The Bahamas: Cultivating Conservation Networks

The iconic Bahama Islands archipelago is home to hundreds of species of terrestrial and aquatic life as well as many collaborating to protect and restore local ecosystems. Many have visited The Bahamas before so explore two breathtaking islands with Earth Expeditions as we highlight current Bahamian experts leading in the fields of conservation and education. Visit diverse marine reserves, mangroves, unique national parks, and community-driven conservation projects that focus on local communities at the forefront of conservation. Participants will experience innovative microplastics projects, networking within the local scientific community, and understanding historical colonialism among other important topics. Project Dragonfly is glad to partner with Science & Perspective, among other local organizations, to offer this course.

Possible course activities include studying marine biodiversity, observing bird behaviors and plant communities, understanding the impacts of climate change on natural and human communities, and participating in local conservation efforts. All students will also have the chance to conduct their own small group investigations of the local ecosystem, asking their own questions, collecting data, and presenting conclusions. Prior to and following the field experience in The Bahamas, students will complete coursework via Canvas, Miami University's learning management system as they apply experiences to their home institutions.

Nassau

The tropical town of Nassau is the nation's capital and is home to most Bahamanians in The Bahamas. The city was built up by loyalists and slaves in the 18th century and many colonial influences are still seen in the city's architecture. The Bahamas National Trust, one of our course partners and the organization that set up and manages the nation's parks and marine reserves, is based in Nassau.

Grand Bahama

As part of The Bahamas archipelago, Grand Bahama with rich opportunities for time in nature. This includes miles of marine coastline with access to rich waters and a number of well-established national parks and organizations conducting long-term scientific investigations.

In addition to covering the price for five graduate credits of Miami University tuition, field course costs cover all basic expenses, including:

• Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
• Lodging
• Course activities (optional activities are not included)
• Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)

Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as airfare to the course, personal gifts, or ancillary costs, such as passport fees, country entry fees, required course readers, and any additional course texts.

Participants will also be required to purchase a Bahamas National Trust annual national parks pass (cost $30-40 US) to cover entrance into the protected areas and parks of the islands and waters of The Bahamas.

Airfare: To estimate fares applicants may wish to visit an online fare finder or call a travel agent. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares.

Miami University also requires all participants in international workshops to purchase travel health insurance for about $40. (Successful applicants will receive more details in their web-based learning community course workshop.) In some classes an additional textbook is required. In some countries, you may have to pay entrance and departure taxes/fees at the airport.

Because of support from Miami University, the course costs listed above are a fraction of actual program costs. Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs.

 We offer some further ideas on Helping to Fund your Degree and Scholarships for Current Dragonfly Students

The 2-credit follow-on course, Inquiry & Action, puts the Earth Expeditions course ideas and concepts into practice. Students in this course will choose a research topic and construct a multidisciplinary semester-long project of their choice that includes inquiry-driven learning, participatory education, and community-based conservation to experience and promote action in real-world contexts. Students will connect and collaborate with peers and their instructional team throughout the semester working to make a positive difference in their local communities. This class is a required part of the Global Field Program (GFP) master's course sequence. Inquiry & Action is recommended though optional for non-GFP students.

Spring 2024 Course Cost: $790 (2 credits)

Do you have questions? Go to our Frequently Asked Questions page for some answers.

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