Tropical Ecology, Westminster College

.		.	Course Description Course Information Syllabus Itinerary Contact Information Pictures of Organisms Presentations Facts about Belize Belize Links
	Travel with us for 20 days to Belize, Central America. This is your chance to observe some of the finest examples of tropical ecology, culture, and history. We will hike through rain forests, explore the second largest coral reef in the world, float down tropical rivers, bask in the tropical sunlight, visit Mayan ruins, observe endangered species, and learn about the people and cultures of this small, beautiful country. I guarantee it will be an experience you will never forget!	.

Course Description

This is a classroom and field course on the ecology, natural history, geology, history, and culture of Belize, Central America. It is clustered with History 172, Latin America to 1825, and includes 20 days of travel during January, 2001. Basic ecological principles will be learned and used to understand biological, geological, and cultural observations. These principles will be applied to the ethical and cultural dilemmas of life in a developing tropical country. Habitats unique to Belize and culturally significant places in Belize and Guatemala will be studied.

	Course Information

	Instructor	Dr. Ann Throckmorton, Associate Professor of Biology

	Credit	Biology majors or minors -- elective Environmental Science majors -- elective non-majors -- Intellectual Perspectives Scientific Discovery all students -- cluster credit All students must take both Tropical Ecology (Biology 520/521) and Latin America to 1825 (History 171). You will register for Bio 520 in the fall (2 semester hours) and Bio 521 in the spring (2 semester hours). The travel portion of the course is required.
	Course Schedule	Latin America to 1825: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:30 to 11:30 Tropical Ecology: Wednesday 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. In the spring, Tropical Ecology will meet several times, informally, just to wrap up the course.
	Cost	The cost of the trip is $2490. This includes everything -- transportation from Westminster to Belize, all ground and water transportation in Central America, lodging, meals, admission to all required activities, guides, and return to Westminster. The only things that aren’t included are personal expenses and the cost of scuba diving (which is optional). A $200 deposit will be required before May 10th. Half of the bill will be due in the Business Office by September 15th. The other half is due by October 15th. You may be able to work the cost of the trip into your financial aid package. If you think that you will need to do this, you should talk to Bob Latta in the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible (phone -7106).
	Itinerary	In Central America, we will spend fifteen full days traveling throughout Belize with a three day extension to visit one of Central America's most important Mayan sites in Guatemala. During those 18 days, we will observe some of the finest examples of the area's unique ecology, culture, and history. We will hike through rain forests, explore the second largest coral reef in the world, float down tropical rivers, bask in the tropical sunlight, visit Mayan ruins, observe endangered species, and learn about the people and cultures of this small, peaceful country. Belize is a beautiful country that, so far, is not overrun by tourists. It is politically stable, medically safe, and very friendly to Americans. This trip will give you an opportunity to experience things that most people will never see and to learn about the history and culture of a country that is very different from ours. This will undoubtedly be an amazing climax to our classroom study of the ecology and history of Central America! Detailed Itinerary

	For more information	Dr. Ann E. Throckmorton Department of Biology Westminster College New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, 16172 telephone: (724) 946-7209 fax: (724) 946-7791 e-mail: athrock@westminster.edu