Exploration Expedition Indonesia Scheduled for 2025
Notre Dame Students Embark on Unforgettable Expedition to Indonesia
On July 3, 2025, a group of 23 individuals from Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College embarked on an extraordinary journey to Camp Anoa in Indonesia. This expedition, filled with discovery and learning, was part of the Opwall programme, an organisation that fosters research and education in ecology and conservation.
The group, comprising of university students and adults, had signed up for the adventure to immerse themselves in the wonders of the rainforest and the reef. They spent a week in the lush, biodiverse environment, collecting data to help preserve the rainforest for future generations.
During their time in the rainforest, they encountered a variety of wildlife, from macaques and civets to bats, shrews, and vipers. They also came across vine snakes, hornbills, native birds, butterflies, and a myriad of smaller creatures such as centipedes, ants, spiders, leeches, and mosquitoes.
After a week in the rainforest, the group travelled to Hoga Island, an isolated tropical paradise with huts on stilts for visiting scientists and students. Here, they learned to dive or snorkel in the clear blue waters of Wakatobi National Park, surrounded by a vibrant array of marine life. From colourful coral to lion fish, turtles, clown fish, octopuses, jellyfish, rays, and moray eels, the underwater world was a spectacle to behold.
Throughout the expedition, the Indonesian lecturers and guides were inspiring and professional. Their expertise was evident, and they even rescued some of the group during a flash flood. One of the guides, Adam Steele, expressed a desire to return to Indonesia, expressing the profound impact the trip had on him.
Evie Warrington, another member of the group, described her experience in Indonesia as 'incredible' and 'once in a lifetime.' Abigail Hallam, a student on the expedition, agreed, stating that the experience was 'intense but a good intense,' and that she learned a lot about the jungle, reef ecology, and that it helped develop her character.
Opwall's research is influencing conservation and ecology, and the organisation is continually expanding its reach. In 2027, Notre Dame plans to join Opwall in South Africa, and the University of Notre Dame is planning an expedition to Réunion Island. Interested individuals can email for more information about Notre Dame's South Africa expedition.
Opwall also offers webinars during Optoberfest on October 3 and 4. For those who wish to learn more about the organisation and its work, these webinars provide a great opportunity.
The journey to Camp Anoa was an adventure in itself, involving various modes of transportation: coach, flights, ferry, truck, and hiking through the rainforest with 7 river crossings. Despite the challenges, the experiences gained and the memories created made the journey worthwhile.
As the group returned home, they carried with them a newfound appreciation for the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation. Their experiences in Indonesia serve as a testament to the transformative power of education and adventure.
For those seeking a life-changing experience, Opwall expeditions offer a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the wonders of the natural world, learn about conservation efforts, and contribute to research that is shaping the future of ecology.
