ARCC Summer Programs | Belize: Caribbean Reef Conservation
Location
- Belize
- Caye Caulker
Length
2 - 4 weeks
Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility, BIPOC funding
Oct 31, 2024
Sep 10, 2024
2 travelers are looking at this program
About Program
Experience an enriching 15-day summer program in Belize that blends marine biology and conservation with hands-on adventure. This immersive trip focuses on protecting the Western Hemisphere’s largest barrier reef by removing invasive lionfish and earning your SCUBA certification on a private Caribbean island. Students will dive into marine biology activities, including reef fish identification, guided by local experts. Beyond the ocean, explore the ancient Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and help crocodile biologists safeguard the local marine habitats. This program not only deepens your understanding of marine ecosystems but also equips students with essential skills in environmental stewardship and offers a profound, lasting impact on your understanding of marine ecosystems and global conservation efforts.
Video and Photos
Diversity & Inclusion
ARCC Programs believes that social responsibility is an essential aspect of our programming and business operations. We strongly believe that cultural immersion, cross-cultural conversations, and reflection on these experiences can increase self-awareness, promote empathy, and foster growth. We recognize that our staff, student, and participant body is not as diverse as we would hope. We also recognize that there are inherent imbalances in access, particularly when it comes to international travel and outdoor experiences. Recognizing the current imbalances and accessibility issues within the world and more specifically within experiential/outdoor education/gap year programs, we are able to move towards a more just and inclusive world.
ARCC is committed to increasing accessibility for our programs and supporting socioeconomic diversity within our community. ARCC’s Voyagers Scholarship provides up to five scholarship opportunities per semester to students who identify within the BIPOC community. These scholarships can range anywhere from $5,000-$8,000, and also include gear lending and mentorship support throughout the gap year experience. The Voyagers Scholarship can also be combined with ARCC Financial Aid.
ARCC is committed to increasing accessibility for our programs and supporting socioeconomic diversity within our community. ARCC’s Voyagers Scholarship provides up to five scholarship opportunities per semester to students who identify within the BIPOC community. These scholarships can range anywhere from $5,000-$8,000, and also include gear lending and mentorship support throughout the gap year experience. The Voyagers Scholarship can also be combined with ARCC Financial Aid.
ARCC Programs believes that social responsibility is an essential aspect of our programming and business operations. We strongly believe that cultural immersion, cross-cultural conversations, and reflection on these experiences can increase self-awareness, promote empathy, and foster growth. We recognize that our staff, student, and participant body is not as diverse as we would hope. We also recognize that there are inherent imbalances in access, particularly when it comes to international travel and outdoor experiences. Recognizing the current imbalances and accessibility issues within the world and more specifically within experiential/outdoor education/gap year programs, we are able to move towards a more just and inclusive world.
Our Essential Eligibility Criteria outlines the requirements for participation in our programs to determine if our programs are a good fit for each student. While ARCC Gap is not a therapeutic program, we do provide an inclusive environment for students with neurodivergence. We have had students with various diagnosed neuro-differences (such as dyslexia, ADHD, ASD, TS, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, etc) find success on our gap semester programs.
During our interview process, we have open communication with students and families about the support ARCC instructors are able to provide students while on program. For students needing some additional support, we ask them to complete a “Plan of Action” with their at home support system. These plans may include additional information about communication/support preferences, coping strategies, and/or specific requirements to encourage the student to engage with the program effectively. Once on the program, our instructors will periodically check in individually with each student, help the student stay accountable to their Plan of Action, and provide general support to all participants.
During our interview process, we have open communication with students and families about the support ARCC instructors are able to provide students while on program. For students needing some additional support, we ask them to complete a “Plan of Action” with their at home support system. These plans may include additional information about communication/support preferences, coping strategies, and/or specific requirements to encourage the student to engage with the program effectively. Once on the program, our instructors will periodically check in individually with each student, help the student stay accountable to their Plan of Action, and provide general support to all participants.
ARCC Gap Travels to locations around the world that have varying levels of accommodations for students needing accessibility support. For this reason, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria to see if our gap programs are a good fit for you.
Whenever possible (determined by specific location and program - ie. infrastructure, access to specific health care facilities, dietary options available, etc), we have successfully assisted students with anaphylactic allergies, chronic medical conditions, and other accommodations on programs. We recommend that you reach out with specific concerns to your Gap Director to find the right fit for you.
Whenever possible (determined by specific location and program - ie. infrastructure, access to specific health care facilities, dietary options available, etc), we have successfully assisted students with anaphylactic allergies, chronic medical conditions, and other accommodations on programs. We recommend that you reach out with specific concerns to your Gap Director to find the right fit for you.
Impact
At ARCC Programs we recognize that all human action impacts our physical environment and the living beings on the planet. Everything on Earth plays a role in supporting life and we believe that it is our responsibility to have a net positive impact with our actions. We strive to balance the impacts of our programming by partnering with communities and organizations with similar goals toward bettering our planet for future generations.
ARCC believes that we (as an industry) need to shift the way we think about international service. We (as a society) have now come to realize that international volunteers often benefit from their service experience, while the impact on the community can be short-lived or even harmful. We at ARCC are taking the years of experience that we have in the international service learning realm, have reflected on previous mistakes, learned from our in-country partners, and have made changes. Our goal is to live, work, and learn alongside community members while also making a positive impact. We are committed to partnering with local community-driven organizations to focus on reciprocity while contributing to established long-term projects. It is our responsibility to engage in mutually beneficial community-driven projects and teach fair trade learning principles to our students.
Program Highlights
- Earn Your PADI Open Water or Advanced Open Water SCUBA Certification
- Snorkel With Sea Turtles and Nurse Sharks at Laughing Bird Caye National Park
- Protect the Western Hemisphere’s Largest Barrier Reef by Removing Invasive Lionfish
- Help Biologists Working to Protect the Habitat of Endangered Crocodiles and Manatees
- Visit Ancient Mayan Ruins and Learn More About Traditional Mayan Culture
Program Dates
Application Deadline
Program Dates
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Response from ARCC Programs
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your son's recent trip to Belize. We always value the insights of our participants and families and are committed to ensuring every participant has a positive experience.
We would like to address the concerns you raised. Firstly, we want to clarify that the group was not overbooked. The capacity of our Belize program was always set at 20 participants, a number that aligns with the accommodations and planned partner activities. The rooming arrangements were based on the available accommodations in that location, with each room having beds of suitable size for sharing, regardless of the country. We never differentiated between bed sizes based on country or region. We understand your concerns about teenage boys sharing beds, and we will take this into account when planning future programs.
Regarding the itinerary, the pre-program packet, webinar and other information we provide to all families clearly details the activities and duration of each segment of the program. The time spent SCUBA diving on the private island was accurately represented in these communications, as were the days in the rainforest. The amount of diving is set by our local partners; students have the opportunity for up to 12 dives, however they may opt out of optional diving if they choose.
We appreciate your input and hope to have the opportunity to continue providing improved experiences for students in the future.