Sian Ka'an Nature-Based Ecotourism and Conservation Activism

An exciting new course through The Heritage Institute providing:
~ 4 Antioch University Seattle continuing education credits
(undergraduate & graduate level) in Science
from a Social Studies perspective, in a collaboration of the disciplines.
~ 40 Washington clock hours/Oregon Professional Development Units for educators.
This course provides an excellent opportunity for Spanish language immersion,
a particularly valuable experience for Spanish teachers of all grades.

View from roof of Cesiak Lodge looking south along the Boca Paila peninsula;
Caribbean Sea on left, Laguna Muyil on right in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.

Path at Cesiak with tent cabins on left and Casa Redondo rental house (red roof) on right.
Caribbean Sea in right background; Laguna Muyil in left background.

We will consider the role of Conservation Science (science-based advocacy)
in educating tourists, promoting environmental protection, and securing
sustainability of a local economy rich with Mayan culture.

Dune vegetation restored after hurricane damage, and minimalist beach development
at Cesiak ecotourism and education center in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.

Our first day begins with an orientation session,
meeting each other and the staff at Cesiak, which serves as a model
for sustainable development in sensitive tropical ecosystems,
operating with ecologically responsible technologies, including systems
for wetlands wastewater management, rainwater catchment,
and power generation through wind and solar sources.

Minimal, ecologically sensitive development at Cesiak in Sian Ka'an.

Experienced local guides will lead natural history investigations
including a hike to a cenote, a kayak paddle to mangrove islands,
and a launch excursion across a lagoon and up a remote river.
We will float back down a kilometer of crystal clear ancient Mayan canal
on our life jackets. From the boat we will witness a wide variety of birds,
fish, crocodiles, manatees, and peer into an underwater cenote.

Course instructor Susanna Bahaar kayaking to mangrove island.

Participants will have an opportunity to experience conservation volunteerism
through an afternoon Caribbean beach clean-up of washed-up debris,
while learning about how the impacts of industrial tourism
threaten sensitive coral reefs and sea turtle nesting grounds.

The human component of natural history will include how the Sian Ka’an
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve serves as a model for incorporating indigenous
fishing villages, small scale agriculture, and ecotourism as components
of ecological stewardship and environmental protection.
The local Maya will teach us some Mayan and we will explore
Mayan history at the beautiful coastal ruins of Tulum.

Ruins of ancient Tulum on coastal bluff above the Caribbean Sea.

This course is appropriate for science teachers of all grades who seek skills in
natural history observation, interpretation, conservation and field leadership.
Humanities teachers in Middle and High Schools will find this course
valuable for informing their teaching of reading, writing, history, and social
studies with perspectives from the ecological and environmental sciences.

Especially valuable to Spanish teachers of all grades, the Spanish Language
Immersion option is available to all participants who register for Antioch
University credits or Professional Development Units (PDU) through The
Heritage Institute. The SLI option will include opportunities to converse in
Spanish with Cesiak staff and excursion guides. With adequate number of
SLI participants, some excursions may be conducted in Spanish.
SLI participants will also have the opportunity to teach conversational
Spanish to other course participants. The SLI component will be facilitated
by Susanna Bahaar, a former Spanish teacher, and resident of Mexico
where she studied and taught university classes for several years.

ACADEMIC COMPONENT

Academic credit participants will read from the on-line bibliography,
choosing selections to share as brief presentations during the course.
Written work will include a course journal and written notes for oral
presentations. Extra written work and participation will be required for
graduate level credit. Details about written assignments and other academic
matters are found in the Course Syllabus SC41s-SC517s.

Chant Thomas, MS, began teaching multiple subjects in a remote one-room
school, and brings over 20 years experience teaching natural history, sciences
and social studies at the university level. For over 35 years Chant has operated
a nature-based ecotourism business including a wilderness guide service
and retreat center at a historic trout farm in Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains.

Susanna Bahaar, MA, gained her fluency in Spanish while living, attending
and teaching university classes in Mexico for 5 years. She brings 20 years
teaching secondary Art and Spanish in the Medford (Oregon) School District,
and over 15 years operating nature-based ecotourism activities, classes, and
retreats at Birch Creek Arts and Ecology Center in southwest Oregon.

Course instructors Susanna Bahaar and Chant Thomas at the ruins of ancient Tulum.

Expect to learn and have a great time with an educational Holiday Break:
Caribbean Nature-Based Ecotourism and Conservation Science.
Weather in late December typically features cool nights in the 60s and 70s,
sunny warm days in the 80s, and only slight chances of precipitation.
The coast can be quite windy, providing significant electric power.
Dawn arrives early, often punctuated with birdsong and the spectacle
of the sun rising out of the Caribbean Sea. The incessant sounds of waves
breaking on the beach seem even louder around dawn,
penetrating the tent cabins with a pulsating invitation to rise into the day.

Early morning presents a wonderful opportunity for quiet walks along the
beach before our busy days begin. The Cesiak restaurant opens by 7:30 to
serve delicious breakfast dishes and beverages. Choose from the sunrise deck
overlooking the Caribbean, the sunset deck overlooking the jungle and lagoon,
or sit in the dining room and still eat to the serenade of waves.

Most mornings, Susanna will lead optional yoga on the beach for
those participants who want to stretch and center into the day.

After breakfast we will meet, discuss the day, and be off on field trips,
excursions, or other activities until lunch. Afternoon activities will include
more excursions, presentations, discussions, and field work, including birding,
botanizing and checking out some of the local wildlife.

Evenings will feature optional conversational Spanish class with Susanna,
and the traditional gathering of Cesiak guests and staff on the sunset decks
for fabulous dinners, drinks, camaraderie, and awesome sunsets.

Sunset begins to get exciting on the Cesiak restaurant deck overlooking lagoon.

Sian Ka'an sun setting beyond the lagoon from Cesiak deck.

Caribbean Nature-Based Ecotourism and Conservation Science
involves several variable costs that are detailed below. All costs except
instructional fees are beyond our control and may change without notice.
All costs and fees in Mexico are quoted in U.S. dollars (USD).

Program costs for the course are estimated at $800 and include:
~ Dakubetede Environmental Education Programs instructional fees,
university quarter-hour credit and PDU fees, travel logistics and advice,
lodging and ground transportation reservations.
~ Guide services and transportation for 3 cultural and natural history
excursions (kayak, motor launch, van to ruins and cenotes).
~ Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve daily activity fees.

While it is difficult to predict airfares months in advance, approximate
(overnight) airfares as of 05/10/13: round trip from Seattle $818;
from Portland $742; from Medford $878. Fares generally are less expensive
for flying Tuesday through Thursday, and for night “red eye” flights (the
quoted fares). Flights become more expensive to book closer to flight dates.
Participants should plan to arrive at Cancun airport by 2 p.m.
in order to arrive at Cesiak via ground transportation by 6 p.m.

~ SHUTTLE from and to Cancun Airport:
The shuttle van service we use provides late model deluxe private vans for
approximately $130 one-way, $225 round trip non-stop to Cesiak.
Participants with similar arrival times can share a van and the cost. Other
shuttle services are available with greatly varying costs. Non-stop shuttles to
Cesiak (approx. 2-2.5 hours) are more expensive than shuttles that stop at
several locations along the Riviera Maya. Least expensive (allow 4-5 hours) are
the public busses that travel south from the airport along the Riviera Maya
Highway as far as Tulum Pueblo, where a private taxi must be hired for the
last leg down to Cesiak. Contact us for sharing a non-stop van to Cesiak.

~ lodging for 6 nights at Cesiak: Cesiak accommodations
consist primarily of rustic tent cabins under thatched-roof frames. Queen bed
cabins have greater views of the Caribbean; garden (jungle) view cabins have
one double and one single bed. Queens $120; doubles $100, double
occupancy. An extra person is $20; sharing a cabin may lower your lodging
costs. Cabins share common shower and toilet facilities. There is one deluxe
house available with one private bedroom with queen bed and private half
bath, another room with one double and one single bed, a futon in living room,
and a large hammock on upstairs balcony; full bathroom and small kitchen are
also in the house, which will have higher rates. Add 14% Mexico hotel tax to
all lodging.
Add tips for room maids.

~ meals at Cesiak restaurant, which easily accommodates
vegetarian and gluten-free diets and features local fish caught each morning.
Add 10% for tips. For three full meals, figure $30-70/day depending on what
you order and how much you eat!

COURSE SYLLABUS
We have received final approval of our syllabus for accreditation through
Antioch University Seattle: Course Syllabus SC41s-SC517s.
Supplemental academic and further information, including Likely Schedule,
Course Details, Additional Participant Expenses, What to Bring, Assigned
Readings and a fully Annotated Bibliography are available here:
Caribbean Ecotourism Supplemental Information.

CESIAK ARRANGEMENTS
We are working with the staff at Cesiak to obtain current quotes and details
regarding lodging and excursions. We will post the latest information here as
soon as it is finalized, and we will email to all who have expressed an interest.

YOUR NEXT STEPS

If you have a serious interest in joining us on the Maya Riviera Caribbean
coast for this course, contact us to let us know at <deep@deepwild.org> or by
phone at 541-899-6906. Contact your travel agent or slog through the internet
airfare sites (we can forward you to our excellent travel agent, well worth
avoiding the hassle on-line!) to research airfare availability.
Prices for airfares increase closer to travel dates, and holiday flights to the
Maya Riviera fill up quickly as summer wanes.
If you have the time, you may want to spend a couple days
before &/or after the course in Tulum or Sian Ka'an.
Arrival day is Dec. 26; plan to arrive at Cesiak by 6 p.m.
Departure day is Jan. 1 after our farewell breakfast.

We need a minimum of 10 registered participants to qualify
for academic credit through The Heritage Institute.
We have until Sept. 15th to make firm reservations
for facilities and activities at Cesiak.
Without the minimum of 10 participants by Sept. 15th,
we will have to cancel the program.
To facilitate registration, we offer an audit option to spouses and
"significant others" of participants taking the course for credit.
Participants choosing to audit the course may still take part
in all activities, without a requirement to submit any written work.

Your place is waiting for you at Cesiak Ecologico Centro
Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve south of the Riviera Maya
on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

DEPOSITS AND REFUNDS
Participants must submit $500 as a deposit to reserve their place in the course.
This deposit will be applied to the Program Cost, presently estimated at $800.
If we must cancel the course due to inadequate registrations, the entire amount
will be refunded. If we cancel due to causes beyond our control,
the deposit will be refunded minus a $50 processing charge.
If you cancel after we have received your deposit, you will receive a full refund
if you cancel before Oct. 1st; a full refund minus a $100 processing charge if
you cancel during October; 1/2 refund if you cancel during November;
no refund if you cancel after Dec. 1st.

All other costs associated with this program are assumed by the individual
participant, including airfare, ground transportation, lodging, and meals.
Dakubetede Environmental Education Programs assumes no responsibility
for refunding any of these individual participant costs borne by individual
participants in the event of program cancellation for any reason.