Off-Campus Study & Exchanges

The Sustainable Development in Belize travel seminar is an immersive 11-day environmental field study. Organized around the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, the seminar will examine national challenges, pathways, and progress toward sustainable and inclusive growth in Belize. After being introduced to environmental governance in Belize, through a review of major policies, plans, and structures, the seminar will explore key sustainable development projects, programs, and strategies. Primary themes of study include land, ocean, and wildlife conservation, food systems and agroecology, climate and energy, ecotourism and sustainable livelihoods, public health, and education. Collaborative and experiential learning opportunities will include field visits, guided tours, expert driven lectures, and community and cultural experiences. The seminar will take place in two locales - the rainforest of western Belize and on a small island next to the Belize Barrier Reef. Activities will include a visit to the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, a guided tour of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, an eco-cultural tour of the Xunantunich Mayan archaeological site, a cultural heritage and cooking experience with a rural Women’s Cooperative, a smart solar off-grid project tour, and classroom visits at a Primary School and a Junior College. Pre-readings, short assignments, and debriefs and discussions will be used to complement lectures from key Belizean entities, such as the Forestry Department, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, and Marine Reserves. Active excursions will explore the beauty and ecology of Belize’s landscapes through a night hike, mountain river wading, cave canoeing, and reef snorkeling.