Submitted by Suzanne Berry
The phrase “girls on ice” might conjure images of girls in glittering outfits and ice skates twirling around an ice rink, but it’s actually the name of a free wilderness science education program.
Starting June 17, Lopez High School sophomore Ashwini Bartolucci will spend nearly two weeks exploring and studying glaciers and alpine ecosystems in Alaska with an all-women team of professional glaciologists, ecologists, artists and mountaineers.
Bartolucci’s participation is both an achievement and an honor. Her application was selected from a pool of 1200 girls, agest 16-18. Of the nine girls selected for the Alaska program, only two are from Washington State. The other is an exchange student from Rwanda attending Spring Street School in Friday Harbor.
The girls on the team will challenge themselves and gain self-confidence in their physical, intellectual, and social abilities. “I’m excited about learning from women who are experts in their field and getting a different perspective on the world from the place of Alaska,” says Bartolucci. “I also like exercise, and this is a hiking trip in addition to a learning experience.”
Girls on Ice describes itself as “the science version of a ‘language immersion’ experience – where we connect science with all aspects of daily life with the goal of creating lifelong advocates for Earth science, specifically, and the scientific process as a whole, regardless of whether or not they decide to specialize in science in college.”
Now in its fifth year, Girls on Ice is offered in partnership with the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After spending 12 days exploring Gulkana Glacier, southeast of Fairbanks, the girls will spend their last day at the university reviewing their findings from the glacier and making a presentation to university faculty.
Bartolucci is excited about this adventure. “I’m interested in learning about everything, she says, “I prefer not having to remember information for an exam, I just like learning.” Her achievement of Faculty Honors on the student honor roll attests to her drive. A track runner, Bartolucci is also ready for the physical challenge of scrambling around on glaciers: she recently made it to the state finals in the 800-meter race. Now she’s walking up flights of stairs with a pack to strengthen her muscles for climbing the glaciers.
Bartolucci’s participation in the Lopez community likely also attracted the attention of the Girls on Ice coordinators. Outside of school, Bartolucci volunteers in several capacities with Kwiaht’s local environmental research projects; at the Lopez Recycling Center; as the youngest member and co-chair of the Solid Waste Alternatives Program Board; and as a member of the Trashion Fashion Steering Committee. These activities will stand her in good stead as a member of her newest team.
Bartolucci will return at the end of June and will prepare a presentation for the Lopez community about her experience.
