Catholic school student's essay wins family a Galapagos adventure

Published: 2006-03-16

ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- Caitlin Zera's parents have always liked to take their children on Saturday adventures to explore areas near their home. That spirit of adventure has been passed on to Caitlin and helped her earn a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Caitlin, an eighth-grader at St. Francis of Assisi School in Oakville, is one of 15 students nationwide to win the Everyday Explorer Challenge, a contest sponsored by National Geographic Kids magazine, the National Geographic Channel and the makers of Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer. The contest was aimed at encouraging a love of exploring in young people. Entries required essays and photos of local places participants like to explore. Caitlin said she read about the contest in National Geographic Kids magazine and thought it would be fun to enter. She chose a location she and her family visit frequently -- Soulard Farmers Market. The historic indoor/outdoor market covers several city blocks in the Soulard neighborhood of South St. Louis. It has little in common with the many large, new grocery centers the Zera family passes to get there. And that's fine with Susan and Edward Zera, Caitlin's parents.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .