Program Reviews

I traveled with OpWall with a group from my old high school. At the time I went, I was going into my second year of college studying environmental studies and biology. This trip was a great chance for me to get hands on experience in the field of study that I enjoyed and also gave me a chance to see if I wanted to go into research or not. Since I technically went with high school students, I wasn't a research assistant and didn't have a big part to play in the actual science, but I still really enjoyed being out in the field and learning from the scientists who taught us what we look for when collecting data. That is to say, though, that we did have a big part to play in the overall Operation Wallacea program however. As a group, we helped the scientists find certain organisms and collect data on habitation, etc. We spent most of our time out in the forest or scuba diving in the Caribbean.
During our week in the Cusuco National Park, we slept in tents that were set up on platforms above the ground. The fact that they actually had make shift stalls and toilets was amazing seeing as how we were in the middle of a forest and wanted to keep our carbon foot print as little as possible. The base camp living standards are pretty comfortable; you have basic electricity and natives to the small village not too far from our base camp actually cook food for you. It is good food too, however if you rely on meat for most of your diet you might need to bring jerky with you because they don't have access to a lot of meat. For part of the week we also stayed in a satellite camp in the middle of the jungle. These camps are literal camps because you either sleep in a hammock or in a tent on the hard ground. They have dug holes and trenches to use as the bathroom (I thought it would be horrible, but it wasn't that bad). I got sick while at this site and the medic was very attentive to me. They were ready to airlift me out if I didn't get better, but I did. When you go to satellite camps, it requires strenuous hiking with your heavy rucksack on your back so it does require you to be in okay shape. But honestly, the hiking was half the fun. It really allowed us to see the forest and experience it hands on. I love the green and all things nature so it was so much fun for me to go on hikes with the scientists looking for amphibians and snakes. One time we actually spotted a rattlesnake that was hidden under some leaves; it was a gorgeous yellow tan color.
The second week of our two week trip was spent on the island of Utila off the northern coast of Honduras. Op Wall plans everything for you so all you have to do is follow directions. The living standards on Utila are better than base camp because we are living in a hostel situation where there are 7 people per room with 4 sets of bunk beds. We had running water and our own bathroom in our room. We were right on the ocean and could see it out of our window. Since we were there in the summer it was quiet hot and there was no AC, but what do you expect for such a small island. We were living in luxury compared to the rest of the country. We went scuba diving twice a day for six days and it was a great experience.
This trip made me grow as a person and also made me realize that this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life. To experience another part of this beautiful earth was such an amazing thing for me because it reaffirmed my goals of saving this planet and conserving the wildlife that we threaten. For the parents out there, we were constantly with trained professionals who knew what they were doing (i.e. doctors, tour guides who knew the forest like the back of their hand, op wall people who do this year after year) so your 15/16 year old will be just fine. It is a good experience for them to learn responsibility too. I went with 16 year-olds and one 15 year-old and I can say that they needed to learn a thing or two about what it means to be a mature and responsible adult and hopefully they achieved that while working with OpWall. I would love to go on another trip with OpWall soon!

This experience was well coordinated in regards to providing education as well as a fabulous experience. I felt safe at all times despite being within close range to the wildlife. Driving up the main road and spotting elephants at the side was just magnificent. I also never thought inwoukd ever see a serval in the wild, especially during the day! Or see a cheetag having his dinner within a few metres of me. The opwall staff were wonderful as was our guide, an experience of a lifetime!

I took 15 students with me and another member of staff to Honduras in summer 2015. I didn't organise the trip m colleague did - she commented on how straight forward it was and so I have taken on the task of organising a second trip to Indonesia in summer 2017.
As soon as we landed we were greeted by OpWall staff and from the word go we felt supported, safe and well looked after. The first week was mentally and physically challenging but we grew closer as a group as we helped each other trek through the Honduran rainforest. The second week was a well deserved break - the marine site was beautiful and we forgot we were on a school trip! The diving instructors were informative, helpful and great fun! It was a skill I never thought I would learn but I am so glad I have!
Overall a fantastic experience for both the staff and the students - roll on our next trip!

Being able to witness what I've only ever seen on the television was amazing. The vast biodiversity of the cloud forest was an unforgettable experience and the knowledge of the scientists and volunteers only helped to further my own knowledge and deepen my interest. A particularly memorable part of the terestrial week was when we went on a point count walk along one of the transects and helped to record all of the species of bird by just their call. Being able to develop this skill was a great opportunity and extremely fun. The same can be said for the marine week also, going out on dives every single day and learning all of the signs for the different species was fantastic. Overall the trip was something I will never forget and has definitely aided my ambition to be a part of a project such as this in the future!

This trip was one of a lifetime for me and I will always remember it. I will always treasure the memories made, such as breathtaking hikes (literally, I was out of breath), beautiful sceneries of waterfalls, trees, and general nature nearly untouched by man, when I held deadly caterpillars (who knew?), and when we dove under the surface of the sea for hours. I loved the scuba diving so much; the creatures and scenes are so different than our normal ones, and I find water to be soothing.

Operation Wallacea was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I spent one week in Cusuco National Park (rain forest) and one week on Utila (an island with beautiful coral reefs). Both weeks were filled with in-depth lectures that went far beyond any high school class room material and hands on activities. These activities included both demonstrations and hands on data collection. For example, in the rain forest my group and I took various measurements of trees which went towards calculating the monetary worth of the rain forest. Companies with large carbon dioxide emissions pay the Honduran government to keep the forests pristine to make up for the environmental damage they cause. On the coral reefs we participated in Coral Watch, by looking at various corals and recording the type and color according to a certain scale. This data was sent to a university who was conducting a large study on the depletion of certain corals.
The staff are very warm and welcoming and help all the students feel safe and comfortable. At meals the students could sit with the scientists and talk to them about their various individual studies which was a once in a life time experience. The overall environment was educational and community centered. This experience was simply outstanding!

It was exciting to take on the challenge of taking a group of biology students to Africa, and as the date of departure drew near, a little scary as well! We had spent a year preparing for this, meeting regularly as a group to; get to know one another, complete our PADI qualifications, learn about the research we were going to take part in and the areas we would be visiting, discussing ways of managing risk, packing, getting vaccinated and the list goes on. The levels of excitement grew and I was a little nervous that the high expectations we had developed might not be met. As it turns out, we had nothing to fear. This was an amazing expedition and it exceeded our expectations on almost every level. During our first week we were lucky enough to have fairly close encounters with elephants, lions, wild dogs, black and white rhino, hyena, scorpions, giraffe, baboon, zebra, buffalo and of course a plethora of antelope varieties! Our second week was so different but no less rewarding with multiple dives every day in the beauty of Sodwana Bay. Thanks to the incredible organisation and expertise of OpWall staff we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, we learned a lot, we experienced everything we had hoped for and more. Our students have returned with greater independence, confidence, motivation, a broader view on careers and opportunities, and some great stories!

I had an amazing adventure on this expedition. The knowledge I gained about evolution, biology, and marine biology was extensive. The staff were knowledgeable and great teachers.
Additionally this trip provided first hand experience and career exploration into what biologist and other academics do in the field. I had no idea what amazing opportunities were available to those studying abroad. After the trip I gained a new appreciation for the work and understood how one could become involved in that type of experience.

The Cultural and social aspects of this trip were also eye opening. I made valuable friendships and explored a rich and vibrant culture. The cultural understanding i gained was one that will last me a life time.

This trip was an amazing experience and I would do it again in a heart beat.

From start to finish, we had an experience that left and indelible mark on all of our lives. Many of the students have talked of trying to make a career out of the work done or have shifted their focus to include this type of work. The guides and staff had enthusiasm for the work and the students. They were just as excited to see the wildlife as we were! From stories around a campfire at bush camp, to making a very rare spotting - a pangolin - to diving with a sea turtle, our kids got see an amazing part of this world and Opwall made it possible!

OpWall advertised a pre-med training course, which was perfect for me as I was studying Biomedical Science at uni, with the intention of going on to study medicine.
I travelled out not sure what to expect initially, but soon found my place in a group of other likeminded young people interested in a possible career in healthcare. Under the enthusiastic and skilled training from two Accident and Emergency room doctors, we were soon able to carry out basic observations (i.e blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen saturation), as well as have an understanding of tropical medicine, and the application of our skills in an extreme environment.
This was put to the test when, one night, we received a (thankfully false) radio call that one of the members of the herpetology teams had fallen off a bridge and was unconscious below.
We were able to gather the kit as a team of students, including splints and stretchers; reach the casualty; and carry him back out of the rainforest and onto a pickup truck, avoiding the bat team's mist nets along the way.
Overall the course was very good for someone looking an insight into the medical profession, with the doctors always willing to chat about their experiences in university and the workplace