KIDS TAKE TRIPS AROUND THE GLOBE.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

Student groups from Viewpoint School in Calabasas went overseas - and underseas - for adventure this summer.

A group of seven recently returned from an excursion to Belize in Central America, where they spent 11 days snorkeling and cataloging different types of fish and marine life.

``We actually got near sharks and stingrays,'' said Paul Lowe, 16, of Westlake Village. ``I liked sharks before that but I had never seen one up close. You can dive down and pet them.''

The Belize trip was the second foreign journey of the year for Viewpoint students.

Last month, a group of eight exchange students made a trip to Moscow to visit Russian counterparts who visited Viewpoint in April.

``I never thought I'd be able to go to Russia,'' said 15-year-old Woodland Hills resident Nisha Mehling, who stayed with the family of her exchange student. ``It was wonderful. They were very hospitable and open.''

To prepare for the Belize journey, students spent a week in class learning how to identify different marine animals.

They also spent part of their days in the school's swimming pool learning how to navigate coastal waters. Chairs, for example, were used as makeshift coral reefs.

Once in the warm waters, students noted how many of a particular type of fish they came across in certain areas. They even held an underwater fish ID quiz.

``We just got to see the greatest diversity of fish there, because it was protected,'' said Lowe's twin sister, Allison.

They earned a semester's worth of credit for their work, which included four days in the classroom and a presentation after they returned.

``It was definitely a hands-on kind of class,'' Allison Lowe said.

The Belize trip also gave students an experience that will last long after the class' last exam.

``You learn a good deal more about that particular biological format than you would from a textbook in a classroom,'' said Robert Dworkoski, headmaster for the private school.

While Belize offered a feast for the eyes, Russia excited other senses.

Mehling said she enjoyed Russian treats like borscht - a beet soup - and vanilla ice cream topped with strawberry jam.

``I ate rabbit for the first time while I was there,'' she said.

Students also visited the ballet, the circus, museums and the Kremlin, where they saw the well-preserved corpse of Vladimir I. Lenin.

``We all had to be really quiet and solemn,'' Mehling said. ``It didn't look like he was dead.''

The students roamed the city by bus, train and trolley.

``Over there they didn't have a car. I felt more independent. I'm so glad that I got to do it,'' Mehling said. ``I've seen other cultures, but not from this perspective.''

Viewpoint held previous exchanges with Russia in 1989 and 1990.

``All of us can learn by traveling and visiting other countries,'' Dworkoski said. ``Bonds of friendship develop that are long lasting.''

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1) (Ran in SAC Edition only) Students from Viewpoint School in Calabasas visited Belize as part of a program.

(2--Color) (Ran in Simi Edition only) From left, Sheila Nathan and twin siblings Allison and Paul Lowe were among Viewpoint School students who paid a visit to Belize as part of a campus program.