The trip has begun!

Professors Missy Van Hyfte and Dana Janbek will be taking students on a trip to explore the Amazon rainforest in Brazil through the eyes of both eco-tourists and tourism professionals. Six students were selected last fall to participate in the trip to Brazil that is part of Lasell’s International Service Learning Initiative (also known as the Shoulder to Shoulder program). This particular trip is part of a three credit course that students took throughout the spring semester in order to learn about the affects and implementation of tourism on the planet's eco-system.

The students (Natalie Couture, Corrine Cox, Sarah Hennessy, Catrina Joki, Rachel Robinson, and Krystina Vizard) have been studying the history, concepts, principles, planning, management, and development of ecotourism, which promotes cultural and environmental awareness and creates local environmental and economic benefits.Global, sustainable, ecotourism has been discussed at length in the class, with a look at the larger picture of tourism including approaches to delivering low impact development. Students have learned about holistic approaches to planning and tourism and reviewed standard industry practices and processes.  The culmination of the course is the educational trip to the Amazon rainforest to view, research, and participate in a newly developing eco-tourism system. Students will have the opportunity to meet with local tourism professionals, professionals from the Brazilian tourism of ministry, NGO leaders, members of indigenous Amazonian tribes, as well as discuss tourism development with the owner of the partnering eco-lodge (Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge). They will also be participating in work with local non-government organizations, teaching local children about tourism and it's affects, and participating in activities such as exploratory hikes through the jungle, navigating canoes through the flooded rainforest, feeding pink river dolphins, and night-spotting for indigenous species. Upon their return, the students will be planting trees indigenous to the Newton area in order to off-set the total carbon footprint of their exploratory trip. Additionally, they will be writing a blog about their experiences throughout their time in Brazil.

Photo from last year's ecotourism trip to Brazil.