Learn how you can contribute
to tropical conservation by participating in this hands-on Watershed
Ecology Program.
| DAY 1 |
Getting Here |
AM: |
Arrival at Belize International
Airport
Overland Transfer to San
Ignacio Area (2 hours
west)
Set up
Camp. |
PM: |
Orientation Tour - with time for
an afternoon swim in the Macal River |
Eve: |
Discussion: Program Itinerary.
|
| DAY 2 |
An Introduction |
AM: |
Discussion: Health
and Safety in Belize; Watershed Ecology Overview |
PM: |
Afternoon paddle up the Macal River
with short creek hikes
along
the way.
Stream-side Talk on riparian
ecology and the plight of the
Green Iguana. |
Eve: |
Optional Night Walk
|
| DAY 3 |
Forest Ecology |
AM: |
Early Morning Birding
Discussion: Broadleaf
Forest Ecology
Hike on forest trails
and examine the forest close up |
PM: |
Enjoy a Traditional Mayan afternoon
meal
More about Forest Ecology on the hike
back to camp
|
| DAY 4 |
Stream and River
Ecology |
AM: |
Che Chem Ha Falls - Study the interaction
of forests and streams at Che Chem Ha Falls.
Sample streams for benthic invertebrates and other aquatic wildlife |
PM: |
Learn how forests feed streams and streams feed
rivers
Paddle 12 miles down the Macal
River back to our base camp
Stream-side talks along the way on hydrodynamics
and riparian wildlife.
|
| DAY 5 |
River Ecology and People |
AM: |
Paddle the Macal River to Cristo Rey Village,
a Maya-Mestizo community.
Tour the village and examine modern
and traditional
impacts the community has on the river.
Sample a river reach before and after the
village. |
PM: |
Enjoy a traditional, Mestizo afternoon
meal in Cristo Rey Village - Continue
our paddling to
San
Ignacio
Town where we
examine a larger town's impact on the
river and observe local conservation
efforts. Brainstorm for solutions to conservation
concerns.
|
| DAY 6 |
Hydroelectric Generation and Rivers |
AM: |
Hiking Tour of the Mollejon Hydroelectric
Facility
Take samples for biological indicators
before and after the dam. |
PM: |
Discussion: The Proposed Chalillo
Dam. What's at Stake?
|
| DAY 7 |
From Rivers to
Reef
|
AM: |
To Reach Caye Caulker, we depart
San Ignacio at 7am for
Belize City. We then board our water taxi at
9am and arrive
at Caye
Caulker at around 10am. |
PM: |
Settle into your hotel room - and take an afternoon
swim. |
Eve: |
Slide Presentation - Tropical
Reef Ecosystems.
Discussion: Watersheds
to Reefs. How they are connected.
. |
| DAY 8 |
Snorkel the Reef |
AM: |
Snorkel Hol Chan, Belize's only
Marine Park |
PM: |
Snorkel Coral Gardens and swim
with sharks in Shark
& Ray Alley.
Snorkel sea grass beds and mangrove
forests surrounding the caye.
|
| DAY 9 |
Optional Volunteer Work |
AM:
PM:
|
Give a Day for the reef - There's
plenty to do!
|
| DAY
10 |
Return to the Mainland |
AM: |
Transportation via Water Taxi to Belize City or
Belize Internat'l Airport for your flight home or
onward destination - Program ends. |
