Why

• Join a community of young scholars who are passionate about the environment while experiencing a part of the country or world that will be new to many students.
• Develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to impact environmental issues facing your local community and the planet as a whole.
• Explore spectacular landscapes by studying, listening and observing.
• Concentrate on learning without the pressure of formal grades.
• All students who successfully complete their course will receive a Digital CeCertificate of Completion.

You are expected to reduce your cell phone use while at BELL, allowing you to fully engage with the community and beautiful surroundings. By breaking ties to these technologies, you will be able to be more mindful of the natural environment and build more intentional friendships. While this may be an unfamiliar experience for some, it is often an aspect of the trip students appreciate most. You should plan ahead to be without your cell phone during most of the program, including the use of your phone’s camera. The group will always be reachable via the program cell phone, which will be held by the on-site staff. The phone number to the program cell phone will be provided to families of enrolled students prior to the program.

Some site visits listed are weather-dependent and subject to change. You can expect some physical activity every day and a moderate level of physical activity some days; be ready to get dirty as you’ll be out and about—rain or shine. A specific packing list will be provided for enrolled students.

Residential and Student Life

• BELL has a strong emphasis on communal living, thus you will be engaged as a member of the community both in and out of the classroom. This includes attending an orientation and group initiatives to get to know your peers, contributing to daily community tasks (e.g., classroom set-up, common space tidying, gear check in ) and spending the whole day with the group. 
• For the rest of the program, you will be sleeping on bunk beds in dormitory-style rooms grouped by gender identity at the MarineLab, which is a gated facility. The MarineLab also has indoor classrooms and labs, indoor bathrooms, a cafeteria and areas to relax or play games during free time. The classrooms, cafeteria and dormitories are all air-conditioned.
• You can expect three meals each day, primarily served in a field station dining hall. Note: While the dining hall will offer a significant selection of food to meet most dietary needs, the food is ordered in advance, so program staff must be notified of any dietary restrictions or allergies by Tuesday, April 15, 2025, by completing and submitting the required forms, which enrolled students receive in their student portals.
• Program staff live on site and are available 24 hours a day to provide support and supervision.

Each day is different but typically includes lab work, field observations, classroom discussions, leadership workshops and time for team-building, recreation and reflection. Sample schedule: