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14-Day Applied Sustainable Development Intensive in Belize: Earn 3 Shenandoah University Credits

14-Day Applied Sustainable Development Intensive in Belize: Earn 3 Shenandoah University Credits

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Toucan Education Programs
5 · 3 reviews
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Toucan Education Programs

 5 · 3 reviews
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Location
  • Belize
    • San Ignacio
Term
Maymester, Summer
Subject Areas
Agriculture Anthropology Business Communications Conflict Studies Conservation and Preservation Economics Education Entrepreneurship Environmental Studies Field Studies Finance Food Science and Nutrition Gender Studies Geography Global Studies Health Sciences Human Rights Humanities International Business International Relations Latin American Studies Life Sciences Natural Sciences Peace Studies Political Science Public Health Social Sciences Social Work Sociology Sustainable Development Women's Studies +22
General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
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Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Associates Bachelors
Housing
Dormitory
Language
English

Pricing

$5,815
Price Details
• Tuition covering 3 transferable academic credits from a U.S. university
• One official transcript mailed to students’ home institutions
• One unofficial transcript emailed to students
• 48 academic contact hours (not including field trips)
• 12–15 hours of community service
• Accommodation at a field station and hotel
• 10 sponsored trips featuring cultural, historical, and ecological experiences
• Interactive intercultural learning co-curriculum
• Pre-departure and on-site orientation sessions
• Experience living in both rural and coastal settings
• All in-country meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Round-trip airport transfers on group arrival and departure days
• Ultimate travel insurance with $500,000 coverage
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

Go beyond the classroom to drive measurable impact through hands-on projects focused on economic development, community engagement, and climate resilience.

What's Not Included
Airfare
What's Not Included (Extra)

Transportation for personal and independent travel includes airport transfers on days not designated for group arrivals and departures. Program fee does not cover incidental expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, food and drinks outside of sponsored meals, and other personal items.

Nov 05, 2025
Nov 23, 2019
Wish List
10 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Toucan Education Programs offers the Applied Sustainable Development Summer Field Intensive, where you will earn 3 U.S. Transferable Academic Credits from Shenandoah University while gaining hands-on expertise in Western Belize, Central America.

Go beyond the classroom to tackle real-world issues. You'll collaborate with Belizean experts on innovative projects focusing on economic development, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture. This intensive program takes you from the rainforest to the reef, providing an unparalleled understanding of global development challenges.

Cultural Immersion: Live alongside a rural migrant community, gaining genuine, firsthand insights into local life, cultures, and the realities of sustainable living.

Practical Skills: Explore key sectors of the Belizean economy and development challenges, applying your knowledge to real-world scenarios and contributing directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Program Highlights

  • Earn 3 Transferable Academic Credits: Gain valuable US college credits while immersing yourself in real-world service-learning.
  • Diverse Ecosystems & Learning: Discover inland and coastal Belize, exploring unique environments like rainforests and reefs while gaining a comprehensive understanding of the country's economy and development challenges.
  • High-Impact Collaboration: Engage in hands-on service-learning projects with local farmers and leaders, directly contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Diverse Experiences: Discover both inland and coastal Belize, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the country's unique ecosystems and communities.
  • Focused 14-Day Intensive: This 13-night/14-day program provides a deep, hands-on dive into grassroots development and climate solutions from rainforest to reef.

📢 2026 Belize Programs are Open!

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Video and Photos

Student explore the rain forest via a zip line course in Belize
Students at the local farmers market and souvenir shops.
Student learning about plants used by the Garinagu people
Student walking in the rainforest
Student participating in a cultural workshop in Belize

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Impact 🌎

Our programs are designed with a deep respect for Belize's unique environment and culture. We emphasize responsible practices and community engagement, fostering a positive impact for future generations.
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Students and young professionals become active contributors to a sustainable future by choosing our programs. They support reforestation in the host community, high school education of local young people, and foster intercultural understanding through community engagement.
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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 3 reviews
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  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
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  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.35
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.35
  • Housing 3.7
  • Safety 5
Good for Groups, Students, Adventure travelers
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Nia
29
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Study Abroad Experience: Sustainable Economics and Community Development in Belize

Nov 23, 2019

Currently, a graduate student studying agribusiness and applied economics. This was not my first time abroad. But compared to my other trip, this was my favorite program. Spending two weeks in Belize was truly a beautiful, unique experience. (It was a trip of a lifetime.) The program and economics course truly shifted my perspective on sustainability and community development. Dr. Metzgen is an amazing teacher and a trailblazer in the Belizean community. I enjoyed the opportunity in doing a service-learning project along with planned site visits to Barton Creek, San Ignacio, and Xunantunich. Looking back on this adventure, the memories I created in Belize has opened doors for me. I was given the opportunity to participate in several workshops and events sharing my story and my experience in Belize.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Always enter a new experience with an open mind and heart....Have zero expectations. Try to get everything the program recommends on the list. I would recommend to future travelers to bring comfort snacks and items to help cope with the stress of being in a new country. I would also bring at least 2 button-down long sleeve shirts and a hat to cover your neck and face the weather in Belize is extremely hot.
195 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Alexea
29
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience

Oct 16, 2019

I truly enjoyed my experience in Belize this past summer, without a doubt the study abroad program left a huge impact on me. First, I feel as though I had a tremendous amount of support from the faculty( Ms. Abby, Ms. Rhondine and Mr. Roberto) and our professor, Dr. Metzgen. To have support is very important when traveling to another country for the first time. I loved the planned field trips that we took for example: the iguana conservation project, Barton Creek, San Ignacio market and the Mayan Temples just to name a few places. I can definitely say that when I came back home I was able to bring back memories that I will cherish forever and knowledge that is priceless. I would definitely recommend this program to any student. I hope to be able to come back to Belize soon !

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice for future travelers on this program is to make sure you bring the necessary clothes and items and to keep an open mind. I think many people don't keep an open mind when traveling to other countries and it can have a negative effect on your experience.
184 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
William
32
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sustainable Economics and Community Development in Belize

Oct 10, 2019

My overall experience was great since it was my first time learning outside the U.S. I enjoyed the planned activities that the program had to offer. I learned a lot from taking the course under Dr. Metzgen about the history of Belize and how Belize looks going into the future with AG and Tourism. We also had the opportunity to go on excursions outside of doing class work which helped us as a group to see how beautiful the country was. My favorite day's were going to Barton creek to go canoeing in a an ancient Mayan cave under mountain and also the day where we had the chance to work with the kids at the local school on teaching them about germs and hygiene. To conclude, I really enjoyed the program as a whole and I would recommend it to students interested in studying abroad.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would change the location where our group stayed at so that we would not have been so isolated.
191 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Response from Toucan Education Programs

Thank you for taking the time to share your review of the program, Will. It was certainly a pleasure having you as a part of the pilot of this program this past summer.

Based on the feedback from yourself and the rest of the pilot group, we have made changes to next year's program regarding housing which will certainly address the concerns you mentioned in your review.

Thank you again. We wish you the best of luck and hope to see you in Belize again soon!

By Toucan Education Programs on October 11, 2019

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Rhondine Petrof

Program
14-Day Applied Sustainable Development Intensive in Belize: Earn 3 Shenandoah University Credits
Job Title
Founder
Rhondine Petrof, the founder of Toucan Education Programs, believes in the transformative power of international education. With over two decades of experience, Rhondine has witnessed countless cultural experiences college students encounter when studying abroad in Belize with Toucan.

The Belizean people's openness broadens visiting students' horizons, transforming their perspectives and enabling them to work towards creating a more harmonious world.

Rhondine and her team create a learning environment that encourages students to learn from and contribute to local communities. Their motto is to serve, learn, and explore.
Rhondine Petrof

Interview

What is your favorite travel memory?

Stepping out of one's comfort zone starts with a single memory. For me, it was an unforgettable trip from Belize to New York City. From boarding a plane to navigating a foreign city, my first trip abroad was full of new experiences.

As educators and mentors, we empathize with students embarking on a journey beyond their home country. Our commitment to being a guiding presence inspires us to encourage transformative experiences.

These memorable moments foster intercultural learning and enrich both students and the communities they engage with during their educational sojourn.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I feel that I have learned a great deal since working with Toucan Education Programs.

It is incredibly fulfilling to be able to assist students in their personal and professional growth.

I appreciate how you are consistently searching for new and innovative ways to engage with students, our community, and our team, who all play a critical role in making our work possible.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of our returning students shared with me an amazing story that left a deep impression on me.

A few years ago, a member of our alumni community reached out to us for support for her organization, which provides services to several countries. She mentioned that her study abroad experience in Belize with Toucan inspired her to pursue her current line of work. This is a common theme among students who have studied abroad in Belize.

They often share stories of changing or reconfirming their majors or finding work abroad as a result of their experience with us.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

The Sustainable Economic and Community Development Summer Program is my top choice from the Toucan Education Programs.

The program focuses on Sustainable Development Goals and provides educational insights into Belize's economic sectors.

During the program, you can enjoy activities like bird-watching, soccer, and cultural experiences such as making corn tortillas. You can also participate in exhilarating adventures like zip-lining and snorkeling in Belize's barrier reef.

The program offers a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in sustainable development and make a positive impact on local communities.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our team of Belizeans is dedicated to creating high-quality study abroad experiences that promote experiential and intercultural learning opportunities for our students.

We take pride in our commitment to community development and connecting students to projects that nurture their growth. This reflects Toucan Education Programs' core values of trust, safety, and academic rigor.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Toucan Education Programs takes pride in delivering a comprehensive and immersive intercultural learning experience to students from diverse backgrounds. Our programs are designed not only to deliver academic excellence but also to promote inclusivity and sustainable development.

We firmly believe in investing in the host communities where our programs are based to ensure that they benefit from our presence. Our partnerships with local organizations provide enriching experiences that promote cultural exchange and understanding.

We are committed to building bridges that connect people from different cultures and backgrounds. Our goal is to create an environment that fosters mutual respect and understanding, and promotes global citizenship.

At Toucan Education Programs, we understand the significance of providing a safe and supportive environment for our students. We strive to make our programs accessible to everyone, irrespective of their background or circumstances.

In summary, our approach is centered around intercultural learning, academic excellence, inclusivity, and sustainable development. We believe that these values are crucial to creating a better and more connected world.

About Toucan Education Programs

A Locally Operated Social Enterprise Committed to Ethical and Responsible Travel Immersive study abroad experiences in Belize are offered by Toucan, which is aligned with our mission of Serve, Learn, Explore. Our programs are designed to connect students with meaningful opportunities, contributing to local development while gaining transfer...

  • Go Overseas Award

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