Course description coming soon.
Faculty
Staff
Fieldtrips are an important part of the CCSP Belize experience. Being the only English-speaking country in Central America, students are able to engage both inside and outside of class with local people and places without the handicap of a language barrier. The freedom to engage in English with both Caribbean and Central American cultures is unique to Belize, and as such CCSP takes full advantage of this opportunity through fieldtrip and travel experiences throughout the semester.
Fieldtrips Throughout Belize:
At CCSP we recognize that learning does not just come from being in a classroom, but through experience and reflection. Thus we are intentional about making our courses as field based as possible and then taking those experiences and integrating them with concepts and theories learned through lecture time.
Every course has some field component that enhances the class. For instance, in our forest ecology class students spend their time in the jungles of Cockscomb Wildlife Preserve in the Maya Forest, the second largest contiguous rainforest in the New World. For Marine ecology the week is spent snorkeling off the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and exploring one of the only atolls in the Atlantic. Students visit a variety of places during their Sustainable Community Development course, including Mayan, Mennonite, Kriol and Mestizo villages, women’s co-ops, and ecotourism sites. Even for our humanities courses in Environmental Literature and God and Nature time is spent outside of the traditional classroom or lecture context allowing for a more full and robust exploration of these topics.
Sunset Snorkeling on the Marine Ecology Fieldtrip (Photo: Jonathan Schelander-Pugh)
Homestays:
Students participate in several homestays during the semester. Most of these experiences related to classes are short-term stays, however during Internships, they are two weeks in length. Homestays are for both cultural immersion and pedagogical purposes related to our classes. Locations include the homes of local Belizean families, Old Order Mennonites, families in a northern sugar cane village, and a home close to internship locations.
Local Village Boy (Photo: Joel Vermillion)
Mid-Semester Break:
Mid-Semester Break begins following a trip to Tikal, one of the largest Mayan ruins in Central America. Campus is closed during the break, which makes this a great time to head to locations not visited by the program in the region. Students often choose to continue their travels in Guatemala, taking buses down to the once capital of colonial Central America – Antigua, or to the black sand beaches of Monterrico on the Pacific coast. Some students have even headed into Honduras to the south or Mexico to the north. Students have also taken this opportunity to travel out to the Caribbean islands and coral reefs off the coast of Belize where English pirates once hid from Spanish galleons. Students interested in working on their Spanish have also chosen to use this week to do some intensive and fairly inexpensive Spanish school in Flores, Guatemala accompanied by a homestay experience.
Visiting Tikal in Guatemala, the "New York" of Maya Civilization. (Photo: Joel Vermillion)
CCSP does not permit students to travel alone during weekend trips or semester break – travel must always be with at least one other person.
The Creation Care Study Program (CCSP) is a Christian organization whose mission is to educate students to be a part of, and agents for, God’s shalom particularly through understanding and caring for creation.
Biblical shalom, which informs, motivates, and guides CCSP’s educational goals and objectives, is further explained in the following excerpt from CCSP’s handbook. If this resonates with you that’s a good sign; CCSP is the program for you! If you find this challenging or interesting, and are up for an educational adventure learning about God’s heart for shalom, then CCSP may also be the right program for you. Pray about it, and follow God's leading, and if you join us in Belize or New Zealand it will sure to be the semester of a lifetime!
A Note on Shalom
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you shalom. ~ Numbers 6:24-26
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will rest on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Shalom. Of the increase of his government and shalom there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. ~ Isaiah 9:6-7
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth shalom to all people on whom his favor rests. ~ Luke 2:13-14
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. ~2 Cor 5:17-18
Shalom is central to the mission of CCSP.
Many of us recognize ‘shalom’ as a form of greeting or a way of saying goodbye, used by the Jewish people. However, the biblical concept is much more than a mere salutation. Used frequently throughout the Bible (236 times in the OT and 92 times in the NT with the Greek equivalent “eirene”), it is often translated into English as ‘peace’. But the peace expressed here is much deeper and more profound than we often imagine.
Nicholas Wolterstorff (2002, 2004) has written extensively about the meaning of shalom and how this relates to Christian education. The Bible, Wolterstorff says, is the story of the Triune God working to establish his glorious kingdom in this earth, to take up his reign over the whole earth. The content of that reign is shalom (see above and also Isaiah 11:1-8). With the cross and resurrection of Christ, this reign of God has begun. Already the new creation is here, now.
And yet it is not fully present. We live in a world of wounds: social fragmentation, war, violence, poverty, injustice, and environmental degradation. In response we do not hide from the pain of the world, rather we lean into it in Christian lament, the fruit of which is a godly hunger, thirst, and passion for reconciliation grounded in compassion and resurrection-hope that the way things are is not the way they have to be.
Reconciliation, then, is at the heart of shalom because shalom is all about relationships: the way we live with God, with each other, with creation, and with ourselves. At the heart of shalom is our relationship with God, with all others flowing from this root source. If you desire to find shalom with others, with creation and with yourself, you must first seek out shalom with God. Shalom is God’s gift to us (John 14:27).
Shalom at ground level is about peace – the absence of hostility or conflict. Shalom, however, is more than the absence of conflict. It is also about justice, about living in right relationships. There can be no shalom without justice. When someone or something is violated and treated unjustly, shalom is shattered. In a world in which the poor are maltreated, in which violence is inflicted on each other, in which the environment is degraded and abused there is no shalom because there is no final justice.
Shalom is also more than justice. We may live in right relationships, but shalom may still be absent because shalom is about delighting in these relationships. To dwell in shalom is to enjoy living before God, with others, in creation, and with oneself. We are to delight in our service to and worship of the Lord. We are to delight in living in community with other humans. We are to delight in creation and our physical surroundings. If people live in poverty or in pain, shalom cannot be fully present.
CCSP believes this is the focus of our mission – to seek to live in shalom in all our relationships. This is the mission of the Triune God, and therefore this must be our mission too. Further, this is the mission of all Christians: to live in shalom with God, each other, creation and ourselves. We will not bring about shalom in its fullness – that is for God to accomplish. And he will accomplish it. This is the Christian hope: that God will reconcile all things to himself (see Colossians 1:19). However, although the full reign of God on this earth is yet to be realized, God continues to actively pursue shalom on earth and asks us, his followers, to join him as ambassadors of reconciliation. On this journey towards reconciliation/wholeness, we are restless pilgrims whose aim is not to “fix” or “solve” but rather to pray and struggle for shalom, celebrating its presence and lamenting its absence. Wherever shalom is established, no matter how small, it is a taste of God’s goodness and is a signpost pointing toward his coming Kingdom. With God’s help, we will strive to make shalom a reality in every way we can, not least by embodying reconciliation as the body of Christ.
At the heart of CCSP’s mission, our values, our identity, our work, our hope, our pedagogy, our curriculum is this concept of shalom. We believe that shalom is something to live by. This is something to believe in. This is good news to share. We are glad you decided to come and participate in the CCSP experience this semester. We pray God’s shalom on you while you here with us: “May God himself, the God of shalom, sanctify you through and through” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
References: Wolterstorff, Nicholas 2002 Educating for Life: Reflections on Christian Teaching and Learning, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.
Wolterstorff, Nicholas 2004 Educating for Shalom: Essays on Christian Higher Education, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.
Lower Hutt Fieldtrip:
One of the major field trips of the semester is to Lower Hutt, New Zealand’s tenth largest city, just outside of Wellington, located at the southern end of the North Island. This is an opportunity for us to experience an area with a larger, more diverse, population, as well as one of New Zealand’s urban centers. Accommodation on this field trip is often at a marae, a Maori community hall.
Fieldtrips on New Zealand’s South Island:
Besides the trip to Lower Hutt, students will also participate in other shorter fieldtrips to different sites around Kaikoura, as well as a week-long, land-based, ecology field trip. Depending on the program format, sites visited on this trip may include the Southern Alps and West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Accommodation on these fieldtrips may include university field stations, Department of Conservation ‘huts’, marae, home-stays or backpacker hostels.
Hiking Nelson Lakes, Fall 2011
Mid-Semester & Pre-Semester Breaks:
There is a week-long break during the semester. This is a chance for students to rest and/or travel with friends or family. Students are encouraged to take this opportunity to see more of New Zealand. CCSP does not provide accommodation, meals or other services for students during this time.
Additionally, at the close of student orientation, there is a Pre-Semester Break. This allows students to travel in smaller groups for three days for a short trip to a destination of their choosing before classes begin.
In the past students have taken a variety of mid-semester break trips to places including:
- The North Island - Auckland, Bay of Islands, Coramandel Peninsula, Tongariro National Park, Lake Taupo, Piha, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Taranaki etc.
- The South Island – Nelson Lakes National Park, The Routeburn Track, The Kepler Track, The Milford Track, Otago Peninsula, Christchruch, Banks Peninsula, Arthur’s Pass, Able Tasman National Park, The Heaphy Track, Dunedin, Queenstown, Wanaka, The Rees-Dart Track, Milford Sound, Te Anau, Mt Cook, The Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, The Catlins etc.
- Stewart Island (south of the South Island)
- Australia
Pre-Semester Break recommendations for areas that are closer to Kaikoura include:
- Nelson, Picton, Hiking in the Seaward Kaikoura Mountains, Hiking in the Clarance Reserve, Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, Kahurangi National Park, Christchurch, Hanmer Springs, Nelson Lakes National Park.
CCSP does not permit students to travel alone during weekend trips or semester break – travel must always be with at least one other person.
Kaikoura and The Old Convent:
Our primary campus is the Old Convent, a former convent and Catholic school turned Bed & Breakfast in Kaikoura. Located on the east coast of the South Island, it is two and a half hours north of Christchurch and two hours south of Picton. The Old Convent campus is located in the rural Kaikoura Flats, an expanse of dairy farmland before the start of the impressive 2600m (8530ft.) rise of the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Range. The town itself is on a peninsula that sets Kaikoura apart from the impressive northernmost reach of the Southern Alps that come right up to the coast. The coastal waters that immediately surround Kaikoura are teeming with marine life, specifically mammals such as whales, dolphins and seals as well as an array of seabirds. In Maori, the name Kaikoura means “meal of crayfish”; “kai” translates to food and “koura” meaning crayfish.
The Old Convent, Kaikoura.
The Kaikoura town centre is a leisurely bike ride of just over two miles from campus where students can find internet access, cafés, laundry facilities, and shops. The town has a resident population of about 3,500 people yet annually nearly 2 million visitors come through Kaikoura. There are several hiking trails both inland to the numerous peaks and for the afternoon around the coast of the peninsula. The ocean provides opportunity for a variety of water sports including kayaking, paua and crayfish diving, fishing, paddle boarding and surfing.
Student and Kaikoura Local Catching Up
The Convent building houses most of the student bedrooms, classroom, kitchen, dining room, library and lounge. Additional student housing and faculty rooms are located in the adjacent schoolhouse. In general, enrollment each semester ranges from 10-20 students, who, along with program staff, all live on campus. When CCSP is based at the Old Convent, 2-3 students share a room. Each room contains 2 or 3 twin beds and an ensuite bathroom. Storage space is limited to a shared wardrobe or closet and a few drawers for each student. The lounge, library, dining room, prayer room, study room and classroom provide additional places for relaxation and work. A patio deck with a view of the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Range and the backyard are great spaces to hang out, dry laundry and enjoy a great view, or get into gardening.
Kaikoura Beach
whanau: (noun, pronounced: fa-no) extended family, family group, a familiar term of address to a number of people - in the modern context the term is sometimes used to include friends who may not have any kinship ties to other members.
The Maori people of New Zealand have a very strong sense of identity: One’s relationship to God, the land, and the people you come from and live with—in Maori, whanau—form who you are. At CCSP SoPac, and as Christ-followers, we strive to embrace this emphasis on whanau, or community-living, with joy.
Our intentional community is the scaffold around which the semester experience in New Zealand is built. Students find that their time here is not solely about adventure, academics or being abroad, but also an experience in home-making with peers.
To call this campus at the beautiful, historic Old Convent home—even if only for a few months—is to join alongside one another in work, play, service and celebration. When it’s time to clean the chicken coop, we put on some gloves and work together. When it’s time to burn some energy, we cycle to the local field together for a game of touch rugby or ultimate frisbee. When it’s time to plant trees in an effort to restore native coastline, with hope and joy, we dig together. When it’s time to pick peaches off our tree and make a pie for dessert or preserve them for colder months, we do it together.
Students Enjoying a Kaikoura Beach Fire
In the CCSP New Zealand whanau we share stories, food and responsibility. We challenge each other, love each other and pray for each other. Together we cry tears of sadness, hilarity, frustration and joy.
Another important part of our life together is the opportunity to be “unplugged” for a while. North American culture loves information technology that, ironically, has us staring at screens that wind up screening us from real interactions with other humans. At the Old Convent, students are encouraged to leave a lot of those screens behind. Each semester the students formulate a contract for technology use, which includes self-created guidelines for the use of our limited internet supply. It is refreshing to come up with more creative, edifying recreation in the place of watching movie after movie, surfing YouTube, or perusing and updating Facebook.
We see this intentional community as a beautiful laboratory for living out what we learn in class. It is rarely easy but always worthwhile. So we invite you to set aside aspirations for an individually focused semester experience, and come join the CCSP at the Old Convent in Kaikoura, New Zealand where together we focus on living sustainable, creative, Christ-centered lives.
Schools that have approved CCSP
The following schools have approved CCSP:
• Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
• Bethel University, St. Paul, MN
• Biola University, La Mirada, CA
• California Baptist College, Riverside, CA
• Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
• Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH
• Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, MI
• Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA
• Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, MA
• Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
• Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA
• George Fox University, Newburg, OR
• Gordon College, Wenham, MA
• Hope College, Holland, MI
• Indiana Wesleyan University, Fort Wayne, IN.
• John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR
• Kings University College, Edmonton, Canada
• Messiah College, Grantham, PA
• Northwestern College, Orange City, IA
• Northwestern College, Minneapolis, MN
• Point Loma University, San Diego, CA
• Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI
• Sterling College, Sterling, KS
• Trinity Western University, Langley, BC, Canada
• Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL
• Redeemer College University, Lancaster, Canada
• Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA
• Waynesburg University, Waynesburg, PA
• Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA
• Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
How to Apply
APPLYING TO THE PROGAM
To apply to CCSP download and complete all the forms below. Also visit your off-campus programs office to inform them of your intention to study with CCSP. They will be able to help you with your applicaiton and any other proceedures your school has for studying abroad (which there normally are). If your school does not have a dedicated off-campus programs office then visit your registrar.
CCSP will consider your application as soon as it is complete, so the sooner you get your application in the sooner we can let you know if you're accepted into the program. We strongly encourage you, therefore, to send in your application well before the application deadline.
Tip: Don't forget to get official school signatures on the second page of the application form from your off-campus programs office or registrar, and don't forget to include your $50 application fee.
- CCSP Application Form
- CCSP Personal Reference Form
- CCSP Student Affairs Reference Form
- CCSP Faculty Reference Form
These forms are PDF documents.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Belize Program:
Fall Semester - April 1 Spring Semester - October 31
New Zealand Program:
Fall Semester - March 1 Spring Semester - September 30
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU ARE ACCEPTED INTO CCSP
If you are accepted into the program you will recieve an acceptance letter and a request to submit an $300 deposit to reserve your place in the program. You deposit is refundable if you attend the program (less any expenses you may charge against your deposit), but it is non-refundable if you decide later not to attend CCSP.
The final class for the semester will be determined approximately a week to 10 days after the application deadline. After the class has been finalized you will be sent an enrollment package via e-mail (i.e.,10-14 days after the application deadline) that will include several forms to be returned to CCSP (e.g., course registration, waiver, community norms agreement, medical and insurance forms, etc..) and detailed logisitical information about the program.
You will also be informed about travel details including confirmation of the travel dates and arrival and departure windows for buying airline tickets. It is very important that you DO NOT purchase an airline ticket until you recive this information otherwise you may need to change tickets at your own cost to coincide with group pick-up and drop-off schedules. With campuses several hours drive from arriving airports students need to be transported as a group.
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This document was last updated on November 11, 2011
CCSP's Organizational Structure and Partners
CCSP's Partners
CCSP is an integral member of a synergistic group of creation care programs comprising an umbrella organization entitled Christians for Environmental Stewardship. Christians for Environmental Stewardship (CES) has two primary divisions, a Christian grassroots environmental advocacy division whose activities are organized under a program entitled Restoring Eden, and a division devoted to leadership and education entitled the Center for Environmental Leadership.
The Center for Environmental Leadership (CEL) is devoted to two things. The first is helping individuals, institutions, and communities act on their convictions to care for creation, and the second is to educate the next generation of Christian environmental leaders through CCSP, and a peer-to-peer Christian student leadership program entitled Renewal.
More information about each of CCSP's synergistic partners is provided below.
Center for Environmental Leadership
To achieve its twin goals of helping individuals, institutions, and communities act on their convictions to care for creation, and educating the next generation of Christian environmental leaders, the Center for Environmental Leadership convenes strategic gatherings to explore critical environmental issues and practical responses; coordinates scholarly reviews of environmental issues and publishes policy papers that cut through the confusion so institutions can make sound environmental policies; offers topical, practical open-enrollment seminars, workshops, and courses; and finally trains and educates future generations of Christian environmental leaders through the Creation Care Study Program and Renewal.
Renewal
Renewal is a student-led college creation care network. Through its work on college campuses Renewal endeavors to inspire, connect, and equip colleges students to care for creation. Together through prayer, service, and action Renewal aims to expand the creation care movement, and whenever possible support existing initiatives.
Restoring Eden
Restoring Eden emphasizes three major ways to engage in stewardship of God's creation.
Love: For Restoring Eden loving nature is a call to a sense of kinship with the rest of God's creation. We don't worship nature, but we do worship alongside of it.
Scripture states that God sees creation as 'good'; that creation declares the glory of God; that creation is praising God; that creation reflects the wisdom of God. Restoring Eden's core network is built around people whose intimacy with God is strengthened by time in nature. Christian history is filled with men and women going into the wild places where they have an encounter with God.
Serve: When God made humans in his image and gave us free will, we were called to rule, subdue, tend, and keep nature. Humans were given free will to co-labor with God in protecting the fruitfulness of nature. Restoring Eden works to encourage both environmental education and service projects that enhance the fruitfulness of nature and bring life to all that depend upon it.
Protect; In the era of bulldozers, dynamite, chainsaws and drift nets, it is not enough to love and serve creation. We must stop taking too much, too fast, and too often to the point where nature cannot replenish itself.
Restoring Eden encourages the church to safeguard the fruitfulness of creation through three types of grassroots advocacy:
1. Speaking out in the public square,
2. Letting our dollars speak in the market place, and
3. Educating the policymakers in the halls of power.
Restoring Eden believes there is a role for good government in society and that the best way to get good government is through active citizen involvement.
Creation Care Study Program Alumni
Check back later to see how we hope to keep in touch with CCSP alumni, and for alumni to keep in touch with each other.
This is an information page for parents.
We know parents have a lot of quesitons, so we're working on your own page.
Check back later to see information we hope you'll find helpful to know.
Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions
Each program has it's own set of FAQ's below. The first set of FAQ's are for Belize. The second set of FAQ's are for New Zealand, so skip to the end of the Belize FAQ's if you're only interested in the New Zealand program.
CCSP Belize Frequently Asked Questions:
How safe is it in Belize?
Belize as a whole is a relatively safe country. However, like most countries, there are certain areas that are not as safe as others. The CCSP Belize staff will brief students on these areas and also give some general safety guidelines to practice while traveling in Belize and Central America.
What is the climate like?
Belize has two seasons, the wet season (fall semester) and the dry season (spring semester). During the wet season, which starts the beginning of June and lasts until the end of January, you can expect rain showers fairly often with high temperatures often in the 90’s and high humidity. During the dry season, lasting from the beginning of February until the end of May, Belize is very hot and dry, with average temperatures in the 100’s.
Can I travel outside of Belize?
During the CCSP Belize semester, you will travel to Guatemala for a CCSP sponsored fieldtrip. We also encourage students to take advantage of being so close to Mexico and Guatemala, and travel to these countries during their fall or spring break. It is easy to cross the borders, and there is much to see and do in our neighboring countries!
Will I be interacting with local Belizeans?
Throughout the semester, you will interact and engage with many local Belizeans, whether that be the CCSP Belizean staff, guest speakers, CCSP friends and neighbors, and locals that you meet in town and in your travels. The program also does four homestays during your semester in Belize, one being a two week homestay during the internship elective.
What is the language in Belize?
The official language in Belize is English, but other languages you will hear are Spanish, Kriol, German, Mayan, and even some Mandarin.
How many credit hours are available?
We offer 17 credit hours. Of those credits, 15 are the core curriculum, and two are elective.
How many credit hours is the internship?
The internship is a two credit hour course, and is only offered in the Belize program. The internships are offered during a two week time period during the semester.
When will my internships be determined?
The internship will be determined once you have arrived in Belize and have met with the Internship Coordinator. Internships are usually arranged and assigned several weeks into the semester. If you have specific requirements needed for an internship for your major or your school, you are encouraged to communicate these to the Internship Coordinator and he/she will accommodate those requirements as best they can.
May I have visitors when I am in the program?
During the semester program, friends and family are welcome to come down to Belize and visit, but we do not provide housing for any visitors during the semester program. We recommend that you contact the CCSP Belize program prior to booking any plane tickets for visitors to check the dates of your visitor’s stay to ensure that you will not be away on any field trips, homestays, or in the middle of a busy time in the semester. If you decide to have visitors visit, the CCSP Belize staff are happy to recommend local and nearby accommodations.
How much does the program cost?
Students come from different schools, and each school has different policies for the cost of study abroad programs. It is best, therefore, to contact your home institution to get this information. A rule of thumb is CCSP will cost approximately the same for tuition and room and board as it does at you’re home institution, however please check with your school to determine a more accurate cost estimate.
In addition to tuition and room and board, students are responsible for the cost of travel to and from Belize (although we are aware of one school that contributes to the cost of airfare). We do assist students, however, to buy the low price tickets by referring them to a travel agent specializing in international travel, and often (but not always) can find airline ticket prices that are tough to beat.
How will I get to and from the CCSP program?
Once you have been accepted into the program, you will receive information on arrival times and locations from CCSP. Although we recommend a travel agent that can help you find and purchase your ticket, you are ultimately responsible for arranging your own air travel. CCSP staff will organize transportation for you from the Belize airport to our campus. If you decide to come early or leave at a later date than the program start and end dates, you are responsible for your transport to and from the airport.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadlines for the CCSP program are:
Spring Semester – October 31
Fall Semester – April 1
What will I need to pack?
Once you have been accepted into the program, you will receive a detailed packing list of everything you will need during your semester in Belize.
Do I need a passport/visa?
Yes, you will need a passport to travel to Belize. Upon initial entry into Belize, you will receive a 30-day tourist visa. Once students have arrived on campus, the CCSP staff will assist the students in receiving a student visa, which allows them to stay in Belize for the remainder of their time.
What vaccines/medications do I need to prepare for Belize?
At the time of writing, the US Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) website (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/belize.htm) recommends that travelers to Belize have the following vaccines:
• Routine: Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots such as,
measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, etc.
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Malaria prevention
Please check the C.D.C. website for up to the minute recommendations. See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect.
How much additional money will I need during the semester?
During your time in Belize, you will need additional money to travel for both travel weekend and travel week. You will also need money for any personal Internet use, personal outings in and out of town, and other personal excursions and tours you might like to do. $300-500USD should be more than sufficient to meet these needs
Also, keep in mind, your costs for personal travel during the semester are dependent on the style of travel you choose and additional things you would like to do during your time in Belize. Ultimately your budget depends on the choices you make.
What is the exchange rate for Belizean dollars, and do I need to exchange money?
Belize has a fixed rate of 2:1. So, for every 1USD you will receive 2BZD. Most places in Belize accept USD, so there is no need to worry about exchanging your US dollars that you bring with you.
What is the best way to access money while in Belize?
Money can easily be withdrawn from ATMs in Belize with a debit card, and some local businesses accept US credit cards and/or debit cards. Please note that the ATMS’s do charge a small fee of a few dollars for international use. Traveler’s checks can also be cashed in town at any bank. CCSP Belize Staff highly recommend using the ATM’s that are available rather than bringing down large amounts of US dollars.
What kind of transportation is available in Belize?
One thing you will love about Belize is the public transportation! Belize has a great public bus system, with buses running every half hour up and down all the major highways. Taxis and shuttles are also available.
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
For program specific questions, you can contact the Belize office at [email protected] or the New Zealand office at [email protected]. For general questions contact our US office at [email protected].
Will I be able to practice my Spanish?
For those students who want to practice their Spanish, Belize is a good place to do so. Spanish is the first language of many people that live in Belize, and you will be able to practice your Spanish in town, on campus with our Belizean staff, or during your homestays. Students have also traveled into Guatemala during their break and spent their breaks in Spanish school.
What clothing will I need for my internship?
The clothing you need for your internships depends on the kind of work you will be doing. For those that want to work outside in agriculture, ecosystem restoration, or animal care, you will need long pants and closed toe shoes. Those that want to work in a clinic or hospital will need medical scrubs. Those that want to work in a school system or government and policy need to bring down more formal clothes such as skirts or slacks and modest tops.
What are the semester dates?
Please refer to the bottom of our home page for semester dates.
Where will I be staying while I am in Belize?
While in Belize, you will be staying at Macal Commons, which is CCSP Belize's campus located in Santa Elena. The campus is situated on 17 acres of jungle along the Macal River. There are student dorm rooms on campus, along with other facilities such as the communal kitchen, dining room, classroom, library and staff housing. The campus has over a mile of trails, an orchard and organic garden, and beautiful wildlife. It is within walking distance of San Ignacio where students can access Internet, eat at local restaurants and do personal shopping.
I like to run! Will I be able to run or exercise during my semester in Belize?
Yes! The CCSP Belize campus has a beautiful ¼ mile shaded driveway that students can jog or run at any time of the day. Additionally, students have run in groups in and out of town.
Will I be able to travel in Belize?
In addition to program field trips in which you travel around most of Belize, the semester schedule allows for personal travel on free weekends, during a three-day break at the end of orientation, and over a mid-semester weeklong break. Students in the past have also chosen to arrive in Belize before the semester start date, or to stay after it finished in order to travel more.
CCSP New Zealand Frequently Asked Questions:
How safe is it in New Zealand?
New Zealand is a relatively safe place to travel and live. However, like most places in North America, traveling in New Zealand involves some risk. We strongly recommend that all students exercise caution when traveling.
What is the climate like?
New Zealand is known for having “four seasons in one day”, the country has an extremely changeable climate with a high rainfall. Temperatures may fluctuate from 15-25 degrees Celsius (on a beautiful summer day) to below zero degrees Celsius at night in the mountains during our NZ fieldtrips or in the late winter (August/September).
Will I be able to travel in New Zealand?
In addition to program field trips, the semester schedule allows for personal travel on free weekends, during a three-day break at the end of orientation, and over a mid-semester weeklong break. Students in the past have also chosen to arrive in New Zealand before the semester start date, or to stay after it finished in order to travel more.
Can I travel outside of New Zealand?
Yes. Past students have traveled to Australia during their term break, and others have included a stopover in other location in the South Pacific on their airline itinerary when come to or returning from New Zealand.
Will I be interacting with local New Zealanders?
Yes. Some of our program staff are from New Zealand. You will also have the opportunity to meet local families during a home stay weekend early in the semester. Your level of involvement off campus will depend on your interests and willingness to seek out activities in the Kaikoura community.
How many credit hours are available?
At the CCSP New Zealand program we offer 15 credit hours each semester. All students take the same four classes.
May I have visitors when I am in the program?
Yes! It can be exciting to have family and friends visit you in New Zealand. We cannot guarantee accommodation at our campus for guests but would happily recommend local accommodation. We recommend that you contact the New Zealand program prior to booking any plane tickets for visitors to check the dates of your visitor’s stay to ensure that you will not be away traveling on a field trip. In general the mid-term break week is a good time to travel with friends and family.
How much does the program cost?
Students come from different schools, and each school has different policies for the cost of study abroad programs. It is best, therefore, to contact your home institution to get this information. A rule of thumb is CCSP will cost approximately the same for tuition and room and board as it does at you’re home institution, however, please check with your school to determine a more accurate cost estimate.
In addition to tuition and room and board, students are responsible for the cost of travel to and from New Zealand (although we are aware of one school that contributes to the cost of airfare). We do assist students to buy low price tickets, however, by referring them to a travel agent who can help book everyone on a group ticket. Participating in a group booking, however, is completely optional.
How will I get to and from the CCSP program?
Once you have been accepted into the program you will receive information on arrival times and locations from CCSP. Although we work with a travel agent to organize a group airline itinerary at a discounted price, you are ultimately responsible for arranging your own air travel. CCSP staff will organize transportation for you from the Christchurch airport to our campus in Kaikoura.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadlines for the New Zealand Program are:
Spring Semester – September 30
Fall Semester – April 1
What will I need to pack?
Once you have been accepted into the program we will send you a detailed packing list with everything you’ll need to bring along for your semester in New Zealand.
Do I need a passport/visa?
Yes, you will need a passport that is valid until 6 months after your intended stay in New Zealand. Once you have been accepted into the program we will send you information about applying for a visa.
What vaccines do I need to prepare for New Zealand?
At the time of writing, the US Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) website (http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationNewZealand.aspx) recommends that travelers to New Zealand have the following vaccines:
• Routine: Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots such as,
measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, etc.
• Hepatitis B:
Please check the C.D.C. website for up to the minute recommendations. See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect.
How much additional money will I need during the semester?
Costs to budget for include internet access in town, going out for coffee, movies or ice-cream; restocking supplies of personal hygiene products, laundry, purchasing gifts and souvenirs etc. With some exceptions, the cost of living is approximately the same or slightly less expensive in New Zealand than the U.S. $250-450USD should be more than sufficient to meet these needs
Your costs for personal travel during the semester are dependent on the style of travel you choose. In the past, students have spent between $350USD (for cheap back-packing and/or camping travel) and $1,700USD (for more expensive travel including air-flights, and specialized adventure activities). Ultimately your budget depends on the choices you make.
What is the best way to access money while in New Zealand?
Money can easily be withdrawn from ATMs in New Zealand with a debit card, and many businesses accept US credit cards and/or debit cards. (Do not have family send personal checks as you will not be able to cash them here!) We also recommend that you bring a small amount in US currency in case you are unable to use your bankcards.
What kind of transportation is available in New Zealand?
There are a number of bus services that pass through Kaikoura, as well as a train service, and several rental car options. The closest airports are in Blenheim and Christchurch. In general public transportation in New Zealand is easy to use and accessible.
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
Please contact the New Zealand program at [email protected], or contact Chris Elisara in the US administration office at (530) 865 9601.
Can I audit a class?
No, all students are required to take classes for credit.
What is there to do around Kaikoura?
CCSP maintains a fleet of bicycles to make the area more accessible to our students and staff. There are numerous hike and walks, around the Kaikoura peninsula, and in the Seaward Kaikoura Mountains. Kaikoura is a center for Marine tourism in New Zealand and is an excellent place to kayak, surf, paddleboard, snorkel, or freedive for Paua and Crayfish. On campus opportunities for gardening abound.
What are the semester dates?
Please refer to the bottom of our home page for semester dates.
Where will I be staying while I am in New Zealand?
Our campus at the historic Old Convent is located in the rural Kaikoura Flats, an expanse of dairy farmland before the start of the impressive 2600m (8530ft.) rise of the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Range. Located on the east coast of the South Island, it is two and a half hours north of Christchurch and two hours south of Picton.
Can I stay on campus during breaks?
Our campus is closed during the student trip weekend at the end of orientation, and during the mid-semester break.