Belize Botanical Gardens

Belize Botanical Gardens
Gardens Intern

Duration: June through August, 2007
Location: San Ignacio, Belize
Housing: The intern can make her own arrangements in San Ignacio, or stay in an apartment on the Gardens property ($500/month includes airport transportation, food (cook for yourself) and lodging.
Qualifications: Interest in biology, horticulture, conservation and/or Spanish language and Latin culture.

Description:
Located 10 bumpy miles from the small city of San Ignacio, the Belize Botanic Gardens (BBG) boast 45 carefully maintained acres of lush tropical landscape. The mission of the Gardens is “to grow, study, protect and promote tropical flora, especially our native species; to provide information for our community, science, government and industry and to do this in an educationally useful setting.” The BBG focuses on a variety of projects simultaneously, including Environmental Education activities, sustainable agriculture, horticulture, native medicinal plants and native habitats. The staff of this highly active and diverse operation is pleased to host a Mount Holyoke intern, and to help her define an internship focus from among their range of activities.

An example of a specific project currently underway at BBG is an on-going experiment, funded by the Darwin Initiative, to sustainably grow the indigenous “xate” palm. “Xate” has many economically important uses, and BBG is working with local farmers to grow and market plant products. By the summer of 2006, they hope to be looking for international markets for the cut leaf of the palm.

The student interning at BBG will have plenty of opportunity to practice Spanish and to pick up some Mayan words, as most of the staff is at least bi-lingual. All speak English as well, so knowledge of Spanish is not essential.

Ideal for students interested in Environmental Studies, Biology, Horticulture, Education, Latin American Studies, International Relations, Anthropology, Spanish, Economics, even Computer Science, this internship offers a unique outdoor learning environment guaranteed to provide a varied set of challenges to any student. See the BBG website for more information about this special place: http://www.belizebotanic.org/

To apply. submit the Universal Application Form by February 27, 2009. All applicants MUST meet with Jale Okay, Director of International Experiential Learning, by February 20, 2009 for a pre-application meeting. Please call the McCulloch Center at x2072 to schedule an appointment. For additional questions, contact Jale Okay.