Working in Galapagos at this time of year has got several highlights. The weather is nice and cool, partly cloudy skies shading us from the scorching equatorial sun, while the rich waters ensure that the food web is continued. There is an unbelievable amount of activity at the moment, as the sea lions start to give birth and it seems that every seabird is either courting or incubating already.

One of the aspects of this time of year that makes working here special is the amount of families that we get, due to school holidays. It makes us feel very privileged to allow families to share in this wonderful experience together, and the sense of wonder that our younger (and older!) guests bring to the trip is extremely rewarding. It's nice to feel a part of such an unforgettable time in people's lives, and I feel that this is an experience that can really change the course of a child's life, as such a valuable lesson is to be learned from the Galapagos example. It is pretty unique to find nature completely unperturbed by our passing through, to feel just another part of, neither superior nor inferior, a wonderful ecosystem.

We also have a wonderful Family Activity Coordinator on board, known amongst our guests as "Saint Linda" who is constantly finding ways to help us all experience the wonders of the islands together. Particular emphasis is put on encouraging people not only to look, but also to actually see. Great tools in this respect are Linda's popular scavenger hunts, which have children of all ages occupied observing their surroundings all day, hoping to complete their lists. Negotiation skills are also needed in this activity, as in certain cases of truly extraordinary sightings (such as nesting turtles at this time of year, or snakes eating lizards) some substitutions might be allowed. Many of are younger guests get truly carried away when going over the hunt results at recap time.