We're here! Can you Belize it?

The New Mexico State University Tropical Marine Ecology class has arrived!! Belize Field School Coordinator Kimo Jolly, filmmaker Daniel Velazquez, and I were all at the airport to meet Dr. Michele Nishiguchi's class for a quick welcome.

Pictured below is one of the students, Stephanie, with a stuffed animal she hand-carried to Belize. The students packed up and carried 13 boxes of primary school library books - for primary schools in Cayo District, western Belize - and stuffed animals - for the Ministry of Human Development in Belize City.

Then we loaded up on the bus and were quickly on our way to the first stop: the Belize Zoo.

The Zoo is a really interesting and educational stop. Students get a chance to see here what they probably wouldn’t see in the wild, especially since this is a marine biology class! We were seeing jaguar, ocelot, kinkajou, tapir, scarlet macaw, peccary, howler monkeys, harpy eagle – you name it.


We drove on to Cayo District and San Jose Succtoz village and arrived at Trek Stop Eco lodge where plates of rice and beans, stewed chicken, coleslaw, and fried plantain were waiting. Delicious! Then a Welcome and orientation by the extraordinary Kimo Jolly, the coordinator of the program. A busy day is planned tomorrow - to ATM cave we go!! Stay tuned for more updates from me and the students...
Kristi Drexler, Director
Belize Field School Program, New Mexico State University