Three Years After COVID, Southern
Students Are Returning to Belize
By Chase Kellogg
I magine swimming through sunlit Carib-
bean waters, peering through the filtered
lenses of your dive mask as schools of stream-
lined angelfish dip and dart through brightly col-
ored heads of coral all around you. Picture trudg-
ing through a warm, misty jungle, following a
narrow dirt path as you move amid the shadows
of the green understory, listening to the trills of
wild birds and the throaty roars of distant howler
monkeys. For those enrolled in the BIO-352: Bi-
omes course at Missouri Southern State Univer-
sity, these imaginings will soon become reali-
ty—for the first time in nearly four years, the
Biology Department will be sending students on
a ten-day trip to the remote and rugged nation of
Belize, where they’ll have the opportunity to study
two of the world’s most threatened ecosystems:
the tropical rainforest and the coral reef.
Belize, a small, Central American nation
bordering Mexico and Guatemala, is every Biolo-
gy Major’s dream; despite having a surface area
only slightly larger than New Jersey, Belize’s for-
ests are home to hundreds of animal species and
more than five thousand genre of plants. The
country claims the world’s 2nd largest barrier reef,
the largest underwater sinkhole, and the most ex-
tensive cave system in all of Central America. Un-
surprisingly, the region serves as one of the prem-
ier destinations for eco-tourism; following the re-
moval of COVID-related health measures at points
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 of entry, travelers have begun flocking back
to Belize’s verdant wilderness in droves.
With their departure date set for May
16th, preparation is in full swing for the BIO
352 class. Under the tutelage of professors
Jason Willand and David Penning, the stu-
dents have been dedicating an hour each
week to the classroom, getting to know the
exotic wildlife of Belize. As an experienced
botanist, Dr. Willand provides information on
the native flora, such as the parasitic, tree-
killing Strangler fig, and the spiny, pain-
inducing Give-and-take palm. Meanwhile,
Dr. Penning warns the class to make sure and
get a good grip on the reptiles’ necks, as, while
vegetarians, they have incredibly powerful jaws.
Dr. Penning awes the class with tales of the
local fauna, from aquatic opossums with wa-
ter-tight pouches to vampire bats that share
blood meals with one another. To make
things more interesting, the students have
even been given the chance to handle living
specimens, including a toxic-skinned Cane
Toad and an ill-tempered Milk snake.
In addition to these hands-on lectures,
the class has also enjoyed a vicarious sneak-
peak at their itinerary through their profes-
sors’ first-hand accounts and personal photos
from the previous trip. In coordination with
the International Zoological Expeditions—
IZE—of Belize, the class is to spend the first
half of their trip in the remote Mayan Village
of Blue Creek. Once there, they’ll be lodged
in the sparse but rugged dormitories of IZE’s
rainforest sanctuary, overlooking the enchant-
ing turquoise waters of Blue Creek. Enclosed
by jungle on all sides, the students will be cut
off from all but the most rudimentary of civi-
lization. WiFi, cell service, and even reliable
electricity are to be non-existent commodi-
ties. The local villagers will provide food and
supplies in addition to acting as friendly and
knowledgeable guides.
During their stay at Blue Creek, the
professors promise a diverse array of thrilling
and educational activities. The more adven-
turous student can join the guides on iguana-
wrangling escapades, searching endless trees
and rocks along the riverbanks for any linger-
ing lizards—only to dive into the surprisingly
cool currents as the iguanas attempt to make
their escape. Dr. Penning warns the class to
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make sure and get a good grip on the reptiles’
necks, as, while vegetarians, they have incred-
ibly powerful jaws. In the evening hours, the
class will have their choice of relaxing in the
refreshing water of the creek or following Dr.
Willand back in the jungle to search for night-
dwelling scorpions and beetles.

For the second half of their excursion,

the students are to drive north to the coastal
city of Dangriga, where they’ll enjoy a half-
hour boat-ride to the island paradise of South
Water Caye, just west of the barrier reef.
While on the Caye, the professors will lead
students in excursions to study the eel grass
and mangrove habitats surrounding the island, swim over to the reef. Once amid the coral, the
and later to the barrier reef itself. After don- students will find themselves immersed in col-
ning their swim fins and snorkels, the students orful swarms of fish, spotted rays gliding along
will hop into the ocean and catch their first the sand beneath them as reclusive morays peer
glimpse into the endless blue depths as they out through fluttering arms of anemone.

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When not engaged in field work, the
students can enjoy island free-time
soaking up sun on the beach,
kayaking in the shallow coastal wa-
ters, or enjoying a taste of locally-
sourced coconut milk.

While the BIO-352 class has

been closed off to new students as of
January 27th, Professors Willand and
Penning plan to return to Belize in
the coming years. MSSU students
looking for adventurous and educa-
tional travel opportunities would be
well-advised to consider enrolling in
future sections of this course.