Program Reviews

I think the trip was fantastic. It was an extremely rewarding and enriching experience. Everyone was very kind. The country itself is breathtakingly beautiful, and the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture while providing essential Speech and Language Therapy services was truly fulfilling. I am grateful for the chance to contribute to such meaningful work.

However, there were moments during the trip where I felt rushed and a bit on edge, particularly when tasked with specific responsibilities. On the last day of the Tykes camp, instead of being guided and supported, I found myself being directed on what to do with the kids, which left me feeling somewhat overwhelmed. A bit more assistance in these situations would have been helpful.

But overall, it was a 10/10 experience and I would 100% do it again!

Some things I wish I would’ve known is that unscented bug spray doesn’t work as well as the scented kind. On days I used the unscented it felt like I was being bitten nonstop but when I used the scented they didn’t seem as bad. Also that mosquitoes are attracted to black clothing so try to avoid black clothing. I also wished I would’ve only taken a larger backpack as a carry on and one checked bag to avoid having to lug around multiple bags. I would also bring a larger water bottle to avoid having to fill it up multiple times since water can be hard to get at times. I would also recommend water shoes for Punta Gorda, since the water can be rocky at times. I also learned that you can get seasick while snorkeling, so I would make sure to bring Dramamine even if you don’t think you’re going to get sick. The last thing I wish I would’ve known is to bring as much unscented toiletries as possible as it keeps the bugs from biting you.

I had an amazing time on this trip. It was a great mix of academics and fun! I would have liked the trip to be even longer which shows it was a great time! 12 days would be a great amount to divide up the travel days and have an extra day or 2 in Caye Caulker! With more time, there is more free time for the students to explore as well. Zip lining, snorkeling, distillery tour, and the spice farm were my personal favorite activities during the trip! I loved a piece of ground and staying in the same room with all the girls, we had a blast!

As an SLP student who had the incredible opportunity to work with children in Belize, my experience with therapy abroad was both profoundly rewarding and enlightening. The chance to engage with children from diverse backgrounds allowed me to develop a more adaptable and culturally sensitive approach to speech-language pathology. Therapy abroad in Belize was an invaluable learning experience. It expanded my professional skills, deepened my understanding of cross-cultural practices, and reinforced my commitment to providing empathetic and individualized care. I highly recommend such opportunities to any SLP student eager to broaden their horizons and make a meaningful impact in diverse communities.

Overall, the trip was a very worthy experience! It was great getting to immerse myself in the community, learn about the healthcare system there, and getting to make an impact on families and individuals that do not have as much access to therapy services. The excursions were fun experiences. I really enjoyed zip lining, cave tubing, and snorkeling. Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world, and we got to see so many things, including a manatee. The food was wonderful as well. Having everything included in the up front price was very convenient, as well as having a set schedule every day. I would definitely recommend it!

I had a a great time! Both settings of camp and individuals sessions was a good experience. I did enjoy the individual sessions more than camp.

I thought all of the meals were delicious. I would recommend having to go options, so they are not all formal sit downs.

All the excursions were a great experience! Especially the Mayan women’s group, snorkeling, cave tubing & zip lining. I would recommend allowing for more time for documentation during session days.

Overall, I would recommend this experience to other OT students as I think the clients could greatly impact from these services.

This was such an amazing experience where I was able to give back to the community and feel immersed in another culture. I am grateful for this experience and the memories and experiences I was given. Definitely go on this trip if you have the opportunity and make sure you take in all there is to offer. The accommodations at Hode’s place were incredible and everyone was very welcoming. Working with the clients at camp was rewarding and I enjoyed getting to watch them achieve their goals! The excursions packed into this trip were fun and educational. We were lucky enough to go cave tubing, ziplining, learn about the Mayan women’s collaborative, visit and archeological site, go snorkeling, and many more. I highly recommend this experience for anyone given the opportunity!

The trip was amazing. This experience was a once in a life time opportunity and I feel so lucky to have had this experience! The clients were so great. We had the information we needed to provide the best services for the clients. The videos provided were very helpful to creating goals and providing meaningful sessions. All of the excursions were interesting. Accommodations were good. There was amazing food to try. All of my expectations were met and I would recommend this experience to anyone!

This experience was so unique and fun . I was able to practice my skills but also enjoy the culture of Belize. The trip was a great mixture of fun and learning . We got to emires ourselves into the culture and community. Everyone was so welcoming and accommodating to all of my group . We also go to do a handful of amazing excursions. From swimming with sharks and stingrays to zip line from 6 different spots . Although this trip exceed all my expectations I didn’t plan to bond and have such a great time with my group .

This trip was once a once in a lifetime experience! I’m feeling very grateful and humbled by working with this community. The clients were amazing and allowed me to put my clinical skills to hard use. The excursions were awesome and I did a lot of things out of my comfort zone. Some of the excursions were on days of camp which was exhausting but I’m happy to have been able to squeeze everything in! All of the fruit we ate was so fresh and I’m very appreciative of everything that the staff has done for this group.