Belize, described as "Mother Nature's best kept secret," offers exciting opportunities for scientists, educators, students, and nature lovers to improve on their knowledge of the global environment. Courses often cover the study of butterflies, archaeological excavations on Maya Sites, marine ecosystems, the effects of ecotourism, the cultures of Belize, medicinal plants, community involvement, and more through first-hand exposure.

Educational experiences in Belize usually fall under the following categories:

1. Learn as you go

Most visitors to Belize cannot help but learn about the natural environment of Belize as they take the multitude of tours offered throughout the country. Trained tour guides, carefully planned visitor centers, and the growing selection of guide books, research, and reference materials available can turn your day tour into a learning experience without any extensive planning.

2. Group travel

Several organizations, institutions, and commercial operations provide learning experiences for adults. These include preset group itineraries for a week to 3 weeks that may cover a specific interest such as archaeology or birding, or may offer a combined experience of marine and tropical ecology, archaeology and living cultures. While similar itineraries may be offered to different age groups, the difference is usually in the logistics and not in the quality of the learning experience. Higher priced tour groups will offer the finer accommodations, meals, air-conditioned transportation, and perhaps airplane flights to internal destinations. Meanwhile, student groups might have dormitory style accommodation, set meals, strict rules about alcohol consumption and partying depending upon the age of the group.

It is also possible to participate in trips that are targeted at a specific audience, such as a teacher's workshop designed to increase one’s ability to teach tropical ecology upon his or her return home, or to qualify for continuing education requirements.

The intensity of the experience will be dependent upon:

• The length of time - usually - one week or a semester course
• Whether the course /trip is taken for credit

3. Service Learning Programs

There are a number of organizations, both local and international, which offer service learning programs for visitors. The programs involve joining an archaeological excavation group, assisting with a marine research project, joining a medical team or a community-minded group, or coming to assist with the building of a school.

Maya Archaeology, Culture and Environment - An Introduction to Field Methods - This course covers survey techniques, mapping, excavation, architectural interpretation, recording, lab procedures and analysis, as well as data interpretation in the form of field and laboratory instruction and lectures.

Natural History of Belize - This course involves lectures and documentaries on the natural history of the flora and fauna of Belize interspersed with visits to marine and terrestrial national parks.

Watershed Ecology - Explores and monitors the movement of water by taking participants out into the field to investigate watersheds from headwaters, to reefs, to ridge crests, to main channels, surface waters, and aquifers. This course also investigates the impact of man upon watersheds.

Tropical Forest/ Marine Ecology - A favorite of high school and tertiary level students during spring or summer break. This course covers both ecological and management aspects of the forest as well as marine habitats. Activities include tours of nature trails, bird watching, island visits, and projects on marine life.

Non profit organizations:	Service oriented programs:
Belize Audubon Society P.O. Box 1001 12 Fort Street Belize City, Belize, C.A. Tel: 501-223-5004/Fax: 501-223-4985 Email: base@btl.net Website: http://www.belizeaudubon.org	Habitat For Humanity Belize 146 East Collet Canal Allenby Street Belize City, Belize, C.A. Tel: 011-501-227-6818 E-Mail: habelize@btl.net Website:http://interconnection.org/habitatbelize/index.htm
Programme for Belize 1 Eyre Street Belize City, Belize, C.A. Tel: 011-501-227-5616/Fax: 011-501-227-5635 Website: http://www.pfbelize.org Email: pfbel@btl.net	Marine Research Center of the University of Belize University Drive Belize City, Belize, C.A. Tel: 011-501-223-2732 /Fax: 011-501-223-0255 Email: fchi@ucb.edu
Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center P.O. Box 1787 Belize City, Belize, C.A. Tel: 011-501-220-8003/ Fax: 011-501-820-2010 Website: http://www.belizezoo.org Email: tec@btl.net	TIDE TOURS P.O. Box 150 Punta Gorda Town Toledo District Belize, C.A. Telephone: +501-722-2274 Fax: +501-722-2655 Email: tidetours@btl.net Website: http://www.belizeecotours.org
Oceanic Society Expeditions Fort Mason Center, Bldg. E, #230 San Francisco, CA 94123 Tel US & outside the US (415) 441-1106 Tel US only (800) 326-7491 Fax: (415) 474-3395 Email: office@oceanic-society.org Website: www.oceanic-society.org	Elderhostel USA and Canada - toll free Tel: 1-877-426-8056 Fax: 1-877-426-2166 outside the US and Canada Tel: 1-978-323-4141 Fax: 1-617-426-0701 Website: http://www.elderhostel.org Email: registration@elderhostel.org

Accommodations and amenities are varied depending upon your budget and the location and type of tour. Many of the more remote places, including accommodations in protected areas, will offer dormitory style housing. However, you will also be able to find a few cabins or cottages with private or shared bathroom facilities. Business and organizations that specialize in educational travel usually have small libraries and other resource materials.

The cost for educational courses depends on the level of the course being taken and its duration. Additional charges also depend on the total package being offered.

1. Group bookings usually result in lower costs than following an itinerary on your own. The optimum size for groups is dependent upon the size of your transportation. 12-25 participants tend to be a more manageable size.



2. Book as early as possible when you are dealing with a group - many large groups and organizations book a year in advance to ensure space. Late bookings may necessitate re-working your itinerary to match availability.



3. Especially if you are leading a group with participants under the age of 18, be sure to have your tour organizer and accommodations know of any rules that your group is bound by:



• e.g. no alcohol consumption,


• Use of the "buddy system"



4. Have a master list of all group members with their emergency contact information, passport # and date and place of issue. (The latter is very helpful in filling in the check-in forms at hotels.)



5. Request information on the training and experience of your tour guides before booking services.



6. Ask about safety measures/equipment and emergency procedures that are available before booking.



7. Send around your proposed itinerary and needs to a variety of operators and accommodations to be able to compare costs and services.



8. Read up on your topic of interest before your trip.

If you have additional questions or wish to receive information directly from tour providers , please fill in our contact form.

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