CIAO! HNC GEOGRAPHERS EXPLORE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF SICILY

HNC A Level Geography students have recently returned from an awe-inspiring tour of Sicily as part of the group’s exploration of volcanoes and plate tectonics, to discover first-hand how the unique identities of places are shaped by not only physical factors, but also by a place’s history and culture.

In A Level Geography, students explore a range of topics that lead to a greater understanding of the world around us. In this life-changing trip, A Level Geography students from HNC enjoyed a five-day exploration of the Italian Island of Sicily, once ruled by Greece and home to the infamous Mount Etna, one of the globe’s most active volcanoes. Throughout the trip, students explored the island and investigated a range of physical phenomena to help inform their knowledge of volcanic hazards and how they are monitored, researching their formation and structure, and how they can be monitored to ensure the local population’s safety. Visits included a trip to the Colata Lavica field of 1991/93, a cable car ride up Mount Etna to explore the crater and discover more about this famously active volcano, and a boat ride to the island of Vulcano, where the group hiked to the island’s volcanic crater and later explored the island’s black sand beaches and hot springs.

The trip, which links directly with the A Level’s ‘changing places’ topic, also allowed the group to explore a range of landmarks and experience the diverse culture of the island. Cultural activities included a visit to a local honey factory, a day spent in the beautiful ‘comune’ of Taormina, where the group were able to explore breath-taking views and an ancient Greek Amphitheatre, a pizza making experience as a local pizzeria, and time at the Alcantata Gorge Botanic and Geological Park to explore the deep gorges and ravines carved out by the Alcantara River over thousands of years. 

The group, who stayed in the Sicilian ‘comune’ of Mascali, also enjoyed eating the local Sicilian cuisine, which although Italian, has strong Greek and Arab influences. Stuart Ogden, Faculty Lead Enlighten, comments “What a fantastic trip – here in Sicily we really did bring learning to life! Discovering the sheer scale of the volcanoes that have impacted and shaped the landscape across the globe has been a genuinely enlightening experience for our A Level Geographers, and the experience of standing on the edge of an active Volcano is one that I know will stay with the group forever. It was fascinating to explore the unique landscapes and culture of Sicily, which has been shaped, not only by the volcanoes that dominate the landscape, but by the people and cultures that have called this island home over thousands of years. This is an experience that will support our students’ wider learning of the topics we cover in the classroom, as well as developing in them a thirst for culture and learning new skills. I am incredibly proud of the group and the challenges they took on”.

Parent feedback from the trip has also been overwhelmingly positive, with one parent commenting, “thank you for organising the Sicily trip. My son has had a brilliant time, enjoyed all the excursions and has made new friends. A real success!  So much so that he is now considering studying Geography at university”.

HNC provides students from across the curriculum with a wide range of enriching experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. You can find out more about how the experiences on offer at HNC can support you to become your best self at our open event, taking place on Wednesday 13 November. Click here to find out more.

We hope you enjoy the gallery of images below.

Educate, Enrich, Enlighten
HNC Building Icon
Showcase Schools & Colleges
Siliver School Mental Health Award
The Quality in Careers Standard
Click Ceop Internet Safety
Disability Confident Leader