THE ULTIMATE FIELD TRIP

10-30-2008

INTERNATIONAL EXPEDITIONS LAUNCHES STUDENT ADVENTURES IN THE AMAZON AND BELIZE

Custom Student Programs Offer In-Depth Learning Experiences

and Hands-On Community Service Projects

BIRMINGHAM, AL, October 29, 2008 – It is a well-known fact that students learn best by engaging their five senses.  International Expeditions, the world leader in nature travel, has embraced this concept and created unique classrooms without walls in the Amazon and Belize for middle and high school groups.  Not just a tour or science course, these student workshops are the ultimate field trip.  The immersive programs feature community service projects and hands-on lessons in tropical biodiversity, positively impacting the lush Peruvian rainforests and delicate reefs of Belize.  

Teeming with exotic flora and fauna and dotted with isolated tribal villages, student travelers embark on a rare journey deep into the jungle or the barrier reef, accompanied by knowledgeable teachers and guides, to plumb the culture and habitat of some of the planet’s most precious resources.  Organized by International Expeditions as in-depth, interactive learning experiences, custom-crafted educational workshops can depart throughout the year and teachers can work closely with International Expeditions staff to ensure the itinerary suits the group’s specific goals.

These are explorations into the world’s greatest classroom with workshops covering a range of topics including the rainforest at night, Mayan culture, tropical medicine in the rainforest, astronomy and marine life.  These fascinating subjects will earn students many credits in the school of life – with no tests or papers.

Although these educational adventures are customized to meet the needs and interests of each group, typical student workshops include the following activities.

Amazon Workshop
After an overnight in Lima, Peru, the group flies to Iquitos, and cruises 50 miles down the Amazon for two nights at the Explorama Lodge.  Following a morning bird walk, the workshops begin with an introduction to rainforest ecology during a hike along the Bushmaster Trail.  Former International Expeditions guest Dr. Linnea Smith next leads a visit to the local medical clinic, which she founded. 

Day four brings encounters with the Ribereños, who live in villages along the river.  Here the young explorers meet local schoolteachers and students to learn about their educational system.  After a picnic lunch and soccer games, the afternoon is spent working on a community project to benefit the entire village, such as planting gardens or painting a school.  The day concludes with a 43-mile ride up the Napo and Sucusari Rivers to reach the ExplorNapo Lodge on the boundary of the Amazon Rainforest Reserve.   

In the heart of Amazonia, students hike to the ACTS (Amazon Conservatory of Tropical Studies) research facility, and ascend 10 stories to the Canopy Walkway for a bird’s-eye view of the jungle. In 1992 International Expeditions conceived and funded the Canopy Walkway, building it with ropes and ladders exported from the company’s home in Alabama.

The morning of day six is spent at the ReNuPeRu Ethnobotanical Garden meeting with a local shaman.  An equally unique and interesting afternoon is in store with a visit to Orejone Village, a community that has little contact with the outside world.  And before heading back to camp, the group learns how to fish for piranhas. 

Heading further upriver on the Napo, the students travel across a small isthmus of land to reach the Ceiba Tops Lodge, with time to relax and swim in the pool.  Two nights here are spent discussing the rainforest and reflecting on their experience before returning home.

Belize Workshop
The Belize classroom is incredibly diverse.  Nowhere else in the world is such a dazzling blend of natural history — lush rainforests, magnificent Mayan ruins, fantastic tropical wildlife and the second largest coral reef system in the world.

The educational adventure starts at the Bermudian Landing Howler Monkey Sanctuary, established by the Belize Audubon Society and World Wildlife Fund.  After the first of three overnights at Pook’s Hill Lodge, the students venture into the Maya Mountains of Caracol, the largest Maya archaeological site in Belize.  Next is a visit to the Rio On Pools, for swimming and sliding around in waterfalls whose granite formations date back 300 million years.  After dark, the group experiences the jungle at night, searching for nocturnal creatures.

The following morning students canoe down the Macal River to observe a variety of birds and animals, and walk jungle paths learning about the abundant medicinal plants, many of which are used in Western medicine.

Day four features an up-close view of native jungle animals at the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, which International Expeditions helped found nearly two decades ago.  Next is a drive to the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve, a sanctuary dedicated to jaguar management and the protection of the scarlet macaw, keel-billed toucan and emerald toucanet. 

With two nights to fully explore the preserve, the students visit nearby Monkey River Town School, where information on activities and projects is shared.  The last part of the trip is spent at South Water Caye on the Belize Barrier Reef.  Snorkeling in the protected reserve is wondrous, as the waters are home to rainbow parrotfish, Nassau grouper and spotted eagle rays.  At night, students snorkel with lights before watching sea turtles nest.

The next day, in addition to scouting the frigatebirds, brown boobies and brown pelicans on Bird Island, students meet with researchers and investigate life in the mangroves at the Smithsonian Marine Research Facility before returning home. 

For a quote on a custom student program or for more information on International Expeditions and its workshops visit www.ietravel.com or call 1-800-633-4734. 

        Founded in 1980, International Expeditions is the World Leader in Nature Travel, specializing in small group and independent journeys to the most exhilarating destinations around the globe. A pioneer of environmentally responsible travel, International Expeditions is committed to preserving natural habitats and improving the welfare of the people and communities it visits.

For more information or an International Expeditions brochure, call an International Expeditions destination specialist at 1-800-633-4734, see your travel agent, e-mail nature@ietravel.com, or visit www.ietravel.com.

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