Study Abroad
BFREE Field Courses are geared toward high school and college students and may be tailored to incorporate visits to our partner locations including the Tropical Education Center adjacent to the Belize Zoo, Nuuk Cheil Cottages in Maya Center and/or a visit to ancient Mayan ruins, national parks, the barrier reef, islands, and coastal beaches. Students take part in hands-on investigations of Belize’s diverse tropical ecosystems.
BFREE field courses create opportunities for students to become familiar with the scientific investigation of flora and fauna, while also learning about tropical riparian systems, protected areas management, and the manner in which humans interact with these ecosystems.
Field Courses
Instructor-led Field Courses include ample support from BFREE in building your unique itinerary and curriculum, as well as providing guided tours, lectures, various cultural immersion experiences, and educational learning opportunities. BFREE Field Courses can be all-inclusive from touch-down to take-off, and a BFREE tour guide is assigned to each group to assist with travel logistics and other needs. We also offer destination-only programs to allow instructors to create their own itineraries outside of BFREE.
BFREE Field Course Audience: High School and Undergraduate Students
Course Themes: Environmental Science, Sustainable Development, Agriculture and Food Systems, Cultural Immersion, Biodiversity Conservation
Optimal Group Size: 8 – 24 students, 1-4 instructors
Average Course Length: 7-14 days
Average Course Costs: Program costs range greatly depending on each unique itinerary and group size. Costs typically range between $160 – $220 per night.
Contact us to receive an Instructor-Led BFREE Field Course Program guide for additional information.
Professor Review
Professor Preview is an introduction to BFREE Field Courses for instructors interested in bringing student groups to the small country of Belize. If you have not visited BFREE before and would like to bring a field course, a Professor Preview is an excellent opportunity to understand the incredible learning opportunities firsthand. During this guided preview, participants will be exposed to a sampling of activities that may occur during a field course, meet many of the staff who will implement the course, and visit partner locations.
The recommended timeline is five days/six nights. The itinerary includes an overnight at the Tropical Education Center adjacent to the Belize Zoo, three nights at the BFREE Field Station, and a final evening in the coastal village of Placencia. All lodging, meals, guided tours, and transportation, including an in-country flight from Placencia to Belize International Airport, are included. Contact to find out availability and additional information.
BFREE Science and Education Fellow 2022
The BFREE Science and Education Fellowship Program is a two-year commitment which offers training and research opportunities to recent graduates of Universities and Junior Colleges in Belize. Candidates must have completed a degree at the Junior College or University level, have a strong interest in the conservation of Belize’s natural resources, be committed to a strict work program in a remote rainforest environment, and have strong references from their academic advisors. This is a full-time position (Monday – Friday, some weekend work is required). Fellows receive room and board and a monthly salary.
Apply: Application currently closed
Eco Tours
Plan your next adventure with BFREE! Visit our 1,153 acres of privately protected land in the heart of the rainforest. Relax, explore, discover. Opportunities are endless!
Let us help bring your family or community together. We offer accommodations for individual or group travel during the dryer period of the year from December to June. BFREE is a great place to add to your itinerary while visiting Belize and is the perfect location for birding clubs, hiking clubs, family reunions, team or board retreats, affinity groups of all kinds, professional development opportunities or for anyone looking to explore the rainforest!
Is BFREE Gold Standard?
BFREE is Gold-Standard certified by the Belize Tourism Board and we are committed to ensuring your safety while visiting. We have implemented all required measures to mitigate risks for COVID-19 to our guests and staff as recommended by the Belize Tourism Board. Our staff have been trained to ensure your safety and are all fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.
We require all guests visiting BFREE to be fully vaccinated (two weeks after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine series). The vaccination requirement applies to anyone eligible to receive the vaccine, ages 5+ for US citizens and 12+ for Belizean citizens.
How do I get to BFREE?
For more information please read the BFREE Transportation Guide
BFREE is located off the Southern Highway at Mile Marker 58. The six-mile entrance road is marked with both a white sign that says, “Bladen Nature Reserve” and a wooden sign that says, “BFREE.” Unless transportation has been arranged, all visitors will need to hike the six-mile entrance road by foot to access the Field Station; driving the entrance road is not permitted.
The most common form of travel to BFREE is by a domestic flight operated by Maya Island Air. Flights can be booked online, and your final destination should be Savannah Airstrip. The Savannah Airstrip is a 30-minute taxi ride to the BFREE entrance road.
If you are renting a car at the airport and driving to BFREE, it will take you about 3.5 – 4 hours from the Phillip W. Goldson
International Airport to arrive at the BFREE Entrance Road. Parking is available across the street at the Gomez Sawmill.
How many guests does BFREE accommodate?
There are nine private rooms with a total of 31 beds at BFREE. Each room has a mix of queen, full, and twin beds.
Is there a restaurant at BFREE?
BFREE Head Chef, Edwardo Pop, prepares three family-style meals per day for all guests. Please notify us of any dietary restrictions or allergies you might have in advance. The “Cool Spot,” BFREE’s shop for beverages and souvenirs is open every day from 5-6 PM, sodas and beers are available for purchase there.
How much does it cost to stay at BFREE?
The average cost is $150 USD / per night / per person. This includes three chef-prepared meals, beautiful accommodations in the middle of the rainforest with sheets, blankets, and pillows, round-trip transportation along BFREE’s 6-mile entrance road, and a guided tour of the field station and facilities upon arrival.
What do I need to pack?
For more information please read the BFREE Packing Guide.
All guests should review the packing list before traveling to BFREE. Required items include a headlamp with extra batteries, long sleeve shirts and pants, and a towel. Recommended items include sun screen, bug spray, earplugs, and water shoes.
What policies does BFREE have in place?
All visitors should read the Field Station Policies document before traveling to BFREE.
Accommodations
Visitation is offered during the dryer period of the year from December to June. A minimum stay of three nights is required for all visitors. Bed linens and pillows are provided for guests staying in The Hammock or a Cabin. Guests are required to review the packing guide before arrival. Required items include a towel, headlamp with extra batteries, and long sleeve shirts and pants.
Activities
All visitors will receive a welcome orientation that includes health and safety information and a tour of the field station facilities. Daily activities may include: witnessing the rainforest come alive at sunrise from the 112′ observation tower, birding to see any of the 350 species of migrant and resident birds found throughout the reserve, swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Bladen River, hiking various trails throughout the 1,153-acre private property, night hikes to search for nocturnal wildlife and so much more!
Reservations
Volunteer
BFREE offers extraordinary opportunities to learn how a biological research station runs while gaining extensive experience in field methods as a Volunteer Field Assistant. Opportunities are for all ages (18+) and last 2-4 weeks on average. Hundreds of interns and long-term volunteers have stayed at our tropical field station since its inception. These volunteers have benefited from the unique experience of living and working in the rainforest and have made tremendous contributions to our wildlands conservation programs, environmental research, and education efforts, as well as to the development of our sustainable facilities.
2022 Volunteer Opportunities
BFREE is now accepting volunteers to work with the Cacao Agroforestry Team to preserve and propagate a rare and wild ancient heirloom fine flavor cacao.
Volunteers will be assigned various roles to support the team depending on the time of the year and the most significant needs.
Assignments may include:
- Farming
- Data collection in the field
- Data entry on a computer
- Documenting, including photography and blog writing
In addition to working with the cacao agroforestry team, volunteers will be assigned a schedule to assist with general day-to-day needs around the field station, such as helping with meal preparation and clean-up, trail maintenance, and administrative tasks. Duties may change as determined by current needs at the time of your assignment.
Learning Objectives May Include:
- Gain experience with collecting data in the field
- Develop observation and record-keeping skills
- Engage in many aspects of cacao agroforestry
- Engage problem-solving skills by working and living in a remote rainforest environment
- Create communication materials
- Participate in the implementation of conservation strategies in tropical environments
- Learn techniques relevant to protected areas management
Requirements
Volunteers should be committed to BFREE’s mission and have a passion for environmental education and conservation. One should have a positive and flexible attitude, desire to learn and work hard, willingness to adapt to a changing work environment and be comfortable living in remote and rustic living conditions in a tropical environment. All volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and complete a physician-signed health form of good health.
There is a 6-night/7-day minimum for volunteers. Volunteer work hours typically follow the regular field station work schedule of 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM with a scheduled lunch hour and breaks. Weekends are free, with some scheduled activities available.
Costs
BFREE Field Assistants are volunteer positions. Field Assistants pay for their international airfare and travel costs from the airport to the BFREE Field Station.
A small daily project fee covers lodging, meals, administration, trainings, and 4×4 transport from the Southern Highway to the BFREE Field Station along our 6-mile private entrance road.
Volunteers staying less than two weeks are required to pay for the 4×4 transport from the Southern Highway to the BFREE Field Station at a rate of $75/each way.
Many past students have received funding and/or credit from their host institution to participate. Payment is due 30 days in advance of arrival.
- Participation Rate$65 USDPer Day (6-night minimum)
- Wi-Fi ACCESS$25 USDOne-Time Fee
- Visa Extension$100 USDFor stays 30+ days
Apply:
To apply for a volunteer opportunity at BFREE, please complete the Volunteer Application Form by clicking the button box to the right. Email the completed form along with your resume to BFREE Program Manager, Tyler Sanville at tsanville@bfreebz.org.
