Approaches to Resource Management of Tropical Ecosystems (Belize)
Location: Belize
Dates: January 4-8 (on campus);
January 9 - 24, 2010 (travel)
Course: Environmental Studies 395 (SS) or Geography 399 (SS)
Contact: Bob Pillsbury, Halsey 41, 920-424-3069; Stefan Becker, Halsey 314, 424-7112
Details: http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/belizeenvt.php
______________________________________
Join a group of UW Oshkosh students as they
EXPLORE the relationship between nature and culture;
EXPERIENCE the diverse ecosystems of Belize;
EXAMINE natural resource management and ecotourism;
PARTICIPATE in ecological observation and field work; and
ENGAGE in critical thinking about environmental issues.
TRAVEL to BELIZE!
All of the information included here is subject to change. Modifications may be required depending on the exigencies of the situation.
Course(s)
Course Dates
Inability or failure to attend may affect your participation, course grades and ability to receive and use financial aid. If you cannot attend, you must indicate this on your study abroad application.
Monday, January 4, 2010 from 9:00-noon in Halsey 305 (location is tentative)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 from 9:00-noon in Halsey 305 (location is tentative)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 from 9:00-noon in Halsey 305 (location is tentative)
Thursday, January 7, 2010 from 9:00-noon in Halsey 305 (location is tentative)
Choose one:
Environmental Studies 395 - Field Studies (SS) (3 credits)
Elective in Environmental Studies' "Environment, Community and Culture" areaGeography 399 - Study Tour (SS) (3 credits)
Optional Course
International Studies 333 1 unit (cr.)
Study Tour
Prerequisites: none; syllabus
If you request enrollment in this course on the study abroad application, you will be automatically enrolled and will not be contacted about the coursework involved. Assignments for this course must be done independently. Contact the Office of International Education with questions.
Accommodation
All accommodation is tentative and may change.
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary & Pine Mountain Ridge
Address: P.O. Box 187, Belmopan, Belize; Tel: 011-501-820-3032; Fax: 011-501-822-3361; mbay@btl.net; Student Accommodation: Dorms - a multi-bedded bunkhouse with shared bath; Faculty Accommodation: Private rooms with shared bath;
Sibun River Trip
camping; camping and canoe equipment provided on-site
Cockscomb Wildlife Preserve
Address: Belize Audubon Society, Education Manager, 12 Fort Street, P.O. Box 1001, Belize City, BELIZE; Fax: 011-501-223-4985; Email: education@belizeaudubon.org
Accommodation: will depend on the total number of participants and on availability at the time of booking. Not all students will be in the same accommodation. Options for student housing include: Rustic Cabin - centrally located, this cabin accommodates a maximum of ten (10) persons, in bunk beds (pillows and sheets are provided) in a total of three (3) rooms. Bathroom facilities (cold water shower block and pit latrines) are shared. Private Cabin - offers a spacious verandah, outdoor seating, wildlife views and a comfortable living area. It can sleep a maximum of six (6) people (one double bed and two bunk beds). Pillows and sheets are provided and lights are solar powered. The private bath has a cold-water shower and composting toilet. Mujan Naj (Bird House) - this cabin has a screened living area with table and chairs- ideal for relaxing after a long day of hiking. It sleeps a maximum of four (4) people. One bedroom has a double bed and the other bedroom has a bunk bed. It has a private bathroom with flush toilet and cold water shower. The White House - provides secluded, self-contained accommodations at the entrance to the park. Backing onto the river and jungle, the wildlife is abundant - and easily viewed from the screened verandah. The house has its own kitchen and dining area, with refrigerator, stove, cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils. The two bedrooms both contain a double bed and a bunk bed each. The bathroom has flush toilet and cold-water shower. Dormitory - from its verandah, the dormitory offers views of the Outlier Peak and the jungle. It sleeps a maximum of 24 people in four (4) separate rooms. There are three bunk beds with pillows and sheets in each room. Lights are solar powered. Separate male and female bathrooms have cold-water showers and composting toilets.
Tobacco Caye Marine Station
Address: PO Box 83, Dangriga, Stann Creek District, Belize Tel: 011-501-620-9116
info@tcmsbelize.org
Flight
Luggage Limits
Restrictions on carry-on baggage (American Airlines)
Restrictions on checked and excess baggage (American Airlines)
Depart UW Oshkosh
Long-term parking is allowed on campus in parking lot 6 with a valid UW Oshkosh parking permit. Participants may park on campus for the duration of their study abroad experience, except for semester-long programs.
Meeting Date & Time: 2:00 am on the morning of Saturday, Jan 9
Departure Time: 2:10 am on the morning of Saturday, Jan 9
Departure Location: Parking Lot 6 (corner of Pearl Avenue and Osceola)
Flight
Saturday, January 9, 2010
7:35 AM Depart from Chicago O’Hare on flight 1048, American Airlines
11:45 AM Arrive Miami
1:50 PM Depart on flight 2179, American Airlines
3:00 PM Arrive Belize
Sunday, January 24, 2010
4:05 PM Depart Belize on flight 2104, American Airlines
7:10 PM Arrive Miami
9:25 PM Depart on flight 2039, American Airlines
11:40 PM Arrive Chicago O’Hare
Return to UW Oshkosh
Estimated date & time: Monday, January 25 at 3:40 in the morning!
Return Location: Parking Lot 6
Schedule
Tentative January 2010 itinerary
| Jan 4-7 | Class on the UW Oshkosh campus |
| Jan 9 Saturday | Arrive Philip Goldson International Airport Transfer to Belize Zoo's Tropical Education Center (TEC)
Accommodations: Tropical Education Center |
| Jan 10 Sunday | Belize Zoo
Afternoon transfer to Community Baboon Sanctuary
Transfer to the Tropical Education Center
Accommodations: Tropical Education Center |
| Jan 11 Monday | Belize Zoo
Morning transfer to Runaway Creek
Afternoon transfer to a tilapia fish farm
Transfer to Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (MBWS)
Accommodations: Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Jan 12 Tuesday | Monkey Bay
Transfer to departure point for Sibun River trip
Accommodations: camping |
| Jan 13 Wednesday | Monkey Bay
Accommodations: camping |
| Jan 14 Thursday | Monkey Bay
Transfer to Trek Stop
Accommodations: Trek Stop |
| Jan 15 Friday |
Transfer to San Ignacio with an en route stop to Ixchel Botanical Gardens, followed by a stop at Galen University for 2 lectures
Continue to San Ignacio Town. Arrive afternoon to Mtn Pine Ridge to settle in, nature trail hike to Big Rock Falls
End-of-day transfer back to Monkey Bay's Pine Mountain Ridge |
| Jan 16 Saturday | Transfer to Caracol with a stop at Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Cave
|
| Jan 17 Sunday | Monkey Bay's Pine Mountain Ridge
Transfer to St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park (BHNP); early afternoon arrival
Depart St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park; transfer to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS)
Accommodations: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Jan | Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Transfer to Maya Centre Village Possible contacts include Stephen Williams of Citrus Growers Association Transfer to Citrus Plantation for guided farm tour
Accommodations: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Jan 19 Tuesday | Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary • Breakfast at CBWS “Depart CBWS; transfer to shrimp farm and banana farm • Shrimp and banana farm visit • Lunch at shrimp farm, to be arranged by Monkey Bay (prepare and eat farm raised shrimp!) Depart shrimp to banana farm; then transfer to Maya Mopan; visit Mayan King Limited packing facility in Stann Creek • Visit cacao plantation • Interaction and dinner with a Mayan family Depart Maya Mopan; return to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Jan 20 Wednesday | Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Depart Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary; transfer to University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies
Transfer to water taxi
Accommodations: University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies on Calabash Caye |
| Jan 21 Thursday | University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies.
Accommodations: University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies on Calabash Caye |
| Jan 22 Friday | University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies
Accommodations: University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies on Calabash Caye |
| Jan 23 Saturday | University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies
Accommodations: University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies on Calabash Caye |
| Jan 24 Sunday | University of Belize Institute of Marine Studies; transfer to Philip Goldson International Airport
|
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh reserves the right to make changes to itineraries, travel arrangements, hotels, excursions, activities or other arrangements made necessary by factors beyond its control. On certain dates when some attractions or activities may not be available, UW Oshkosh reserves the right to substitute alternate attractions or activities.
Fees
| Program Fee Estimate | |
°$2,860 |
Program fees are estimated at $2,474-$2,860 based on 12-16 participants. The more who sign up for this program, the lower the cost per participant will be. You can help lower your cost to study abroad by recruiting friends and classmates to join you in this experience! |
| Expenses in U.S. Dollars | |
$100 |
Application Fee ($200 for out-of-state applicants) |
$100 |
Passport & Pictures |
$783 |
Airfare |
varies |
Immunizations |
$983 |
Total Pre-travel Expense Estimate (plus immunizations) |
| Expenses in Foreign Currency (Belize Dollar = BZD) | |
BZD 0 |
Meals (included in program fees) |
BZD 0 |
Local Transportation (included in program fees) |
BZD 200 |
Personal Spending Money (BZD - BZD ) |
BZD 200 |
Total Expense Estimate while Abroad |
$100 |
Total in U.S. Dollars as of 10/06/09 (today's rate of exchange) |
$3,943 |
Total Estimated Expenses |
°Indicates the expense will appear on your UW Oshkosh student account.
Program fees cover course-related expenses (no tuition is assessed);transportation between UW Oshkosh and O'Hare by school bus; accommodations as listed on the finalized itinerary; all meals listed on the finalized itinerary; tours/visits (including transportation and entrance fees) listed on the finalized itinerary; pre-travel orientation; and international health insurance. The program itinerary may be tentative and will not be finalized until approximately two weeks before departure.
Program fees do not cover items not specifically mentioned above such as trip cancellation and baggage insurance; passports; immunizations;airfare; all other food and beverages; local transportation costs not associated with the finalized itinerary; and all expenses of a purely personal nature. Estimates for some of these expenses have been included. Fees for a single room are available upon request.
Estimates found here are based on the group rate for services and travel dates as well as current exchange rates, where applicable. Changes to this plan or a large exchange rate fluctuation may cause adjustments to the final cost.
Apply
The application process for this program is competitive; applications will be accepted through the application deadline, when decisions on seat assignments will be made.
If on the date that applications are due there are more applications than seats available, the top applicants will be selected. Where two or more applicants have similar qualifications, graduation dates and/or the date on which the application was received may be used to select applicants. Preference in selecting applicants will go to UW Oshkosh students.
Selected applicants will be notified and must make their first program payment on time in order to retain their seat. Applicants who are not selected will be refunded the application fee.
STEP I
Read the study abroad/study away application instructions and complete the GENERAL Office of International Education application as outlined on our Apply page.
In addition, access PROGRAM-SPECIFIC application materials as needed from below on this page.
STEP II
Program-specific documents due by the application deadline.
All application requirements are listed on the page linked just above. There are no additional program-specific application requirements.
Resources
Office of International Education Orientation Materials
Emergency Contact (during program dates)
In a life and death emergency ABROAD
U.S. Department of State Citizen Emergency Center (1-202-647-5225) will relay messages to the foreign Embassy. Embassy personnel may try to locate your student, pass on urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back.
To reach your student directly
If your student is staying in a hotel, use the hotel contact information listed on the web page for your student's program. The Office of International Education cannot give out private residence or homestay phone numbers unless authorized in advance by the student, but we will contact your student for you in an emergency.
To reach someone at UW Oshkosh during office hours (7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F)
- Office
of International Education Phone: 1 (920) 424-0775
- Jenna Graff: Director, Office of International Education - graff@uwosh.edu
- Maria Carvalho: Front Line Advisor - oie@uwosh.edu
- Tom Kiekhafer: Program Manager - kiekhaft@uwosh.edu
- Alison Maresh: International Student Advisor - maresa30@uwosh.edu
- Office of International Education Fax: 1 (920) 424-0185
- Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-1410
- Office of the Provost & Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-0300
To reach someone at UW Oshkosh outside of normal office hours
University Police: 1 (920) 424-1216
To reach local contacts associated with our program ABROAD
Dr. Bob Pillsbury and Dr. Stefan Becker, our faculty leaders from UW Oshkosh, will accompany the group throughout the program. Drs. Pillsbury and Becker can be reached using the contact information listed under Accommodation.
Time Zone Differences
This page was last updated on: December 18, 2009