Belize Ecology and Community Service
This program will not run in the summer of 2013.
Please contact our admissions staff if you are interested in applying to the program for 2014.
Explore Belize, a developing nation with a tropical climate, ancient ruins, diverse wildlife, and a fascinating mix of cultures and languages.
Orientation
Your rugged adventure begins at the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Local experts and your village ambassador provide an introduction to sustainable living technologies, biodiversity conservation, and the people and culture of Belize. On excursions, you visit ancient Mayan ruins, swim in the Sibun River, explore the Tiger Sandy Bay caves, and witness black howler monkeys in their natural habitat.
Homestay
Embrace family life during your two-week village stay in Crooked Tree, a rural island community in the middle of a lagoon. Whether cooking conch soup and fried plantains with your host mother, bird watching, or playing pick-up games of basketball, you quickly become part of this community.
Community Service
Partner with villagers on a development project designed to benefit your host community.
Sample projects:
Build a playground at a village school; restore a community center; work on a sustainable community development project; construct ecotourism facilities; research and prepare signs for natural history sites.
Eco-Adventure and the Islands
Travel by boat to the islands off the coast of Belize to experience the ecology and natural wonders of the Western Caribbean. Spend five days exploring the world’s second-largest barrier reef, learning about marine life, and reflecting on your summer abroad.
Sample activities:
Travel by boat from island to island; enjoy the warm beaches of Tobacco Caye; snorkel and swim in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean; visit the Western Caribbean Marine Research Station.
"The Experiment provided me with a basket to fill. I filled it with adventure, friendship, kindness, and understanding. I came home with two new families; my fellow Experimenters and my host family in Crooked Tree."
-- David Mansor
White Plains, New York
