Imagine that you’re in class, but it’s not your typical classroom. Instead, you’re hiking through the dense lowland rainforests of Costa Rica, or snorkeling next to a whale shark in Baja, or scouting for manatees in Belize. That’s what school is like for students in Project Dragonfly’s Earth Expeditions program, housed within the biology department at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Earth Expeditions has 16 international partnerships, seven of which are in Central and South America. As an instructor for Project Dragonfly’s field courses, I have had the privilege of leading graduate students through some of the most ecologically diverse and culturally rich landscapes in Latin America.

My journey with Dragonfly has taken me from the thousand-shades-of-green rainforests of Costa Rica to the cactus-filled coastlines of Baja to the menagerie of life on the coral reefs of Belize. In each of these places, the goals are the same: first, to move beyond textbooks and the traditional classroom and immerse students in the complex intersection of community-based conservation and ecological inquiry, and second, to connect our students to each other and to the larger Earth Expeditions team, including our important and vast group of global partners. Students join and become a part of something bigger.

Baja, Mexico

In Baja, we experience the spectacular desert and marine landscapes of two richly diverse biosphere reserves. We spend time investigating the Vizcaino desert, home to remarkable plants such as giant cacti, elephant trees, and boojums. And we also explore the turquoise waters of the Gulf of California – an ecosystem that Jacques Cousteau once called "the aquarium of the world" because of its immense biodiversity.

Hiking with students through the mangroves or, conversely, through the arid desert cacti, I watch as the students think about connection. We work alongside local conservationists from the Vermilion Sea Institute, who are proof that “community” is one of the most powerful tools in the conservation toolkit. Plus, there’s nothing like experiencing conservation firsthand. As one Baja student, Cindy Kelly, reflected:

“How amazing it is to actually see and do what you might read or hear about through others. There is nothing like an experience to make real what you may have only imagined.”

Belize

Further south in Belize, the humidity increases and the colors are similar, with vibrant greens and blues. Belize is a good example of ridge-to-reef conservation. We explore dense broadleaf forest, tropical savanna, pine woodland, and riparian forest with our partner, the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center – traipsing in the footsteps of agoutis and tapirs – before heading out to Tobacco Caye on the Great Mayan Reef.

In Belize, we don't just snorkel; we conduct inquiry, as we do in all our course locations. We assess the reef’s health through the lens of local livelihoods. We speak with locals who have transitioned into tour guides and conservation officers, connecting with people and culture. Ashley Watts captured her sentiment:

“​​I will cherish my once-in-a-lifetime experiences in Belize. The distinct noise of howler monkeys, the taste of stewed chicken, the smell of the sea breeze and bug spray, and the amazingly teal and blue and cerulean and green colors of the water, will all resonate in my mind as I continue to reflect on the awesome times we shared.”

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is often seen as the pinnacle of ecotourism. But with Project Dragonfly, we dig deeper. With Ecology Project International, we explore the rainforests and coastal beaches of the Pacuare Reserve, which has been working for the last 34 years to protect leatherback, green, and hawksbill sea turtles.

We discuss climate change not as a future threat, but as a current reality affecting the temperature and moisture levels on which these forests, the oceans and their animals depend. And we talk about what individuals can do. Eileen Keating noted the profound impact of this immersion and also discussed hope:

"Conservation is a heavy topic, often feeling too big for one person to make a difference. It would be easy to feel negative or want to give up. … [A local biologist] shared that there is still room for improvement with the ecotourism surrounding sea turtles, however, when asked ‘What can we do?’ She responded, ‘Spread your knowledge, for those of us who have the privilege to learn.’” 

Paraguay

One of the most transformative experiences for many students is Project Dragonfly’s work in Paraguay. Sometimes overlooked by mainstream tourism, Paraguay is a land of little-explored ecological riches like the Atlantic Forest and the Chaco region.

In Paraguay, we work with our partner, Para La Tierra, to understand how rapidly changing land use affects biodiversity. The challenges here are big—deforestation for soy and cattle—but hope lies in the local youth who are becoming the next generation of scientists, and the local people who are helping to lead the way. Christina Thompson summed up the Paraguayan experience in her course reflection:

“The more I learn about conservation and the more I travel, I have come to realize that conservation is less about plants and animals and more about people and our relationships. … In the Ñeembucú wetlands, some cattle ranchers are learning how cattle can coexist with the native vegetation. This relationship may be a bit complicated, but it might turn out to be one of those feel-good romances.”

The Project Dragonfly Thread

What connects a desert in Mexico to a forest in Paraguay? It is Project Dragonfly’s philosophy. In every course I teach, I see students undergo a change. They arrive as individuals with a passion for animals and nature and leave as part of a global network of Earth Expeditions alumni who understand that we cannot save the planet without engaging the people and communities who live on it.

When I look back at my years instructing in Latin America, I don't just see the landscapes. I see the faces of students huddled over their journals by flashlight, the laughter shared with local guides over a meal of gallo pinto, and the determination in students’ eyes as they prepare to take these experiences back to their home communities.

The Project Dragonfly mission is about so much more than travel; it’s about building a global community that works together to make the world a more sustainable and just place. Whether we’re in the shadows of mountains or mangroves, we are all part of the same living system. As another student, Carlee Simpson, once wrote:

“It is easy to travel to these locations and solely think about the itinerary, however, the people are what make it. People are capable of encouraging, comforting, and challenging each other. … These groups gather from across the globe, all having different lives and occupations, yet we are always brought together for the love of planet Earth.”

That’s a huge reason I lead these courses. I watch students arrive as nature enthusiasts and leave as part of a global network of like-minded professionals ready to cause conservation action. Ready to become part of the conservation story. To witness the world’s beauty is an extraordinary gift, but to participate in its protection alongside such dedicated students, my fellow Dragonfly instructors, and our local partners is a profound honor.

More about Project Dragonfly

In addition to Baja, Belize, Costa Rica, and Paraguay, Project Dragonfly’s Caribbean, Central, and South American Earth Expeditions graduate courses also include The Bahamas, Guyana, the Galapagos, the Peruvian Amazon, and Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Earth Expeditions courses also occur in Africa, Australia, and Asia.

Earth Expeditions website: https://miamioh.edu/cas/graduate-studies/project-dragonfly/earth-expeditions/

About the author

Jamie Bercaw Anzano is director of communications and research for Project Dragonfly at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She has instructed international and web-based graduate courses at Dragonfly since 2004 and has served as a graduate advisor since the master’s first graduating class in 2012.