WINTER INTERTERM: DECEMBER 8-22, 2007
THE PROGRAM
Meet the SPU Biological Science requirement, or earn upper division biology credit if you've already had a college biology course. BIO 1100 or BIO 4950 (five credits) includes lectures and field study related to the biology of Caribbean marine organisms . You will learn to identify common species; and you will study their ecology, behavior, and physiology. In addition, you will learn a bit about the people of this region – ancient to contemporary inhabitants.
Daily activities will include field observation of beach and coral reef plants and animals. Field studies will be preceded by readings, lectures and/or discussions on the environments and species to be investigated. Instructors will accompany you on excursions - helping you to make the most of observations. Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving are not required for the course. However, you may wish to bring diving gear along. There is no question that underwater observation provides a unique and exciting perspective on the marine environment and its inhabitants. Scuba diving may be available to scuba-certified students, but costs related to scuba diving would be the individual diver ' s responsibility. Snorkeling (skin diving) and sea kayaking instruction will be available at to all students at no cost, and we will often use kayaks to travel to different sites for field study.
THE PROFESSORS
Dr. Bob Weathers is leading the trip. He is a professor of Exercise Science and the SPU Diving Safety Officer, and he has co-led a dozen SPU Biology trips to the Caribbean – seven to Belize . Professor Georgianne Connell took this course as an SPU undergraduate before going on to graduate school to study corals. She now teaches for both SPU and Western Washington University .
THE PLACE
The Belize Barrier Reef is the second longest in the world and the longest in the Western Hemisphere . This reef system is noted for abundant and varied tropical marine life; incredibly warm, clear water; and three coral reef atolls, which are rings of coral reefs and islands around central lagoons. Our home-away-from-home will be on one of these – a facility operated by Island Expeditions on isolated Half Moon Cay (see http://www.educationaltrips.org/ and http://www.islandexpeditions.com/ie-tripdesc-lighthouse.html), which is on the Lighthouse Reef atoll. At the "base camp," we will sleep in tent-walled cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom to walk around and are on raised wooden floors with double or single beds. We will also spend two nights on the mainland, giving the opportunity to visit the Belize Zoo and ancient Mayan Ruins.
THE PRICE
Your cost for the tour will be $4,150 , subject to change with possible increase in airfare. This includes tuition, transportation, lodging, and most meals. In addition to money for meals eaten in transit, you will need to bring $125 for a Marine Reserve Management Fee, to be paid at Half Moon Cay. When you submit the application form, you will be given a contract. To guarantee your place in the course, return the signed contract to Student Financial Services with a deposit of $500 , understanding that all of that deposit will be forfeited if you drop too late for a replacement to be found. A second payment of $2,250 is required by October 1 . The balance of $1,400 is due on November 1, 2007 . You will probably want to bring additional money for shopping and other incidental expenses.
For further information, contact Dr. Bob Weathers, weathers@spu.edu or (206) 281-2082.