Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation Course

 The CRC Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation (WREC) program offers more than a traditional wildlife volunteer or internship experience. WREC courses are to provide young and current scientists and conservationists a strong foundation in wildlife research and conservation. Students receive individualized, one-on-one mentorship from experienced conservation scientists while gaining practical experience in active wildlife research and conservation initiatives throughout Belize.

WREC 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 are organized and led by Dr. Marisa Tellez and Jonathan Triminio, both members of the IUCN/SSC-Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG). Dr. Tellez is internationally recognized in the scientific and conservation community for her work in herpetology, specifically crocodylians. These courses are based off of her 20+ years of experience working as a field scientist.

Courses:
**The WREC 2-week and month course both receive the same amount of foundational presentations.

CRC provides 4 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, March 1-30, 2027:  Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys, and biodiversity surveys around Placencia Lagoon; student will also spend time in Orange Walk in northern Belize to monitor the New River croc population in correlation to our long-term heavy metal monitoring research in that location. Educational outreach will be conducted in various communities, along with biodiversity surveys and mangrove research on Placencia Caye.

WREC II, April 19-May 23, 2027: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys around Belize, particularly nest surveys given it is nesting season for the American crocodile. We also will spend a few days in Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in collaboration with Belize Audobon Socity, monitoring the crocodile population at this location, an assisting with coexistence with the local community. Educational outreach will be conducted in various communities, along with biodiversity surveys and mangrove research on Placencia Caye.

WREC III, June 7-July 4, 2027: 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. Educational outreach will be conducted in various communities, along with biodiversity surveys and mangrove research on Placencia Caye. 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 IV, July 19-August 22, 2027: Research activity will prioritize around conducting crocodile population surveys around Belize, particularly hatching season for the American crocodile, and nesting season has begun for the Morelet’s crocodile. We will be spending a few days in Gales Point conducting crocodile surveys, and working alongside with the local community. Educational outreach will be conducted in various communities, along with biodiversity surveys and mangrove research on Placencia Caye.

** We understand there are some students who would like to stay for 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 in course fee:

• AccommodationTravel/vehicle fuel costs to and from field sites (our research includes traveling to various places around the country, as well as a lot of field work via boats. As of October 2026, gas prices were ~$7.23US/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

Students should plan to arrive a day prior to the course starting. 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: $3,750 US
2 week fee: $2,300 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: 5% discount
3 people: 10% discount
4 people or more: 15% discount

10% of course fee 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

What's it like to be one of our WREC students? Hear directly from those who’ve been part of the journey—our past volunteers and students. Click the link to explore their stories and see what the CRC experience is all about.