Fox Valley Technical College

Custom Faculty-led Study Abroad Program

Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management in the Bahamas

January 4-12, 2024

Program Summary

Fox Valley students would travel to the Bahamas for a 9-day immersive experience that will introduce them to agriculture and natural resource management in this Caribbean destination. The group will start in Nassau and move to Eleuthera island half way through the program. In each location activities will combine instruction with hands-on experiential learning on course themes. Students will meet with industry leaders, farmers, experts, and peers adding a unique cultural exchange opportunity to this educational itinerary.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Jan 4. Nassau

  • Arrival

  • Transport to hotel and check in

  • Orientation on Safety and Logistics

  • Welcome dinner at Fish Fry

Lodging: Towne Hotel
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Jan 5. Nassau

  • Continental breakfast at hotel

  • Ag Group: Visit to Gladstone Road Agro-Industrial Park and Demonstration Farm

    • Guided by staff from the Caribbean Agriculture and Development Institute (CARDI), which conducts research on the site 

    • Meeting with staff from the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation

  • Natural Resources Group: Presentation and site visits with Forestry Unit of the Ministry of the Environment

    • Conversation on history of forestry in the Bahamas, the Forestry Unit, agroforestry, invasive species, and sustainable forest management

    • Site visit in the Western New Providence proposed National Forest Estate (NFE)

    • Brief botany lesson and fun facts on medicinal plants

  • Group lunch

  • Meeting with students from Bahamas Tech and Vocational Institute (TBD)

  • Visit to Primeval Forest National Park (Time permitting)

  • Independent dinner

Lodging: Towne Hotel
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch 

Day 3 - Jan 6. Nassau

  • Continental breakfast at hotel

  • Visit the diversified Down to Earth Farm with its charismatic owner Sydney Sinclair 

    • Tour of the farm to learn about the large variety of edible and medicinal plants

    • Farm to table lunch with pick your own salad 

  • Workshop with Shacara Lightborne, a proponent for sustainable agriculture and an important sales facilitator for small farmers in the Bahamas

    • Students will make souvenirs they can take home and engage in three different hands-on activities overall 

    • Details to be determined with faculty 

Lodging: Towne Hotel
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 4 - Jan 7. Nassau

  • Continental breakfast at hotel

  • Visit Clifton Heritage National Park 

    • Guided heritage tour of an old plantation house to learn about slavery in the Bahamas

    • Guided snorkeling tour of one of the largest underwater sculpture gardens in the world and the site of a staged plane crash for a James Bond film 

    • Lunch served on site

    • Time to relax at the beach 

  • Free time in downtown Nassau

Lodging: Towne Hotel
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 5 - Jan 8. Eleuthera

  • Continental breakfast at hotel

  • Interisland flight to Eleuthera and transport to the Island School 

  • Lunch 

  • Orientation with the Island school

  • First of five activities with the Island School (to be chosen by faculty)

Lodging: Island School
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 6  - Jan 9.  Eleuthera

  • Full day of activities at the Island School, per faculty choices 

  • All meals will be served on site 

  • Students will have free time to explore the campus and interact with their peers 

  • Evening presentation by scientist (TBD)

Lodging: Island School
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 7 - Jan 10. Eleuthera

  • Full day of activities at the Island School, per faculty choices 

  • All meals will be served on site 

  • Students will have free time to explore the campus and interact with their peers 

  • Evening presentation by scientist (TBD)

Lodging: Island School
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 8 - Jan 11. Eleuthera

  • Visit Apple Hole Farm, specializing in small ruminant production

  • Visit to Cathedral Cave 

  • Free time in Rock Sound 

  • Farewell dinner

Lodging: Island School
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 9 - Jan 12. Eleuthera

  • Visit Glass Window bridge to see the Caribbean and the Atlantic separated by a thin strip of land 

  • Take a dip in the Queen’s bath a naturally formed and bubbling tidal pool 

  • Late lunch near the airport 

  • Departure for the US 

Lodging: N/A
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch


Contact for more information:

FVTC: Samantha Rosario: rosario@fvtc.edu

Register for this Program Below

Please complete the form below to register for this program.
Enrollment in the required course will occur in Fall 2023 once registered for this tour. Students enrolled as PSEO in Spring 2024 are not eligible to participate on this tour.

Additional Details

Cost

$3,690 (minimum 12 participants)

Includes:

  • In country cost of two faculty members (excluding meals not included for students) 

  • All lodging in single occupancy for faculty and double or multiple occupancy for students

  • All meals as listed in itinerary above, including one non-alcoholic drink per person.   

  • All activities described in itinerary, including entrance fees when applicable

  • Guide with the group the entire trip from airport pickup to drop-off

  • All ground transportation as described in the itinerary, including one airport transfer on day of arrival and departure and public transportation tickets for all planned activities  

  • Carbon offset for air travel 

  • General liability insurance coverage with academic partner listed as additional insured 

  • 24-hour emergency support 

  • Customized educational program abroad developed to meet learning objectives 

  • All logistics during the trip, faculty only focus on academics 

  • Tips for driver

  • Carbon offset for air travel 

  • $5 million General liability insurance coverage with academic partner listed as additional insured 

Excludes: 

  • International airfare and airfare in the Bahamas

  • Travel, medical, and evacuation insurance (required)

  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption  insurance with COVID19 coverage (recommended)

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Personal spending

  • Tips for local tours and lodging

  • Activities and meals not described in itinerary

Payment Process

$150 -  non-refundable deposit per student is due to registrer

$350 - 2nd non-refundable deposit is due 3 months prior to travel

The balance amount is due at the latest 2 months prior to travel

The balance can be paid in installments monthly or otherwise, but the total amount must be paid at the latest 2 months prior to departure. We will send you monthly reminders to make payments.

Cancellation Policy

  • More than 90 days prior to departure: Full refund

  • 61-90 days prior to departure - Refund excludes $500 deposit

  • 60-31 days prior to departure  - 50% of program fee refunded

  • 30 of fewer days prior to departure - 0% refund

    We recommend all participants to purchase travel insurance with cancellation coverage.

Course Information

Enrollment in the required course will occur in Fall 2023 once registered for this tour. 

Do you have questions?