Biology students travel to Belize
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Written by Mary Ann Fletcher
In May 2014, UPIKE’s department of biology sponsored a natural history of Belize field trip. This trip was the second to Belize, with the first trip in May 2013. More than 20 students have participated. The trips have been led by Tim Whittier and Darla French, both are biology faculty .
John Dudley Hilton, a senior, journaled his thoughts on the UPIKE study abroad testimonials page and wrote, “Today was truly the beginning of a week that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Another student, Sarah Helphinstine, said in her journal post, “I’m very excited as everything we’ve done so far in Belize has far surpassed my expectations. I will be sad to leave in a couple of days. This trip has been a once in a lifetime event that I will never forget. I love Belize. It’s ‘unbeliezable!’”
Whittier said the goals of the trip are many but designed to be experiential in nature. The three main activities that are experienced during this trip are studying in the tropical forest, visiting Mayan Ruins and learning about Mayan culture, and snorkeling and learning about coral reefs.
While in the forest, the experiential learners took night hikes, went bird watching, tagged alligators at night in the river, looked for insects, and listened and searched out howler monkeys. But, the fun didn’t stop there. They also floated through caves, went zip-lining and canoed across the lagoon at sunrise. One entire day, they spent hiking and climbing a Mayan temple, learning about traditional Mayan herbal medicine, and cooking traditional Mayan food alongside Mayan villagers.
While at the ocean, they snorkeled with a myriad of fish, turtles, sharks and stingrays.
Whittier said, “We all get to see a beautiful world hidden by the water.”
In his journal, Hilton talked about a doctor from the University of Florida wrapping a small rubber band around a crocodile’s mouth and passing it around and allowing them to study it as closely as they wished.
Hilton said, “This was neat. A crocodile in my own hands? Definitely a first for me.”
Whittier said, “The most gratifying part of the trip for me is see how much a student can experience and learn in a single day. Everything is new and different to our students. Of course, it is fun, but we learn so much about the world, other cultures and ourselves while on these trips. Every day is memorable, and it is difficult to identify a specific activity as the best. They all combine to provide an experience that we will never forget.”