Belize Rainforest Workshop for EducatorsBelize Rainforest Workshop for Educators
The past two summers, I attended the Belize Rainforest Workshop for Educators,
sponsored by International Expeditions, an ecotour company from
Helena, Alabama. It was enthralling. The diversity of ecosystems--3
kinds of tropical forest, the rivers, the mountains, the coast, the
reef, plus evidence of the ancient Maya everywhere, made for a trip
packed with new experiences and perceptions. The people also are from
diverse cultures and were all very warm, friendly and helpful. I got
to hold tarantulas, snorkel with nurse sharks, swim in waterfalls,
explore bat-filled caves, and dance punta, to name a few things. It
was fun to be with the teachers on the tour. We made a good group and
learned a lot from each other. We had outstanding workshop leaders
and a well-planned itinerary. Each educator received a large notebook
full of information and teaching ideas. Below are some clips from
this notebook and from my journal.
"This workshop offers participants an opportunity to study
tropical forests, reef ecology and archaeology all in one excursion.
With lush tropical forests, subtropical pine savannahs, mangrove
swamps and the world's second largest barrier reef, Belize sustains
over 500 species of exotic birds and 250 varieties of orchids, and is
one of the last stands of the elusive jaguar.
"The Maya culture was nurtured and flourished in this land of
ecological diversity where today various major ethnic groups are
represented, including Creole, East Indian, Carib, Mennonite,
Garifuna, and Maya Indian. Belize is noted for its stable democratic
government. The people are friendly and enjoy sharing their natural
and cultural heritage. The official language of Belize is
English."
We stayed one night at Warrie Head Lodge and four at Slate Creek Camp on the grounds of Mountain Equestrian Trails.
On the coast we stayed at Jaguar Reef Lodge near Hopkins Village south of Dangriga. Nice accomodations, all food gourmet (got some good recipes from the cook), on the coconut palm beach, next to the rainforest and river, kayaks, windsurfers, dive and snorkel trips, river boat trips,swimming, fresh seafood and fruits.
Here are some of the recipes:
4 zucchinis, peeled and diced
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup sour cream
salt & pepper
Cook the first 4 ingredients until soft. Puree in a blender. Add the
sour cream and seasoning. Add extra water to bring the soup to
desired consistency and reheat if necessary.
Peel raw shrimp, but leave the tails on. Marinate 4 hours in:
1 t. hot pepper
1 clove chopped garlic
2 t. curry powder
pepper
1/4 cup cooking oil
Grill and eat with white rice and a salad.
1 mango, peeled and cut up
1 clove chopped garlic
1 T. vinegar
1 t. sugar
1 T. chopped ginger
salt & pepper
hot pepper sauce
Combine ingredients in a blender. Serve as a condiment with seafood.
Aside from the recipes, I've got a new long-term interest, a new multimedia presentation for my students at school to expand their understanding of the environment and other cultures, and a new "Project for Belize," hoping for an information exchange and a way to for our kids to get to know and to help kids there.
|
|
|
|