Environmental studies brochure

TEACHING

PHOTO BY DAIN VAN SCHOYCK

Environmental Studies

ABROAD

holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com

BRING YOUR CLASSROOM TO THE FIELD At Holbrook Travel, we believe traveling should be a learning experience. Academic travel has been shown to help students become well-rounded, marketable graduates with firsthand experience that goes far beyond what they can gain in a traditional classroom environment. According to a University of Minnesota study of more than 6,000 graduates of 22 colleges who studied abroad, students who study overseas are far more likely to become globally engaged citizens, involved in social entrepreneurship, global leadership, volunteerism, philanthropic donations and more.

across the globe. These trips offer students not only the opportunity to engage with other cultures and expand their world perspective but a chance to see the impact of global sustainability issues and solutions firsthand and to explore biodiversity they can’t see at home.

This brochure will give you an overview of the types of environmental study abroad trips we offer at Holbrook Travel, a few examples of programs we offer and answers to your questions about teaching abroad.

Why not make the rainforest or an African savannah your classroom for a week or two? We offer a wide range of trips in the areas of conservation, biodiversity and sustainability in a number of different countries

holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com

CLASS TOPIC IDEAS Listed below are a few of the types of activities and research projects you and your students can participate in while on a study abroad trip through Holbrook Travel. Programs can be tailored to the needs of each class and can include time for recreational activities in addition to educational projects and tours. Our trips make ideal spring break expeditions for students focusing on sustainability, conservation, and other environmental topics.

CULTURE & HUMAN BEHAVIOR • Agriculture methods • Permaculture and organic farming • Reserve management • Medicinal plants and traditional uses • Visits to sustainable coffee/ pineapple/etc. plantations • Sustainable practices

ECOLOGY & WILDLIFE • Tropical plants and their conservation • Animal rehabilitation • Biological diversity and conservation • Geology and its impact on the ecosystems • Endemic and migratory species • Marine species and ecosystem exploration

SERVICE & RESEARCH PROJECTS • Bird mist netting, surveys, observations, walking transects • Terrestrial mollusk research • Breeding projects (tortoises, poison frogs) • Sea turtle monitoring • Planting root crops • Reforestation projects

holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com

WHERE WILL YOU TEACH? We offer academic programming in the following locations: AMERICAS • Alaska • Argentina • Belize • Brazil • Chile • Costa Rica • Cuba* • Ecuador & Galápagos Islands • Guatemala • Guyana • Hawaii • Honduras

• Mexico • Nicaragua • Panama • Peru AFRICA • Kenya • Madagascar • Namibia • South Africa • Tanzania • Uganda

ASIA AND PACIFIC • Australia • China • Fiji • India • New Zealand POLAR REGIONS • Antarctica • Iceland * requires license

PHOTO BY JOANNA LIVINGSTONE

holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com

THE BASICS WHO IS HOLBROOK TRAVEL? We are a group of dedicated professionals who believe that discovery through travel is the ultimate educational experience. Founder Giovanna Holbrook pioneered one of the first educational tours to the Galápagos Islands when she gathered a group of scientists and laypersons to explore the archipelago by boat. Holbrook Travel was created several years later in 1974, and since then, we’ve taken thousands of students and teachers to the far corners of the world.

Today, we continue her legacy by offering students the opportunity to “learn by doing.” Our staff travels annually to meet with our expert, bilingual in-country guides, inspect sites, and evaluate lodgings to ensure that each program meets our benchmarks for safety, academic standards, and value.

HOW DO I GET STARTED? We will work directly with you to develop a customized itinerary for you and your students. The first step is to review your program objectives and requirements with one of our education travel consultants to determine the program that suits your specific needs and desired outcomes.

Once you find the program that best fits your needs, you’ll have to decide whether your trip will be schoolsponsored or independently offered. If you decide to pursue school sponsorship, you’ll then need to design a proposal to present to your immediate supervisor and ultimately the school board.

WHAT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DOES HOLBROOK TRAVEL TAKE? Your well-being is of the utmost importance to us, and

If an emergency occurs at home during your program, parents can contact our office, and we will contact you in-country. In the unlikely event of an emergency, in-country guides are professionally trained and must adhere to strict guidelines. We employ both radio and cell capability in all destinations and track all groups while in the field.

HOW ARE STUDY ABROAD TRIPS FUNDED? Students and their families are responsible for paying for their own educational program, but you’ll want to do everything you can to help offset their costs. This will also open the trip to more students who may not be able to afford paying for the full trip on their own.

The first thing to explore is whether your school district can provide any support. Departments may have funds for field trips already incorporated into their budgets.

You can also solicit help at the state, national, and international levels.

Oftentimes, members of the local community are eager to support educational school activities. Some educators succeed in acquiring funding for special projects through small businesses, service and professional organizations, environmental or conservation clubs, community foundations, and corporations. Consider online resources such as donorschoose.org, adoptaclassroom.org, or fundraising through PayPal to make it easier for potential donors to find you and contribute to your cause.

Fundraising is the next step. Several easy activities can be held over the course of a few months; you might be surprised by the amount of money they can bring in. We recommend Equal Exchange (equalexchange.coop), which offers fundraising opportunities through student sales of organic and fair trade items. If you’re interested in this option, please ask one of our education travel consultants for more information.

we’ll do everything we can to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for you and your students. We keep abreast of political and national developments in all destinations and exercise great caution in the interests of our travelers.

Before your departure, we’ll provide you with a list of emergency numbers within the country you’re visiting and the number for our 24-hour answering service.

holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com

SAMPLE PROGRAMS The following are examples of activities offered through some of our environmental education programs: PERU: INVESTIGATING ECOLOGY OF THE AMAZON • Cruise the Amazon River to ACRCTT, host to the region’s most diverse flora and fauna.

• Contribute to scientific research projects on birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals at the Amazon Research Center.

• Journey by foot and dugout canoe through floodplain ecosystems for closeup observations of tropical species.

• Learn about poison dart frog conservation and breeding study project at Frog Valley.

• Observe amazing panoramic views of orchids and giant bromeliads from treetop platforms.

• Take night excursions into the forest to see nocturnal mammals, amphibians, insects and reptiles.

• Coast through the treetops on a canopy zip line adventure.

BELIZE: SCIENCE, SERVICE AND SNORKELING • Observe and identify a host of marine life while snorkeling in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Hike through the lowland tropical rainforest at Bladen Nature Reserve to discover the unique flora and fauna.

• Search for crocodiles and nocturnal wildlife during night hikes and canoe rides.

• Participate in bird surveys, observations, and mist netting.

• Contribute to ongoing terrestrial mollusk research with a resident biologist.

• Learn about medicinal plant life during a visit to Maya Center, a Mopan Maya Village.

• Discover local culture and cuisine while purchasing fruits and vegetables at the market. holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com

KENYA: EXPLORING NATURAL AND CULTURAL WONDERS • Visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphan Project, the Giraffe Center, and the Nairobi Education Center.

• Learn the self-defense techniques Maasai warriors practice to protect themselves from wild animals.

• See incredible wildlife during game drives at Lake Nakuru and the Maasai Mara and walking safaris at Crater Lake and Lake Elementaita.

• Examine issues of sustainable development and the bushmeat trade.

• Interact with local communities and learn about traditional arts, food, and hunting practices.

• Explore the soda lakes and thousands of nesting flamingos.

• Observe the dramatic interactions of Kenya’s famed wildlife.

CONSERVING WILD COSTA RICA • Tour the Organization for Tropical Studies’ Wilson Botanical Gardens and learn about the history of the research center.

• Visit the QERC, a quetzal research center established by Oklahoma’s Southern Nazarene University.

• Learn about a local not-for-profit trash mapping project.

• Explore a national park by boat and keep an eye out for whales, dolphins, and other intriguing wildlife.

• Immerse yourself in the marine world while snorkeling on coral and rock reefs.

• Enjoy a surf lesson or yoga session on the beach while learning about local conservation practices.

• Experience the tropical wet forest and its biodiversity during guided hikes.

• Explore a mangrove ecosystem on a boat safari.

TESTIMONIALS Here’s what educators have said about our trips: “I thought all the activities were amazing, and that they gave a great overview of Costa Rica. It definitely made me want more! I thought it was a safe and wonderful way to visit another country while learning other things as well.”

“The level of attention, the quality of the guide, the experience of the driver, the quality of accommodations, the educational experience, the flexibility — I just threw away all the competitor literature for next year! You have my loyalty!”

“Excellent guides and location choices.

Excellent lodging and food. Holbrook is always concerned about the participants’ safety and comfort. Everything centered around education and concern for sustainable practices and environmental considerations.”

-Sarah D., Towson University

- Deb H., Fairmont State University

-Kathryn L., National Science Teachers Association

www.holbrooktravel.com/fbls 800-451-7111 travel@holbrooktravel.com holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com

OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY Holbrook Travel leads the way in fostering best practices of ethical and ecological travel. Since Giovanna Holbrook first brought a group of scientists and visitors to the Galapagos Islands in the 1970s, Holbrook has been at the forefront of ecotourism and responsible travel.

PHILOSOPHY We understand, as many clients do, that to visit a place involves interaction with the host country, its people and its environment.We believe in offering travel programs that help travelers, businesses and host country nationals to conserve the environment and improve the well being of local people.

Whether known as ecotourism trips, sustainable travel or geotourism, tours are underpinned with the principles of respect and sustainability to help protect natural resources and benefit local culture.

We take active steps to minimize any negative impacts travel might have on a host country’s sense of place or character, its culture or its natural systems. In every program, we identify in-country partners such as tour operators, hotel providers and guides that adhere to the best practices in sustainable travel. This helps to develop demand for environmentally and socially conscious travel providers in the more than 30 countries where Holbrook Travel provides trips.

ECOTOURISM

We have long participated in sustainable global travel by supporting local conservation projects and non-governmental organizations that work in the local community and community-based programs that advance conservation. Holbrook uses its knowledge to educate travelers about environmental issues on a local and global level and follows the principles of ecotourism to foster positive experiences for travelers and locals alike.

CARBON OFFSETTING

Since 2008, we have partnered with ClimateSafe to easily allow clients to offset the carbon produced during their educational travel. ClimateSafe is a program that reduces greenhouse emissions by supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and forestry projects, both in the United States and abroad.

Photos courtesy of: Alton Biggs Dion Crushshon Daniel Evans Andrea and Antonella Ferrari

Todd Gustafson, Gustafson Photo Safari Steffi Lopez Randy Moore Jill Richmond Jennifer Shea Moses

Alfredo Dosantos Santillan Ann and Rob Simpson Karen Straus Dain Van Schoyck Pelin Karaca

Our programs are customizable to meet the needs of your unique curriculum and goals.

For more information and program ideas, contact us today! holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 | travel@holbrooktravel.com