Belize: Forest & Marine Ecology
| In Belize: | Three sections: mid-July, late-July and early August 2009 (dates finalized soon) |
| At Home or School: | September - early December 2009 (Web-based Learning Community) |
| Credits: | 7 graduate credits from Miami University; $3,000 in-state & $7,000 out-of-state tuition waived; course can be applied to Global Field Program. |
| Course Cost: | $1150 + airfare |
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Travel to Belize to join conservation projects from the Cincinnati Zoo and the Belize Zoo. Explore diverse terrestrial, coastal, and coral reef communities, while learning about conservation programs on such species as harpy eagles, jaguars, manatees, and howler monkeys. Possible investigations include monitoring manatee population dynamics, human influence on coral reefs, and aquatic mangrove species sampling. Discover the power of inquiry to generate knowledge and inspire conservation. All students will have the chance to conduct an investigation of the local ecosystem, asking their own questions, collecting data, and presenting conclusions. Prior to and following the field experience in Belize, students will complete coursework via Dragonfly Workshops Web-based learning community as they apply experiences to their home institutions. |
Course Themes
- Coral reef and marine ecology
- Ecology and conservation of manatees
- Forest ecology
- Changing role of zoos in conservation
- Curricular development and educational leadership
- Inquiry-based learning
- Participatory education
- Community-based conservation
A typical Field Expeditions day in Belize is likely to include:
- Visits to field conservation sites
- Lectures
- Student-led discussions of key course topics
- Engagement with local communities
- Open inquiries
- Journal writing
[Click on an image to open it in a new window]
Belize
Belize contains an important chunk of the vast Maya Forest that stretches across the Yucatan Peninsula. This lowland forest, home to more than 95 mammal and 400 bird species, is the second-largest contiguous tract of tropical forest in the Americas. Animals include jaguar, puma, ocelot, armadillo, keel-billed toucans, and macaws. Within Belize's rich coastal environments lives what may be the largest population of manatees in the Caribbean. The diverse marine ecosystem of Belize also includes a 290-kilometer-long barrier reef, the longest in the Western Hemisphere.
Possible Sites in Belize
The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center
The Belize Zoo, situated on 29 acres of tropical savanna, exhibits over 125 animals native to Belize. The Belize Zoo receives more than 10,000 school children every year as part of the Zoo's progressive education program.
Community Baboon Sanctuary
Established to protect the local population of black howler monkeys through voluntary community participation in land management, the Community Baboon Sanctuary encompasses over 12,980 acres of broadleaf forest, wetlands, and pasture farmland. The black howler monkey, known as "baboon" in Creole, is the main species of interest in the reserve.
Gales Point
Formerly a home site for pre-colonial loggers, the residents of Gales Point today are mostly farmers and fisherman who recognize the importance of this delicate habitat and have spared no effort to preserve it. The narrow peninsula of land located in the southern coastal area of Belize serves as perfect habitat for nesting sea turtles and the warm lagoon waters are a haven for Antillean manatees.
(Course locations are subject to change.)
Dragonfly Workshops Web-based Learning Community
Upon acceptance into the program and before departing for Belize, students will join instructors and classmates in Dragonfly Workshops' collaborative Web community to complete pre-trip assignments. After returning to the United States, students will continue to work in their Web-based community from September through early December to develop projects initiated in the field, discuss assignments, and exchange ideas. All students should expect to spend two to three hours a week contributing to their Web-based learning community from their home or school computer. Navigating the Web platform is easy--it's designed for people with no prior computer experience. To learn more about this unique Web experience, visit dragonflyworkshops.org.
Cost: $1150 + Airfare
All basic expenses in-country are covered in the course costs, including:- Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
- Lodging
- Field station fees
- Field equipment (as needed)
- Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)
- Park entrance and guide fees
Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as gifts, or some ancillary costs, such as passport fees and course texts.
Airfare: To estimate fares to Belize, applicants may wish to visit an online fare finder or call a travel agent. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares.
Financial Support
Because of support from Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the course costs listed above are a fraction of actual program costs. Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs. Click here for more Grant Funding Tips.
Tuition costs:
Non-Miami University Participants
To support involvement by a broad range of educators from across the nation, Miami University is currently waiving all tuition for Earth Expedition participants who hold bachelor's degrees and who are not full-time students at Miami University. Upon successful completion of both the field and Web-based components of the Earth Expeditions course, participants will receive seven graduate credit hours. (Approximately $2,500 for in-state and $6,200 for out-of-state tuition is waived).
Miami University Students
Full-time Miami University undergraduate and graduate students pay tuition for five credit hours unless they have summer tuition waivers through a graduate assistantship or scholarship. Miami students receive seven credit hours upon successful completion of both the field and Web-based components of the course.
More Information
For more information on the admissions process, physical requirements, and more, please visit Admissions and/or FAQs.