Education
Creating Empathy for Wildlife Workshop
BY JAYC CANTUN On January 27th and 28th, I attended the Creating Empathy for Wildlife Workshop which utilized the North American Association of Environmental Education Guidelines and was co-hosted by The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. I was one of 13 participants from NGOs across Belize and I…
Read MoreWildlife Ambassador Training
BFREE Staff gather in the BFREE Commons as they prepare for their training program. By Rocento Pau, BFREE Office Administrator On May 9 and 10, the staff of BFREE participated in Belize Wildlife Ambassador Training. This program was offered by Dr. Isabelle Paquet Durand and her team from the Wildlife and Referral Clinic (BWRC) based…
Read MoreCreative Courses in the Jungle
The BFREE field station serves as an oasis optimal for artistic pursuit, retreat, and growth. By Molly McFadden January 2023 I spent two weeks at BFREE as an undergraduate student while completing a course called Travel Writing through Bethel University. When I registered for the course I knew almost nothing about the country of Belize…
Read MoreReptiles through the eyes of a newbie: Wanna Be Herpetologist
Reptiles at BFREE At BFREE, a diverse range of reptiles thrive within its boundaries. I’ve been fortunate to encounter several species firsthand, from the slow-moving yet captivating turtles to the agile and vibrant lizards. My recent encounters with snakes have deepened my interest in these often misunderstood creatures, revealing the unique roles they play in…
Read MoreBelize’s Mud Turtles
Belize is lucky to be home to both mud and musk turtles belonging to the Kinosternidae family. In science, a family is a group of related species that share similar traits. These traits can include their habitat or diet. The shared characteristics among these species indicate their close relationship, just like how family members at…
Read MoreMy Encounters with the Birds of BFREE!
The 1,153 acre BFREE Reserve where I work is a haven for diverse species of birds and my many encounters with them have always been memorable ones. Being in the heart of the jungle has provided me with many opportunities such as witnessing a spectacle display of birds in flight, birds feeding, bird dances, and…
Read MoreStudent Advocate Workshops for Earth Day
As part of Earth Day festivities, Heather Barrett, Deputy Director, and Jaren Serano, Dermatemys Program Coordinator with the support of Wildlife Education Fellow, Samih Young, delivered workshops at Sacred Heart Junior College and University of Belize. Over 60 students in Natural Resource Management and Biology as well as four educators participated in the workshops held…
Read MoreIntroducing Samih Young – BFREE Wildlife Education Fellow
By Samih Young and Heather Barrett This month, Samih Young joined the team and is taking on a brand new role within the BFREE Science and Education Fellowship Program. She joins as the Wildlife Education Fellow and will be collaborating on outreach programming and communications while also supporting work taking place at the Hicatee Conservation…
Read MoreRoses and Thorns: A Reflection on Life at BFREE by Cacao Fellow Graduate
There are experiences in life that can be considered life-changing, but nothing compares to spending about 70% of two years in the rainforest. I can confidently say that the two-year fellowship program at BFREE has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It all began when I came across a Facebook ad…
Read MoreCelebrating Seven Years of Hicatee Awareness Month
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we are waiting for. We are the change we seek.” Barack Obama Hicatee Awareness Month was born out of a need – as are many things. The Hicatee turtle was on the brink of extinction. Belize…
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