Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation Course

Course Summary:

Courses are organized and led by Dr. Marisa Tellez and Jonathan Triminio. Dr. Tellez is internationally recognized in the scientific and conservation community for her work in herpetology, specifically crocodilians. These courses are based off of her 17 years of experience working as a field scientist, as well as a member and the subregional chair of Central American and the Caribbean for the IUCN/SSC-Crocodile Specialist Group. Jonathan has worked for CRC for 5 years and started as a intern from University of Belize prior to that. He’s also a member of in IUCN/SCC- Crocodile Specialist Group, is a licensed tour guide, and leads CRC’s research on New River pollution.

These courses are to provide young and current scientists and conservationists a strong foundation in wildlife research and conservation. Students will be provided presentations from CRC staff to provide background work in research, and how to conduct effective educational outreach that makes a positive change between communities and wildlife. Students will take what they learn from presentations into the field that will include conducting field research related to crocodiles, as well as adjacent wildlife, utilizing various fields in science (i.e., population biology, ecology, parasitology, eco-toxicology, genetics, etc.). CRC is also part of the Belize Mangrove Alliance, so students will get to participate in restoration and protection of mangrove habitat. Additionally, students will engage in at least one educational outreach event to learn our effective methodology to garner community support in wildlife conservation. Students will also get to understand about crocodilian husbandry and behavior, assisting us with our croc ambassadors at our facility. All students will receive a certificate of completion, as well as can utilize our program for reference letters in their career.

Courses: 

**The Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation (WREC) 2-week and month course both receive the same amount of foundational presentations, however, the month course allows for more general field experience, as well as a 3 day trip off the peninsula to conduct howler and spider monkey population surveys. Primate surveys are led by CRC Director of Operations Jane Champion, and will be focused on determining local populations of primates as well as tracking rehabilitated and released primates that were once in the illegal pet trade. Primate research will consist of full days at the field sites, following groups of monkeys and recording group composition, location, behavior and diet via scan sampling every 30 minutes. Locations of primate projects include Chiquibul Forest, Chan Chich Lodge/Gallon Jug and Runaway Creek Nature Reserve.

CRC provides 6 WREC courses throughout the year (see below). The same presentations are given in each course, however depending on the time of the year, some presentations may be discussed more thoroughly to further prep students in the field. Given research activity differs throughout the year, please see below the various courses. Please note these are just a brief summary, and other research (such as with partners or research associates), as wildlife rescues will likely be conducted.

WREC I, Start date April 1: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys around Belize, particularly nest surveys given it is nesting season for the American crocodile. Biodiversity surveys will also be conducted around the Placencia Lagoon, and educational outreach will be conducted at least once per week.

WREC II, Start date June 1: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys around Belize, particularly nest surveys given it is nesting/hatching season for the American crocodile, and nesting season has begun for the Morelet’s crocodile. Biodiversity surveys will also be conducted around the Placencia Lagoon, and educational outreach will be conducted at least once per week. Students will also assist in helping out with the World Croc Day event, which is June 17. Dr. Tellez is one of the founders of World Croc Day. 

WREC III, Start date August 1: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys around Belize, particularly nest surveys given it is hatching season for the the Morelet’s crocodile. Biodiversity surveys will also be conducted around the Placencia Lagoon, and educational outreach will be conducted at least once per week.

WREC IV, Dec 15-Jan 16: Given the holiday season, we will offer 2 of the 2 week courses during this time as follows:
2 week course: Dec 15 – 29
2 week course: Jan 2 – Jan 16

For those that want to experience a full month WREC course MUST take the 2 week course from Dec 15-29. Students will conduct crocodile population surveys, biodiversity surveys, bird monitoring surveys, as well as educational outreach. Those that stay a month will get to participate in primate research. 

** We understand there are some students who would like to stay for experience longer than 1 month. Long-term students with specific research interests are encouraged to develop small attainable projects to complete during their stay with the CRC. We will work with students to gather and analyze data for potential publication. We also have various projects that are non-crocodile related and welcome students whose research interests may include ecosystems or species that are not our primary focus.  

What’s Included:

• Accommodation
• Travel/vehicle fuel costs to and from field sites (our research includes traveling to various places around the country, as well as a lot of work on boats. As of October 2022, gas prices were ~$6.80US/gallon!)
• Research equipment for CRC course activities
• Personalized, one-on-one training on wildlife research techniques, data collection and organization, tropical ecology, wildlife handling and rescue, community engagement and education (which includes traveling to various locations in Belize), and much more!
• Opportunities to work with partner organizations in Belize, Central America, and the Caribbean
• Working within a professional environment amongst a team of established scientists that have background in conservation management of wildlife and habitat

*You are responsible for your travel to Belize, meals, and fun money for exploring and experiencing Belize outside of CRC activities*

Cost:

• 1 month fee: $3,500 US
• 2 week fee: $2,100 US

Course Group Discount!

Have a friend or co-worker looking to get conservation and science experience? We are offering discounts from our program for interns that come with friends or co-workers. Contact us for more information.

• 2 people: 15% discount
• 3 people: 20% discount
• 4 people or more: 25% discount

10% of cost go towards CRC in-country conservation and management efforts.

Interested students from Central America and the Caribbean should also contact the CRC directly to inquire about regional internship pricing.

WREC Courses are secured with a non-refundable 50% deposit, and 100% of the balance is due 2 weeks before the start of the course.  

Cancellation Policy:

• 4 weeks prior to start date: 50% refund of total WREC course price
• Less than 2 weeks: no refund
• CRC reserves the right to cancel due to low enrollment; notice will be given at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the course.

For more information about the WREC course, please send an email to  program.coordinator@crcbelize.org

Course Summary:

Courses are organized and led by Dr. Marisa Tellez and Bobby Greco (in Dominican Republic). Dr. Tellez is internationally recognized in the scientific and conservation community for her work in herpetology, specifically crocodilians. These courses are based off of her 17 years of experience working as a field scientist, as well as a member and the subregional chair of Central American and the Caribbean for the IUCN/SSC-Crocodile Specialist Group. Bobby is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University and has been involved in the research, conservation, and husbandry of wildlife for 10 years with a focus on herpetofauna. Bobby began pursuing his interests in crocodilian research and conservation in 2017 as one of Dr. Tellez’s interns with CRC and began developing a project with her and local stakeholders in Dominican Republic shortly after. This project has continued and grown since then and has provided pertinent information to the Dominican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (DRMENR) so they can improve their long-term management plan of American crocodiles. Bobby brings his years of experience as a field biologist in academia, the private sector, and in government. He is also a member of the IUCN/SSC-Crocodile Specialist Group.  

These courses are to provide young and current scientists and conservationists a strong foundation in wildlife research and conservation. Students will be provided presentations from CRC staff to provide background work in research, and how to conduct effective educational outreach that makes a positive change between communities and wildlife. Students will take what they learn from presentations into the field that will include conducting field research related to crocodiles, as well as adjacent wildlife, utilizing various fields in science (i.e., population biology, ecology, parasitology, eco-toxicology, phylogenetics, etc.). Additionally, students will engage in at least one educational outreach event to learn our effective methodology to garner community support in wildlife conservation. Students will also get to understand about crocodilian husbandry and behavior, assisting us with DRMENR’s head-start program. All students will receive a certificate of completion, as well as can utilize our program for reference letters in their career.

Courses: 

**The Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation (WREC) 2-week and month course both receive the same amount of presentations, however, the month course allows for more field experience. The same presentations are given in each course, however depending on the time of the year, some presentations may be discussed more thoroughly to further prep students in the field. Given research activity differs throughout the year, please see below the various courses. Please note these are just a brief summary, and other research (such as with partners or research associates), as wildlife rescues will likely be conducted.

Prior to arriving, we will send students documents to familiarize themselves with a foundation of information about data collection and species ID. It is our expectation that students review introductory materials to come in ready to participate and get the most out of their experience. 

WREC I, Start date May 12: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys, assisting with nest surveys, and biodiversity surveys around Lago Enriquillo; educational outreach will be conducted at least once. 

WREC II, Start date June 9: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys, assisting with nest surveys, and biodiversity surveys around Lago Enriquillo; educational outreach will be conducted at least once. 

*** We understand there are some students who would like to stay for experience longer than 1 month. Long-term students with specific research interests are encouraged to develop small attainable projects to complete during their stay with the CRC. We will work with students to gather and analyze data for potential publication. We also have various projects that are non-crocodile related and welcome students whose research interests may include ecosystems or species that are not our primary focus.
 

What’s Included:

• Accommodation
• Travel/vehicle fuel costs to and from field sites (our research includes traveling to various places around Lago Enriquillo, as well as a lot of work on boats. As of June 2024, gas prices were ~$5.00 US/gallon!)
• Research equipment for CRC course activities
• Personalized, one-on-one training on wildlife research techniques, data collection and organization, tropical ecology, wildlife handling and rescue, community engagement and education, and much more!
• Opportunities to work with partner organizations in Dominican Republic, Belize, and other places in Central America and the Caribbean
• Working within a professional environment amongst a team of established scientists that have background in conservation management of wildlife and habitat

*You are responsible for your travel to Dominican Republic, meals, and fun money for exploring and experiencing Dominican Republic outside of CRC activities*

Cost:

• 1 month fee: $3,000 US
• 2 week fee: $1,900 US

Course Group Discount!

Have a friend or co-worker looking to get conservation and science experience? We are offering discounts from our program for interns that come with friends or co-workers. Contact us for more information.

• 2 people: 15% discount
• 3 people: 20% discount
• 4 people or more: 25% discount

10% of cost go towards CRC in-country conservation and management efforts.

Students interested in long-term stay with the CRC should inquire about costs specific to their course experience. Interested students from Central America and the Caribbean should also contact the CRC directly to inquire about regional internship pricing.

WREC Courses are secured with a non-refundable 50% deposit, and 100% of the balance is due 2 weeks before the start of the course.  

Cancellation Policy:

• 4 weeks prior to start date: 50% refund of total WREC course price
• Less than 2 weeks: no refund
• CRC reserves the right to cancel due to low enrollment; notice will be given at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the course.

For more information about the WREC course, please send an email to  program.coordinator@crcbelize.org

Course Summary:

The Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation Hybrid Course provides a strong foundation in scientific research, and conservation and management. This hybrid course is a minimum of four weeks, split between virtual and in-person. It is ideal for those who cannot travel for longer than two weeks. 

This course begins virtually with meetings 3 times a week for two weeks, conducted over Zoom. During this time, you will also assist in analyzing game camera or drone images for our on-going biodiversity research around the lagoon. Following the virtual part of the course, you will be quizzed on the material covered before you come to Belize to complete the two-week field work portion of this course.  

Courses are organized and led by Dr. Marisa Tellez and Jonathan Triminio. Dr. Tellez is internationally recognized in the scientific and conservation community for her work in herpetology, specifically crocodilians. These courses are based off of her 17 years of experience working as a field scientist, as well as a member and the subregional chair of Central American and the Caribbean for the IUCN/SSC-Crocodile Specialist Group. Jonathan has worked for CRC for 5 years and started as a intern from University of Belize prior to that. He’s also a member of in IUCN/SCC- Crocodile Specialist Group, is a licensed tour guide, and leads CRC’s research on New River pollution. 

These courses are to provide young and current scientists and conservationists a strong foundation in wildlife research and conservation. Students will be provided presentations from CRC staff to provide background work in research, and how to conduct effective educational outreach that makes a positive change between communities and wildlife. Students will take what they learn from presentations into the field that will include conducting field research related to crocodiles, as well as adjacent wildlife, utilizing various fields in science (i.e., population biology, ecology, parasitology, eco-toxicology, phylogenetics, etc.). Additionally, students will engage in at least one educational outreach event to learn our effective methodology to garner community support in wildlife conservation. Students will also get to understand about crocodilian husbandry and behavior, assisting us with our croc ambassadors at our facility. All students will receive a certificate of completion, as well as can utilize our program for reference letters in their career.

 Courses: 

** The same presentations are given in each course throughout the year, however depending on the time of the year, some presentations may be discussed more thoroughly to further prep students in the field. Given research activity differs throughout the year, please see below the various courses. Please note these are just a brief summary, and other research (such as with partners or research associates), as wildlife rescues will likely be conducted.

Prior to arriving, we will send students documents to familiarize themselves with a foundation of information about data collection and species ID. It is our expectation that students review introductory materials to come in ready to participate and get the most out of their experience. 

WREC Hybrid I, Start date Feb 1: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys (except nest surveys), and biodiversity surveys around the Placencia Lagoon; educational outreach will be conducted at least once per week.
 

WREC Hybrid II, Start date July 1: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population survey, particularly nest surveys given it is hatching season for the the Morelet’s crocodile. Biodiversity surveys will also be conducted around the Placencia Lagoon, and educational outreach will be conducted at least once per week.

WREC Hybrid III, Start date Oct 1: Given it is CROCtober, this months is more dedicated to conducting educational outreach. This is a perfect course for those more interested in learning about how to communicate effective educational outreach that makes a positive change in communities perception of wildlife. Research activities such as crocodile population surveys and biodiversity surveys will still be conducted at least once per week. 

What's Included:

• Gaining general knowledge about crocodilian biology
• Learn scientific methods of the various croc-related research conducted by the CRC
• Participate in virtual outreach presentations
• Discuss how to analyze data for conservation and management purposes
• A CRC t-shirt
• In-person course will include accommodation and travel/fuel costs for CRC related research
• In-person personalized one-on-one training on wildlife research techniques, data collection and organization, tropical ecology, wildlife handling and rescue, community engagement and education (which includes traveling to various locations in Belize), and much more!
• Opportunities to work with partner organizations in Belize, Central America, and the Caribbean
• Working within a professional environment amongst a team of established scientists that have background in conservation management of wildlife and habitat

*Interns will be responsible for travel to/from Placencia, Belize, personal food costs, and visa fees if staying in Belize over one month, and fun money for exploring and experiencing Belize outside of CRC activities*

Please inform us if there is something particular that you would like to learn during this course as we want you to gain and learn as much as possible to further your interest and scientific foundation.

Cost:

• 4 Week Fee: $2,550 US

Course Group Discount!

Have a friend or co-worker looking to get conservation and science experience? We are offering discounts from our program for interns that come with friends or co-workers. Contact us for more information.

• 2 people: 10% discount
• 3 people: 25% discount
• 4 people or more: 20% discount

10% of cost go towards CRC in-country conservation and management efforts.

Interested students from Central America and the Caribbean should also contact the CRC directly to inquire about regional course pricing.

WREC Courses are secured with a non-refundable 50% deposit, and 100% of the balance is due 2 weeks before the start of the internship.  

Cancellation Policy:

• 4 weeks prior to start date: 50% refund of total WREC course price
• Less than 2 weeks: no refund
• CRC reserves the right to cancel due to low enrollment; notice will be given at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the course.

For more information about our hybrid course, please send an email to  program.coordinator@crcbelize.org