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Embark on an incredible journey to Guyana, a country where 80% of the land is covered in pristine rainforests—one of the world's last great wildernesses. This biodiverse haven is teeming with iconic wildlife, from the powerful jaguar to the giant arapaima, a "living fossil" that's one of the largest freshwater fish on Earth. Here, the natural world remains remarkably intact, offering a rare glimpse into a thriving ecosystem where species like harpy eagles, giant anteaters, and giant river otters still roam freely.

This program goes beyond the wildlife to focus on the people who've coexisted with it for centuries. You'll be immersed in the culture of the Makushi, an indigenous group that has called these forests home for millennia. The Makushi community is expertly balancing their rich traditional knowledge with the opportunities and challenges of modern development. This course is curated by with its interesting joint forest management approaches and in partnership with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. In Guyana, students explore how this local wisdom can guide conservation efforts. By working with and learning from Makushi community members, you'll discover the power of place-based conservation and reflect on your own role in becoming a better steward of the planet. 

A typical day on this EE course includes exploration and hiking in the local environment, instructor and student-led discussions of key course topics, presentations, engagement with local community experts, and time for inquiry investigations and journal writing. Prior to and following the field experience in Galápagos, students will complete coursework via Canvas, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University's learning management system, as they apply experiences at home.

*** If you're interested in Guyana: Local Wisdom & Conservation for Summer 2027, . This option is ideal for anyone needing Continuing Education Units or additional graduate credits, those with previous Master's experiences, or Dragonfly alums. We offer a limited number of spots (up to 6) for non-Master's candidates in most of our EE courses. An undergraduate degree is required. ***

Iwokrama Forest

The Iwokrama International Centre (IIC), the largest environmental organization in Guyana, manages the nearly one-million-acre Iwokrama Forest. The Iwokrama Forest ecosystem is located at the juncture of Amazonian and Guianan flora and fauna. As a result, it contains high species richness and several species of animals that are threatened or extinct across most of their former geographic ranges. The Iwokrama Forest has the highest species richness for fish and bats for any area of its size in the world. It also has extraordinarily high bird diversity.

Iwokrama builds partnerships with local communities, government, academic institutions, international agencies and the private sector, and they evaluate the social, economic, and ecological changes that occur as a result of business development. Their goal is to become a model for business development that results in the worldwide conservation of tropical forests.

North Rupununi

Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) works closely with the North Rupununi Makushi communities, assisting with planning and coordination of education, development, cultural, and research programs. In a decade of collaborative work, IIC and the community leaders have been preparing young Makushis to manage natural resources effectively through innovative, grassroots enterprises.

Rupununi people still hunt, fish, and farm for a living, and they recognize the importance of using local knowledge for research and management. Some have acquired technical skills in forestry, natural resource management, and agriculture at the Bina Hill Training Institute, an Amerindian institution “home-sown and home-grown.” Community conservation leaders, with support from IIC and village councils, have also joined wildlife clubs promoting environmental approaches that combine traditional knowledge and scientific techniques.

(Course locations are subject to change.)

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