An environmental citizenship field experience exploring cultural and resource issues from the height of the classic Maya civilization through current trends in tourism and commercial development. The Maya culture module explores current archaeological excavations and evaluates several major reconstructed sites. Additionally, students experience modern rural and urban culture from the Maya perspective. Tropical deciduous ecology is studied on the grounds of the historic Rancho Kiuic, home to one of the oldest forests in the Puuc Region of Yucatan and an excellently preserved, as yet unstudied, major Maya city. The final module examines the impact of tourism on the shallow marine environment and sea turtle habitat from Cozumel and Cancun to the coast of Belize.
Students collect field data on the reefs and retrieve sediments for chemical analysis.
Participants live in a variety of cultural and ecological zones, including the capital city of Merida, major archaeological sites, the Caribbean, and a week at the reconstructed colonial hacienda Tabi, once the largest hacienda in the Yucatan. The program is open to all students who have had at least a year of college Spanish or the equivalent. Spring Break For Cross Cultural Understanding In Saltillo, Mexico The Saltillo program enables participants to experience a rich culture, serve the physical needs of the poor, and share in the profound faith of the Mexican people. Students help distribute food, clothing, toys and other items to the nomadic Indians living there, as well as participate in daily worship. Sponsored by the Catholic Campus Ministry.