CedarBridge Academy’s science department is to host its first pet pageant.

Money raised will go towards funding a science tour to Iceland and other department programmes. Melanie Burrows, an environmental science teacher, said she wanted her students to experience some of the areas covered in class.

She said: “We thought we could go somewhere where we could actually see it.

“This adventure/science study course will give students opportunities to make links between their experiences and important scientific content in addition to principles affecting their everyday life.”

Ms Burrows said they came up with five potential destinations and settled on Iceland.

A total of 13 pupils and five adults will take part in the ten-day trip in October.

Activities will include tours of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plate boundary in Pingvellar, waterfalls, a geothermal power plant and the Great Geysir in southwestern Iceland.

They will also explore the natural hazards of recently erupted volcanoes and go lava caving to explore how Iceland was created.

A tour of the capital city Reykjavik, a visit to a geothermal swimming pool and an evening of viewing the spectacular Northern Lights are also on the agenda.

Ms Burrows said her pupils would complete a workbook while on the trip that would help them share the experience with other students.

She added: “We will also be hosting an ‘Iceland — Land of Fire and Ice’ evening upon our return.”

Ms Burrows said organisers wanted to come up with a novel idea to raise funds because of the high cost of the trip.

She added: “We tried to think outside the box. We thought we would just be as creative as we could.

“We wanted to do something that is affiliated with science but would also be fun for the entire family and this year the event also happens to be on Earth Day 2018.

“Our science staff including our instructional leader, Beth Holdipp, and parents are also involved.”

She added that Gina Flood, of All Things Sassy, Kim-Keta Bartram, of The Hair Studio and Beauty Salon, and former school principal Rosemary Matthews were also helping to make it a success.

Ms Burrows said: “We anticipate that this event will become an annual event that will be used as a fund raiser for our science programmes and tours.”

The competition is open to members of the public and categories include pet king and queen, smallest and largest pet, cutest costume and owner-pet dress-alike.

Ms Burrows said the family event would be held in the school’s courtyard from 1pm and 4pm on April 22.

The pageant will also include a pet photo booth, pet parade, demonstrations and vendors selling food and drinks.

The entry fee is $20, which covers an owner and their pet. General admission is $5 and children under four get free entry.

• For more information, or to get involved, e-mail maburrows@cedarbridge.doe.bm