In an effort to raise money for a school science tour to Switzerland, the Parent Teacher Student Association and CedarBridge Academy will be hosting a valentine vendors market next month.

Melanie Burrows, a teacher, explained more about the fundraising event.

“The science department is having a science tour in April and we are going to Switzerland. To improve our school culture and relationships, we decided to bond with the Parent Teacher Student Association.

“We have done a couple of projects, like tag days, and working on this — they will be sponsoring their tables and doing what they have to do at the market as well,” said Ms Burrows, a teacher of environmental and marine sciences and some signature pathway subjects.

The vendor market is a collaborative effort with the PTSA.

“Really, it’s just to encourage our students to accept the fact that they can’t always be given everything, they have to work for some things as well.”

The market will include crafts, candles, food and treats. There is a $50 fee for those wanting to participate in the market.

“The $50 is for anyone who would like to sponsor a spot. So, if you bring your table, you put and sell whatever you want — you are basically buying a space. The general public can come in for free, walk around and purchase whatever they want,” said Ms Burrows.

“We are trying to pay for some of the group functions when we travel — we will pay for the hotel room and for any of the experiences. For example, we go up to the Alps, maybe we will do some dog sledding or something like that — maybe we can pay for the group rather than it coming out of their pockets,” said Ms Burrows, who is also organising the trip.

Ms Burrows will be doing the science trip with tour leaders and chaperones Ashley Robinson and Timothy Sousa.

Ms Burrows noted that Switzerland was not the first destination of choice.

“Initially, we were heading back to Iceland, but as we were finalising details, the volcano started to erupt.”

In the past month, there has been volcanic activity near Grindavarik on the south-east coast of Iceland.

“We are going to be looking at glaciation, different types of energy, hydro-electric power, looking down at some valleys and how they were formed, geology,” said Ms Burrows.

About 20 students ranging in age from 14 to 18 will be heading to Switzerland in April.

“We didn’t want to cancel the trip, so we tried to find somewhere where the organisation that we work with from the UK would allow us to do not quite 100 per cent of what we wanted to do in Iceland but at least about 85 to 90 per cent of some of the objectives. We can collect data, explorations, anything that the locals can do. We are going to try and link up with a school in that area as well,” she said.

Ms Burrows noted they were organising the trip with the assistance of a British company that specialises in educational tours.

The valentine’s vendor market will be held on February 10 from 9.30am to 2pm in CedarBridge’s southern courtyard.

The vendor’s market will also support PTSA school initiatives, including scholarships and graduation.