Tortoise Club for Schools continues to go from strength to strength. Since its inception in September 2005, fifty classes from twenty five different schools have benefited from becoming members. That means that over 1,200 children across the United Kingdom are now aware of the Galapagos Islands and their plight. Of equal importance, over 1,200 children have become involved with conservation.

And that's what Tortoise Club is all about: conservation and education. Involving over 1,200 children in two-and-a-half years has been no easy task, and Tortoise Club for Schools is constantly developing and changing, not only to meet the needs of the changing world around us, but to ensure that this initiative is pertinent to the children at whom it is aimed.

February 2008 saw half term in the world of education. As a teacher, breaks from school/work like this are the times when the main thrust of what I do for Tortoise Club for Schools gets done. To this end, I travelled to London from my home in the West Midlands to meet with the GCT staff. Our meetings are always passionate because we have such enthusiasm for this project, even more so at this time of year because it is when we launch our annual competition. This year, the competition is to write a poem about conservation in Galapagos or the United Kingdom. The competition has now been launched to all Tortoise Club for Schools and Junior members (details can be found here).

So, meeting over, I left the office to travel home with a long list of work to be done to achieve the initiatives we had discussed and planned for the next academic year, 2008-09.

Now, this is where I ask for your help. We are always looking to recruit new members. As a teacher I know schools are busy places, but I also know that Tortoise Club for Schools has a lot to offer children. I myself, as you are, am passionate about conservation, particularly in Galapagos, but the future is with our children. If you know anyone who is a teacher, anyone interested in tortoises, or any children who might be able to persuade their teacher to get involved then please spread the word. Or, if you live close to a Primary School we would greatly appreciate it if you could drop a leaflet in to the Head Teacher.

Leaflets and subscription forms are available for you to distribute, or for the office to send directly. Please e-mail tortoise@gct.org with details and requirements.

Thanks for you support with Tortoise Club for Schools.