcanic eruption began in the early evening on Saturday 21 May. Although the plume reached  as high as 20km, the most up to date news confirm that the Grimsvotn eruption is over; the Department of Civil Protection has changed emergency status levels back to 'normal'. 
According to the University of Iceland's volcanologist Steinunn Jakobsdottir, no volcanic activity had been detected at Grimsvotn since early Saturday morning. After only two days of intense activity, it rapidly died down. Since last Wednesday the eruption has been 'all but over' according to local sources in-the-know.  

Although thick ash did cover the area to the south of Grimsvotn volcano, much of this was washed away in recent rain fall. We would like to take this opportunity to correct press reports that claim ‘the whole of Iceland is covered in ash’. You can see for yourself  with these live webcams.

 For more information about volcanoes

 Perhaps read about one school group’s experience during last year’s Eyjafjallajokull eruption