News from SUNY Cortland

For more information contact: Jean Palmer, 607-753-2232

Educators and Students Sought For Belize Environment-Related Summer Teacher Institute

CORTLAND, NY (02/27/2008; 1149)(readMedia)-- In light of four successful Summer Teacher Institutes in Belize, SUNY Cortland is planning another program that will run from June 27-July 5.

Since 2004, SUNY Cortland’s International Programs Office has arranged groups of American teachers, administrators, college faculty members and students to visit the tiny Central American country of Belize for a two-week Summer Institute in Environmental Studies and Culture.

This year’s summer institute, hosted by the Chaa Creek Nature Preserve, is a three-credit graduate course. The application deadline is Monday, March 17, and scholarships are available. Participation is limited to 10 participants and acceptance will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The institute will offer those currently in teaching and administrative positions as well as those working toward their master’s degree in education or a related field a unique professional development opportunity to work together with their Belizean counterparts. Participants are involved in a variety of hands-on experiences, active participation in field research and ongoing collaboration with individuals in the educational field.

“I had never been out of the United States and the institute gave me the opportunity to do that and work with teachers from another country,” said Jacqui Getman, a SUNY Cortland graduate student who attended last year’s institute. “The teachers in Belize taught me more about teaching than I could ever imagine. The way the teachers used what limited resources they have makes you think how simplifying your lessons in the classroom can make teaching and learning easier. The Summer Teaching Institute in Belize was an amazing experience that I hope people take advantage of. I learned so much.”

Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a small country in Central America that is politically stable and has English as its first language. About the size of Massachusetts, Belize, with approximately 273,000 citizens, is sparsely populated compared to neighboring countries.

The institute is directed by Gail Tooker, who teaches science and environmental education in the Childhood/Early Childhood Education Department at SUNY Cortland. The program focuses on ancient Mayan civilization, archaeology, eco-tourism, conservation and the rain forest. Participants take related excursions and view presentations by local experts in the environmental field and cultural experiences and events. Though most of the program takes place at Chaa Creek, located near the Guatemalan border, the group also makes trips to smaller neighboring towns.

“I think this program is so important for American educators because they get to go to a real Belizean school and see how little the teachers there have,” Tooker said. “It is eye opening to see that teachers in Belize make do with what they have, that they are happy and they do a really good job. American teachers have an opportunity to see the real Belize and interact with the Belizean teachers who are a real inspiration. It’s a very humbling experience.”

For more information or to register for this summer’s institute, contact Ann Marshall, International Programs Office, at (607) 753-2209.

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