Twenty-seven students along with professors from McDaniel College in Maryland U.S.A. arrived this Monday in San Pedro to take part in the school’s “Fishing and Diving-Belize” course, which is taking place in Belize for the 9th consecutive year. Accompanying the students to the island for their January study tour are Professors Herb Smith (course founder) and Dr. Brian Wladkowski, a political science and chemistry instructor, respectively.
Several years ago, Herb Smith met Elito and Rebecca Arceo of Seaduced by Belize tours and decided to initiate a study tour course to beautiful Belize for McDaniel College students. They have been to Belize nine times and their first trip was to the Turneffe Islands, but there was not much to do over there, they decided to do all their subsequent tours to San Pedro. This is McDaniel College’s most popular and biggest study tour, and participating students always tell those back home just how much they love Belize!”
And what’s not to love about Belize and the course, as students take part in snorkeling, diving, fishing, and other fun expeditions in the clear-blue waters surrounding Ambergris Caye and the mainland. They also get to participate in basketball, softball, and soccer matches against San Pedro High School students, plus donate many school supplies to the high school during their stay.
On Tuesday, Elito of Seaduced met the students and professors and took them on a walking tour of San Pedro Town and its surrounding areas. They were later to participate in an introduction snorkeling excursion to the Tres Cocos area and Coral Gardens, near Caye Caulker. This Saturday, the study group will make their annual trip to Rocky Point/Robbles Point area of North Ambergris Caye, to help clean up the area, famous for its natural turtle hatching habitat. It’s an all-day tour and clean-up campaign where the students also get to savor the mouth-watering island delicacies prepared by TABU restaurant for Seaduced tours.
Most of the college students taking part in this year’s course are seniors and juniors, and for many, it’s their first time out of the U.S.A. The study group arrived on Monday, January 7 and will be on the island for a total of eleven days but in the meantime, they’ll enjoy the warm sun and beautiful weather. Professor Brian Wldkowski commented to ambergris Today , “ We encourage our students to interact with the locals, go the churches, observe the local surroundings and see what way a hurricane could impact the island. Belize has a different life style than what the students are use to, but we always enjoy our trip to Belize.”
