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The Bahamas Islands, an archipelago rich in biodiversity, are home to hundreds of terrestrial and aquatic species. Strong, interconnected conservation networks are at the heart of protecting these ecosystems. This Earth Expeditions course explores how organizational leadership drives meaningful collaboration to protect and restore local ecosystems.

Participants will travel to two stunning islands to learn from Bahamian conservation and education leaders advancing locally grounded, globally relevant solutions. Through visits to national parks, mangroves, and community-based initiatives, ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs will explore how leadership and followership theories, such as partnership-building, cultivate resilience in human and ecological communities.

In partnership with Bahamian-owned Wild Spark Consulting and other local organizations, this course promotes conservation efforts in The Bahamas by highlighting the significance of local networks. Students will:

• Participate in active conservation projects grounded in local knowledge
• Engage with scientific and community leaders and their essential work
• Explore how leadership and followership theories influence conservation outcomes
• Conduct small-group ecological investigations using inquiry-based methods
• Explore how the stories of the past and today's realities influence how communities care for and protect their natural environments.

Coursework before and after the field experience is facilitated through ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ’s Canvas platform, allowing ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs to connect insights from the Bahamian context to their own local organizations, institutions, and communities.

This course is ideal for educators, conservation professionals, and emerging leaders committed to strengthening conservation through collaborative leadership and cross-cultural exchange.

Nassau

The tropical town of Nassau is the nation's capital and is home to most Bahamanians in The Bahamas. The city was built up by loyalists and slaves in the 18th century and many colonial influences are still seen in the city's architecture. The Bahamas National Trust, one of our course partners and the organization that set up and manages the nation's parks and marine reserves, is based in Nassau.

Eluethera

Eluethera Island includes pink sand beaches, coral reefs, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna, including sharks, rays, and 13 native amphibian and reptile species. This long, narrow island is home to multi-acre nature preserves and the Leon Levy Environmental Centre, managed by The Bahamas National Trust.

In addition to covering the price for five graduate credits of ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ tuition, field course costs cover all basic expenses, including:

• Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
• Lodging
• Course activities (optional activities are not included)
• Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)

Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as airfare to the course, personal gifts, or ancillary costs, such as passport fees, country entry fees, required course readers, and any additional course texts.

Participants will also be required to purchase a Bahamas National Trust annual national parks pass (cost $30-40 US) to cover entrance into the protected areas and parks of the islands and waters of The Bahamas.

Airfare: To estimate fares applicants may wish to visit an online fare finder or call a travel agent. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares.

¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ also requires all participants in international workshops to purchase travel health insurance for about $40. (Successful applicants will receive more details in their web-based learning community course workshop.) In some classes an additional textbook is required. In some countries, you may have to pay entrance and departure taxes/fees at the airport.

Because of support from ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ, the course costs listed above are a fraction of actual program costs. Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs.

 We offer some further ideas on Helping to Fund your Degree and Scholarships for Current Dragonfly Students

The 2-credit follow-on course, Inquiry & Action, puts the Earth Expeditions course ideas and concepts into practice. Students in this course will choose a research topic and construct a multidisciplinary semester-long project of their choice that includes inquiry-driven learning, participatory education, and community-based conservation to experience and promote action in real-world contexts. Students will connect and collaborate with peers and their instructional team throughout the semester working to make a positive difference in their local communities. This class is a required part of the Global Field Program (GFP) master's course sequence. Inquiry & Action is recommended though optional for non-GFP ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs.

Spring 2024 Course Cost: $790 (2 credits)

Do you have questions? Go to our Frequently Asked Questions page for some answers.

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