República Dominicana (Jan., 2019)
The Playground of Tropical Biodiversity and the Birthplace of Europe's “New World”
The Playground of Tropical Biodiversity and the Birthplace of Europe's “New World”
After Christopher Columbus's arrival on the island in 1492, Santo Domingo became the site of the first cathedral, hospital, customs house and university in the entire American continent. Founded as the first colonial settlement and the capital of all Spanish colonies in America in 1496, Santo Domingo became the model for almost all town planners in the New World.
The Dominican Republic is the second largest nation in the Caribbean, and in addition to the exceptional historical significance, it offers a seamless blend of tropical terrain, rich history, and unique heritage. Besides visits to Christopher Columbus’ home, the Alcázar, the Cathedral of Sta. María la Menor —the oldest cathedral of the New World— the 16th-century San Felipe fortresses, the Faro a Colón —which allegedly shelters Christopher Columbus' remains— and the Museum of Contemporary Art, among other activities, this custom-made course also combines a diverse array of outdoor activities. Some of the activities include visits to Tres Ojos Cave and a tours of unique freshwater lagoons, hikes to the Damajuana waterfall and the mangrove forests, and snorkeling tours and rafting excursions through the rainforest, that keep students actively engaged with the rich biodiversity of the island. The various excursions provide a unique opportunity to observe the different species that inhabit the island, many of which are endemic to the area (e.g. Hispaniola solenodon, the West Indian manatee, the dwarf gecko, and the rhinoceros iguana) in their natural habitats.
The trip also includes pottery workshops and dance lessons, a taste of Santiago's cosmopolitan art and lifestyle, a trip to Centro León, and a visit to Jarabacoa's Environmental School to learn about the reforestation efforts conducted throughout the country.
For its stunning variety of ecosystems, the Dominican Republic is more like a continent than half an island. Students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the country's biodiversity and ecosystems in situ (rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, savannah, freshwater lagoons, salt lakes, mountain ranges—including the highest mountain in the Caribbean—coral reefs, etc.).
Here is a link to our Youtube video with the highlights of our trip (courtesy of student Tori Botzis)
The Dominican Republic is the second largest nation in the Caribbean, and in addition to the exceptional historical significance, it offers a seamless blend of tropical terrain, rich history, and unique heritage. Besides visits to Christopher Columbus’ home, the Alcázar, the Cathedral of Sta. María la Menor —the oldest cathedral of the New World— the 16th-century San Felipe fortresses, the Faro a Colón —which allegedly shelters Christopher Columbus' remains— and the Museum of Contemporary Art, among other activities, this custom-made course also combines a diverse array of outdoor activities. Some of the activities include visits to Tres Ojos Cave and a tours of unique freshwater lagoons, hikes to the Damajuana waterfall and the mangrove forests, and snorkeling tours and rafting excursions through the rainforest, that keep students actively engaged with the rich biodiversity of the island. The various excursions provide a unique opportunity to observe the different species that inhabit the island, many of which are endemic to the area (e.g. Hispaniola solenodon, the West Indian manatee, the dwarf gecko, and the rhinoceros iguana) in their natural habitats.
The trip also includes pottery workshops and dance lessons, a taste of Santiago's cosmopolitan art and lifestyle, a trip to Centro León, and a visit to Jarabacoa's Environmental School to learn about the reforestation efforts conducted throughout the country.
For its stunning variety of ecosystems, the Dominican Republic is more like a continent than half an island. Students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the country's biodiversity and ecosystems in situ (rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, savannah, freshwater lagoons, salt lakes, mountain ranges—including the highest mountain in the Caribbean—coral reefs, etc.).
Here is a link to our Youtube video with the highlights of our trip (courtesy of student Tori Botzis)
In Santiago, we learned about the civic engagement and girls and women's empowerment efforts conducted by the Community Engagement through the Arts program of Santiago. We met locals at their homes, shared food and stories, and enjoyed the street art, which included a display of traditional costumes and performances.
See our group in this video created by Murales de Ciudades RD |
In preparation for the trip, we addressed the following topics/issues:
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