Tropical Biodiversity and Conservation in Belize
Get up-close and personal with tropical wildlife!
This program is designed to introduce students from Biological Sciences and related majors to the unique environs and conditions of the tropics. Prior to departure, you will have a one week on-campus introduction to topics such as patterns of global biodiversity, tropical ecology and the natural history of organisms found at your field site, and conservation efforts in Belize, as well as an overview of the local history, politics, and culture. Then you will depart for Belize!
From your base at Lamanai Outpost Lodge, you will spend two weeks gaining first-hand experience with field research techniques for observation, data collection, and analysis. Your subjects will be the local flora & fauna: birds, bats, insects, lizards, crocodiles, medicinal plants, and more. Experientially, you will have the opportunity to view and consider anthropogenic effects, both current and historical, on the tropical landscape of Belize.
Key information
2026 Info Session
Have questions?
For program information, please contact the instructors: Robert Barclay (barclay@ucalgary.ca) and Ariane Cantin (acantin@ucalgary.ca).
For application and registration support, please contact the Group Study Team at group.study@ucalgary.ca.
Other useful links:
Program details
The information below was last updated on: September 5, 2025
Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.
Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.
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Courses offered
Students on this program are required to enroll in one course:
BIOL 520: Field Course in Tropical Biology (6 units)
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Prerequisites
Students must have BIOL 313 / Biological Sciences Core Curriculum to apply.
*Please note: BIOL 313 is offered in Winter semester. Students who are registered to take this course in Winter semester are welcome to still apply for this program; successful completion of BIOL 313 will be expected before departure for Belize.
Travel can be unpredictable! GSP travel itineraries are tentative and subject to change, including while in field.
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Pre-departure
February or March (date TBD), Calgary: Mandatory Group Travel Clinic and Wilderness First Aid Workshop
March TBD, Calgary: Mandatory Pre-departure Orientation facilitated by Global Learning
May 4, Calgary: Lectures/discussions. Introductions (students, instructors, the course); Belize history, culture, geology, biology; what is biodiversity and how do we measure it?
May 5, Calgary: Lectures/discussions. Characteristics of tropical forests; tropical conservation
May 6, Calgary: Lectures/discussions. Vertebrates and invertebrates of Belize
May 7, Calgary: Lectures/discussions. Biodiversity sampling; conservation issues
May 8, Calgary: Student presentations on Belize species; exam; hazard assessment/safety discussion and equipment distribution
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In-field
May 10, Calgary/Belize: Travel to Belize City via Houston; land/water transport to Lamanai Outpost Lodge. Introductions to lodge & environs, safety talk, evening walkabout
May 11, Lamanai: AM full class fieldwork in primary/secondary forest (bird, plant, insect, lizard observations); PM mist nets & bat observations
May 12, Lamanai: AM divide into small groups for ongoing fieldwork (creek, primary forest, secondary forest); PM Group 1 spotlight tour
May 13, Lamanai: AM small group fieldwork, Group 1 medicinal plant walk; PM Group 2 spotlight tour
May 14, Lamanai: AM full class visits Lamanai ruins; PM small groups do mist nets & insect traps at Kakabish (unexcavated Mayan site) and night walk
May 15, Lamanai: AM small group fieldwork, Group 2 medicinal plant walk; PM small groups do mist nets & insect traps at Kakabish and night walk
May 16, Lamanai: AM Group 3 medicinal plant walk, study reserve trees; PM planning project logistics, Group 1 crocodile tagging
May 17, Lamanai: AM work on research projects & data collection/analysis; PM Group 2 crocodile tagging
May 18, Lamanai: AM work on research projects & data collection/analysis, paper presentations; PM Group 3 crocodile tagging
May 19, Lamanai: Possible class visit to school in Indian Church; work on research projects & data collection
May 20-22, Lamanai: Work on research projects & data collection/analysis; paper presentations; writing final reports
May 23, Lamanai: AM student project presentations; PM packing and farewell dinner
May 24, Belize/Calgary: Transfer back to Belize City and return to Calgary (or students may continue on independent travel).
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Costs
The estimated cost of the Tropical Biodiversity and Conservation Group Study Program will include 2 courses of tuition, airfare, field trips, local transportation, accommodations, and meals. The program cost is $9,031.
For the full cost breakdown and payment deadlines, please see the program Student Cost Summary.
Important information regarding deposit payments: Deposits are non-refundable. Deposits secure your space in the program and allows payment for logistical arrangements to be made in advance.
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you? Since you are studying UCalgary courses and paying UCalgary tuition, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are otherwise eligible to receive from the university, as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund and the Global Learning Award. Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Note: All undergraduate students who are in good standing and enrolled in programs offered by the Faculty of Science are eligible to apply for financial support from the IDEAS Fund.
Participants on this program will be housed in shared rooms at the Lamanai Outpost Lodge.
The lodge will provide all meals for the duration of your stay; you will only be responsible for providing your own food on the designated travel days.
The lodge kitchen is able to accommodate most dietary restrictions but requires early notice. Please contact our office in advance to discuss any dietary concerns.
This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from the Faculty of Science (Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Plant Biology, Environmental Science, and Natural Science) and from the Faculty of Arts (Geography, Anthropology, Primatology).
Applications will be considered after your application, unofficial transcript, and supplementary questionnaire have been received in full.
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Written application questions
All Group Study Programs have general questions about how the program will meet your goals (academic reasons, personal interest, career prospects, etc.), how you plan to finance your program, and coping skills for travelling abroad. These questions are designed to help narrow down your motivation for applying and why you should be selected. You will also see a couple extra questions specific to Belize fieldwork.
Note: Because the online application will time out after one hour, we recommend that you "save" your application, copy the questions into a Word document to compose your answers, check for spelling, grammar and word count, and then paste it into the online application.
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Unofficial transcript
Download an unofficial transcript from your Student Centre. Click here for a step-by-step guide to access your unofficial transcript.
You will be asked to upload your transcript as a PDF in the online application.
Program-Specific FAQs
Q: Is Belize safe?
A: Yes, Belize is a safe country to travel and work in. Saying that, there are always precautions that should be taken whenever one travels in a foreign country, and further precautions when doing fieldwork in a relatively remote location. We will discuss these precautions before we go.
Q: What are the biggest risks of this program?
A: Of course there are always risks when studying wild animals, but the instructors are well-experienced in this area and will be directing your work with all safety precautions in mind. The biggest risk overall is actually from the climate. Belize is a very warm, humid environment; heat stroke and dehydration are common. The instructors will provide advice about clothing, waterbottles, etc. at your predeparture meeting.
Please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.
Alongside meeting some of my closest friends from the university, I learned the skills necessary to develop and conduct a pilot study on location. This was an invaluable experience as it allowed me to conduct research on organisms that I would otherwise not be able to study.
Malcolm, Ecology & Geography major
Belize Program Past Participant
The Belize field school was certainly the best course I’ve taken at the university [...] If you are at all interested in tropical biology and learning what it’s like to work in the field in a brand-new location, I highly recommend this course! Fantastic adventure.
Christine, Biological Sciences & Geology major
Belize Program Past Participant
Previous Program Experiences
Photos by the instructor Dr. Robert Barclay
The advisor for this program is: Andrea Santos V.
Getting started
Program-Specific Info Sessions
Info sessions are scheduled for every Group Study Program. Attending an info session is not required to apply, but strongly recommended as it will give you an opportunity to meet the instructor and learn more about the travel experience.
We also recommend watching Global Learning 101 for general information.
Global Learning Advising
If you have questions about this program, you can meet with one of our Global Learning Advisors by emailing group.study@ucalgary.ca or booking an appointment through the link below.
1. Select "Advising"
2. Select “Study Abroad”
3. Select “Book by Appointment Type”
4. Select your program advisor to view available times.
Academic Advising
Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how a Group Study Program might align with your degree.
After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential. For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular study abroad program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Study Abroad Team will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success. Please note if you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Study Abroad Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.