a land where the culture of the Mayan Meso-America meets the cultures of Africa, the Caribbean, and and British Empire. Students on this field study will experience both the historical past and ecological present of a land constantly in change. Students will snorkel and dive on the reefs and atolls off the Belizean coast and kayak in the mangroves of the coastal tidal zone. Students will visit the fishing villages of the coast and the cities of the ancient Mayan world. The cast of characters includes monkeys, the jaguar and the coatimundi, school children,local naturalists, environmentalists, developers, and politicians. Belize is faced with the unique challenges of supporting local diversified economic development in a landscape that supports citrus, aquaculture, extensive marine harvesting and an ever growing tourism industry. In doing this, it is critical to preserve the ecological and cultural settings that support these opportunities.

Our study will focus on following an extensive watershed from its source in the Maya Mountains, down inland jungle rivers, into the estuaries and mangrove of the coast and ending at the barrier reef and the cayes more than twenty miles from shore.