Sponsor for the Study
Abroad in Belize Program
The location (site) of the
program
Description of the
program
General Goals and Objectives
Transformational to
Participants
Eligibility
Enroll for credit
Who can enroll
The program fee and what it
includes
Optional excursions
The faculty leader’s
expertise in the area of the program
The program is unique
The program sustainable
and scheduled
It has a rigorous academic
component
It has a strong local
interaction
Itinerary
Contact to sign-up for the
program
Sponsor for the Study Abroad in Belize Program _
The Department of Education at Washburn University
sponsors this study abroad program.
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The location (site) of the program _
This program is located in Belize City, Belize, Central
America. Belize is the former British Honduras. English is
the national language. There is security at the Philip
Goldson International Airport, Ladyville (10 miles North
West of Belize City) and at the hotel where we will are
lodging.
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Description of the program _
The Study Abroad in Belize Program is a 10-day program in
Belize City, Belize, Central America, planned from
December 29, 2011-January 7, 2012. The following program
is planned for tfen days in December, 2012-January,
2013.The first Study Abroad in Belize Program was
successfully held from December 28, 2010-January 4, 2011.
Belize is the former British Honduras and English is the
national language. The founder and director of the
program, Dr. Judith Lynne McConnell-Farmer, Professor of
Education, travels with the students and is the resident
instructor of the program.
While in Belize Washburn University students volunteer
their services to Belizean orphanages. At the orphanages
students clean classrooms, garden, paint, sort donated
clothes, help in food preparation and tutor the children.
In addition to Washburn University students’ volunteering,
they spend three mornings at the Belizean International
Symposium on Education, listening to paper presentations
from Belizeans, North Americans and scholars from other
countries. A planned excursion is a Mayan ruins/temple
tour. Dr. McConnell-Farmer will be with the students
during all of the volunteering activities, meals, flights,
at the symposium and she will join the group for the Mayan
ruins/temples tour. Students may participate in other
leisurely activities and excursions as their free time and
finances allow.
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General Goals and Objectives _
The goal of this study abroad program is to offer a
culturally, socially and economically diverse experience
for Washburn students.
Objectives of this program offer students the following:
1. a chance to tutor English speaking Belizean students
living in orphanages;
2. an opportunity to know children and adults who live in
an impoverished area and who are culturally and racially
diverse;
3. an experience volunteering at Belizean orphanages and
possibly at other charities;
4. a three-day opportunity to participate in a
international symposium which is different from one’s own
schooling experience; and,
5. the chance to join in a historically and culturally
relevant excursion to the Mayan ruins/temples.
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Transformational to Participants _
Visiting and living in situations different from one’s own
home and schooling experience can have a transformative
impact both on one’s personal and professional life.
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Eligibility _
The Study Abroad in Belize Program is available to all
undergraduate and graduate students at Washburn University
and others from the community. Attendance at the Belizean
International Symposium on Education is particularly
relevant for teachers and education majors. Every attempt
is made for the symposium to be relevant to all
participants.
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Enroll for credit _
Participants in this program are required to enroll in a 3
credit course, ED 474 (undergraduate) or ED 674 (graduate)
at Washburn University for the fall 2012 semester. Class
meetings will be scheduled based on a convenient day/time
for the students and Dr. McConnell-Farmer.
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Who can enroll _
The Study Abroad in Belize Program is appealing to many
different types of students. Minimally, all participants
from Washburn University are required to be second
semester freshman students. This program is available to
all such students at Washburn University who are
interested in volunteering with and tutoring children in
diverse settings. In the past program students from a
variety of departments, including the Department of
Education, have traveled with us to Belize.
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The program fee and what it includes _
In addition to tuition for ED 474 or ED 674 is the Study
Abroad in Belize Program fee. The program fee for the
Study Abroad in Belize Program for the current 2012-2013 trip is $2,000. Partial scholarships are available through
the Washburn University Transformational Experience
International Fund. The amount of the individual student
scholarship is based on the student’s GPA and expressed
need for a scholarship. The scholarship documents are
completed by the participants during several of our course
meetings. Dr. McConnell-Farmer hand-delivers the hard
copies of the individual student’s scholarship application
to the International House. The individual scholarship
award will be credited to the student’s Washburn
University Business account. The remaining balance of the
program fee is due in the participant’s Washburn
University Business account by December 1, 2012.
Included in the fee are the following:
Transportation
This program fee includes the round-trip airplane flights,
Kansas City, Missouri (MCI) to/from Belize City, Belize.
If we spend the pre-departure night in a motel at the MCI
Airport this includes pre-departure travel from the motel
to the airport proper. The program fee includes all ground
transportation for planned activities while in Belize. If
there is a charge for luggage each student assumes this
cost for luggage.
Housing and Meals
Included is the pre-departure motel room near the Kansas
City, Missouri Airport (MCI), if we decide to stay near
MCI, and all housing costs in Belize. While in Belize 3
lunches and all breakfasts are included in the program fee. Students assume
any costs for breakfasts, the remaining lunches, dinners
and all meals purchased at airports.
Excursions
Fees for the Mayan ruins/temple tour and attendance at the
Belizean International Symposium on Education are included
in the program fee.
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Optional excursions _
There are several optional group excursions, such as
snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea; sunbathing on the beach;
kayaking through the rain forest; horseback riding; going
to a butterfly reserve and visiting a zoo.
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The faculty leader’s expertise in the area of the
program _
Dr. McConnell-Farmer has experience creating study abroad
programs in the Caribbean area. She founded and directs
the WTE in Jamaica Program. Since 2005 she has directed
eight WTE in Jamaica Program trips. She traveled to Belize
City in December, 2009, and January, 2010, and conducted a
fact-finding mission. Based on her contacts at the Liberty
Children’s Home (an orphanage), located near Belize City,
and contacts with hoteliers located in Belize City, she
believed it reasonable for Washburn University to offer a
study abroad program in this foreign country. During her
fact-finding tour, Dr. McConnell-Farmer was a participant
in a Mayan ruins/temples tour. Having evaluated the
educational value of that experience, she has added that
tour as an excursion in this program.
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The program is unique _
The proposed Belizean program is unique as it is the first
Washburn University study aboard program in Belize. It
gives students an opportunity to become acquainted with a
diverse culture without the barrier of a foreign language
while providing needed volunteer services to Belizean
orphanages. It may also become possible for the students
to participate in volunteer activities with other
charities. At the orphanages, students clean classrooms,
garden, paint, sort donated clothes, help in food
preparation and/or tutor children. Students spend three
days at the Belizean International Symposium on Education,
listening to paper presentations from Belizeans, North
Americans and scholars from other countries. The students present posters at the symposium's poster session.
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The program sustainable and scheduled _
The program is offered each Winter Recess at Washburn
University. It is a sustainable program. It is the intent
of Dr. Pamela Cook, director of the Belizean International
Symposium on Education to offer the symposium every
January 2-4, as it is currently scheduled. It is the
intent of this program for students to attend and
participate in the symposium every year. Dr. Judith Lynne
McConnell-Farmer was an International Member of the
2009-2010 and 2010-2011 Symposium Programme Committee and
has presented papers during both symposium offerings.
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It has a rigorous academic component _
There are rigorous and scholarly activities assigned to
the students participating in this program. Students
research and become knowledgeable about the history,
economy, government, culture, religions, music, art,
peoples, geography and climate of Belize. The assignments
include a research paper, a midterm examination,
development of ten literacy–based activities (to be used
as enrichment activities when tutoring children at the
orphanages), daily journaling, a final examination, a
reflection paper and a post-trip ten minute oral report.
This program has a strong cultural component. Students
interact with local Belizean adults and children at
orphanages and possibly at other charities. During the
Mayan ruins/temples tour and in their interactions with
teachers and other educators at the Belizean International
Symposium on Education, the students encounter diverse and
various cultural perspectives.
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It has a strong local interaction _
Advance preparation, in the form of reading and research
about the history and culture of Belize is the foundation
for cultural awareness during the ten day experience.
While in Belize there are scheduled daily group reflective
sessions with Dr. McConnell-Farmer and other students in
our program. The purpose of these sessions is to give an
opportunity for students to address and share questions
and concerns about their experiences in Belize.
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Itinerary _
As part of the required course, ED 474: Study Abroad in
Belize Program, fifteen, two-hour long pre-departure
orientation classes are held during the fall semester at
Washburn University. After arriving in Belize there is a
two-hour orientation to tutoring and volunteering seminar.
A two hour planning and assessment reflective seminar is
conducted daily during the nine evenings we are in Belize.
The reflective seminars are times to convey information
for personal and professional reflection, assessment of
tutoring and to clarify assignments.
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Contact to sign-up for the program _
Registration for the Study Abroad in Belize Program begins in the spring semester pre-registration in April,
2012. Contact Dr. Judith McConnell-Farmer as soon as
possible to secure a place in a future trip. You may
contact her as follows: judy.mcconnell-farmer@washburn.edu
and her office phone is 670-1472. Dr. McConnell-Farmer's
office is at 201 Carnegie Hall, Department of Education,
Washburn University.
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