This past summer, there were many groups of students and faculty who were able to experience transformative journeys each with a unique focus that reflected their commitments to making a difference in the world. One group set their sights on the stunning natural wonders of Iceland, where they witnessed and engaged in sustainable practices and environmental conservation efforts.
A group of 21 high school students and 4 teachers traveled to a land where breathtaking landscapes met rich history and innovative sustainability practices: Iceland. They visited hot springs and snow-capped mountains, in addition to experiencing geysers and countless other sources of natural beauty.
Mr. Scott McCormick, both a biology teacher and track coach at MBS, was one of the faculty chaperones. He recalled the beautiful landscape and how the people there had adapted in order to protect, preserve, and survive off it. He said, “[The people of Iceland] have learned to take advantage of the natural environment that they’ve got. It’s fairly cold there, but there’s all these geysers and hot water that they utilize. There’s hot springs and hot pools, so even though it’s really cold and dark, presumingly in the winter, when we were there, it was always light, but they’ve managed to kinda use the resources nature gave them there to make the place liveable.”
Ava D’Agostino ‘26 recalled one of her favorite moments while hiking to see waterfalls with the rest of the group during the trip. She said how she enjoyed, “hiking with everyone while being led by the sweetest tour guide. She would always tell us all this interesting background on where we were hiking, and we saw all these amazing waterfalls. That was definitely my favorite part.”
Aside from the sightseeing and the incredible discoveries of nature, the trip also focused on how Iceland can conserve and lead us to a more sustainable society. The longer the students stayed, the more comfortable they became in exploring Iceland’s history, culture, and people on their own. McCormick said, “it was incredible seeing how these students matured in the environment just over the course of one week.” Coming back to Morristown Beard, many have expressed a newfound appreciation for nature, culture, and the importance of sustainability. The trip to Iceland was not a summer getaway nor just a school trip, it was an invitation for these students to think critically about their roles in a changing world and to inspire them to play their part in committing our generation to a life of sustainability.
