Journey to Central America: Mass Audubon’s Belize Teen Adventure

Spring break, April 2012—can you picture it?

Tropical breezes, exotic plants, beautiful birds, and subtropical animals. Snorkeling, jungle walks, and night spotting for crocodiles! April vacation in Belize is a unique opportunity to spend a week exploring a magical corner of the world with a small group of teens and two experienced teen educators. There's adventure, rich natural history, culture, and a chance to relax and create lasting memories.

Master naturalist and Wildwood Director Bob Speare will be your guide, along with Wildwood Teen Program Coordinator Naomi Rose Caywood. This Belize Teen Adventure is coordinated within Belize by our conservation partner, Programme for Belize, an organization founded in Belize by Mass Audubon in 1988 to preserve and protect 262,000 acres of tropical forest in northern Belize.

ItineraryDay 1: April 15We’ll meet at Boston’s Logan Airport for our departure to Belize. Upon arrival at the Goldson International Airport near Belize City, we will be met by our Belizean partners and start our journey north. We will stop at wetlands, agricultural areas, and riparian overlooks to search for some fantastic local birds, including the Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Northern Jacana, and the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, just a sampling of the rich birdlife we’ll experience throughout the trip. In the late afternoon, we’ll head to the Hill Bank Field Station, where we’ll spend the night. After dinner, we will get an introduction to Belize, our partner organization Programme for Belize, and the research station.

Day 2: April 16Awaken early enough and you might get to see the rare Yellow-headed parrot! A beautiful boat trip along New River and Ram Goat Creek will bring us to the Lamanai archeological site. As we visit these amazing ruins, we’ll keep an eye out for some of the larger bird species that reside there, including a number of parrots, trogons, and toucans. This may be our first opportunity to hear the haunting call of howler monkeys as they move through the trees above us. For lunch, we’ll picnic surrounded by (or even on top of!) the magnificent Mayan ruins.

Schedule and Fee Information

Dates: April 15-21, 2012 $2,150 per participant ($400 deposit required with application)

** Participants must be 15 to 17 years of age by the first day of the trip**

Price Includes Price Does Not Include* All accommodations* All meals as noted in itinerary * All transportation within Belize* Park and preserve entrance fees, as well as excursion fees * Services of local naturalist guide and driver * Emergency medical coverage and evacuation insurance * All tips and gratuities

* International airfare (group flight info will be sent upon registration) * Items of a personal nature such as snacks and souvenirs * Personal items including: laundry, phone calls, and gift items * Passport fees* Departure tax (approximately $35)

866-627-6627 · wildwood@massaudubon.org

Later in the afternoon, the group will relax on the river, tubing through the mangroves. In the evening we’ll head out on a very special evening safari by boat to look for Morelet’s Crocodiles. The evening will be spent at Hill Bank Field Station.

Day 3: April 17After breakfast we’ll set out toward the newly renovated La Milpa Field Station. We will stop along the way to visit the rice and sugar fields and a Mennonite store. We’ll also make a trip to the local school to meet with the students to learn what life’s really like in Belize. Next, we’ll learn some of the magic of local cures from a medicine man before our indigenous lunch at La Orquidas Women’s Cooperative. Later in the afternoon, we’ll return to La Milpa Field Station for dinner and a night walk along the roads of the station. The evening will be spent at La Milpa Field Station.

Day 4: April 18After breakfast we’ll visit the La Milpa archeological site. Unlike Lamanai, the excavation of this site is just getting underway, so it’s the perfect place to see how the jungle reclaimed the ruins. After a relaxing lunch and siesta, we’ll go in search of howler monkeys and other jungle animals common in this area. An afternoon swim will be a nice chance to cool off in the tropical climate. If you thought the day was great, just wait until you experience our evening activity—a night safari to seek out nocturnal animals. Dinner and overnight at La Milpa Field Station

Day 5: April 19Look out for the keel-billed toucans that often sun themselves along the hillsides here in the early light. Pack up early for a busy day of animals and fun on the water. Our first destination is the Belize Zoo, where many of the country’s birds and mammals can be seen up close and personal – including the Harpy Eagle and Jaguar. After lunch, the group will head to the coast and take a short boat trip out to South Water Caye. This lovely spot is right on the reef and miles from the populous tourist islands to the north. The coral reef is still relatively undisturbed, so we’ll have a great opportunity to swim with thousands of colorful fish and see brilliant coral a few feet off the small island. We should see and hear the Magnificent Frigatebird and Brown Booby colonies close-up. Dinner will be on the island, and we’ll spend the evening on this tropical paradise. South Water Caye accommodations.

Day 6: April 20For our second day at South Water Caye, we’ll dig deep into the local natural history with a full-day of snorkeling and thoroughly exploring this amazing reef system. There will also be time this day to relax on the beach and absorb the beautiful surroundings of this tropical island. South Water Caye accommodations.

Day 7: April 21All good things must end. After breakfast, we’ll take an early boat back to the mainland, and then be driven to the airport in Dangriga. A short flight will take us from Dangriga to Belize City to transfer for our international flights back home. Breakfast on this day is the last meal included on the trip.

866-627-6627 · wildwood@massaudubon.org

Trip LeadersThe Belize Teen Adventure will be led by Wildwood Director Bob Speare and Wildwood Teen Program Coordinator Naomi Rose Caywood.

Bob SpeareBob has worked for Mass Audubon for 18 years as a naturalist, education director, and sanctuary director. He has extensive travel experience with Mass Audubon, and has led trips to Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, as well as within North America from the desert Southwest to New England and Newfoundland. He enjoys birding, butterflies, kayaking, sailing, and teaching photography.

Naomi Rose CaywoodNaomi has worked with Wildwood on teen programming for 3 years. She has a background in adventure therapy and youth development. Naomi has a passion for exploring the world, writing, photography, paddling, and learning new things. She co-led Wildwood’s Newfoundland Expedition in the summer of 2010 and is a certified lifeguard and wilderness first responder.

About Mass AudubonMass Audubon works to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife. Together with more than 100,000 members, we care for 34,000 acres of conservation land, provide educational programs for 225,000 children and adults annually, and advocate for sound environmental policies at local, state, and federal levels. Mass Audubon’s mission and actions have expanded since our beginning in 1896 when our founders set out to stop the slaughter of birds for use on women’s fashions. Today we are the largest conservation organization in New England. Our statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries, in 90 Massachusetts communities, welcomes visitors of all ages and serves as the base for our work. To support these important efforts, call 800-AUDUBON (283-8266) or visit www.massaudubon.org.

For more information contact the Wildwood Office866-627-6627

wildwood@massaudubon.org