THE song "California Here I Come!" is likely to be sung by teacher Helen Murphy next month, when she joins a team of scientific researchers for a two-week trip to America's West Coast.

For Helen, 36, a geography teacher at St Mary's High School, Astley, has been warded a prestigious 3M Environmental teaching Award which means she receives an all-expenses paid scientific research trip to California.

Her two weeks will be spent joining Earthwatch volunteers to study California's wildlife.

Helen commented: "I feel I would be a better teacher, able to work in a more effective manner after working with a group of like minded people on a project that means a lot to me."

And Simon A. Martyn, Executive Director of Earthwatch, added: "We're offering a chance to work alongside some of the leading experts in their fields. It's not just about learning though, it's also giving something back to teachers, many return saying they now remember why they became teachers in the first place. Two weeks can give them the renewed enthusiasm for many years of teaching."

Earthwatch is an international science and education foundation which sponsors environmental research by inviting paying volunteers to help scientists on expeditions around the world, and so far their efforts have allowed scientists on almost 2,000 projects in 118 countries carry out vital work on a number of issues, including global warming.

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