2026 Guyana ICA

Study tropical ecology, conservation and sustainable development in Guyana.

Course runs Sun. March 15 to Thur. March 26 (Winter finals week and Spring break 2026) 

The course will be based at Iwokrama Research Centre (https://iwokrama.org/) and Surama Lodge (https://suramaecolodge.com/)

Overview. This is a field course on the ecology of the tropics. Tropical Field Studies will explore the physical and biological factors that result in the formation of tropical habitats, and their impressively high biodiversity. We will learn to identify some of the key animal and plant players in these ecosystems and learn about their complex interactions. We will also consider the effect of human impacts on these systems and how economic development processes affect local communities. 

Teaching methods will include assigned readings, lectures by faculty and local experts, faculty-led field teaching modules, discussions, short research projects, and field notebook development.

This version of the course will take place in Guyana, on the NE coast of South America. We will take special advantage of an area in central Guyana where rich tropical lowland forests and rivers interface with extensive savannahs, providing excellent opportunities for ecosystem comparisons.

Guyana has a rich and diverse culture including a strong indigenous population, and houses some of the largest tracts of intact tropical forest outside central Amazonia. We will be hosted by:

-Iwokrama research centre located on the Essequibo River. Iwokrama is a top-notch teaching station with extensive forest and an active sustainable logging operation.

-Surama lodge in the Rupinuni savannah. Surama is run by a local indigenous village.

We will also visit Iwokrama's canopy walkway project at Atta lodge, and the Bina Hill institute which trains college-age students from several area indigenous communities for careers in sustainable economic development.

In addition to basic tropical ecology we will gain experience with sustainable logging operations, wildlife research, ecotourism development, and indigenous communities engaged in biological conservation.

Planned course itinerary

Day, Date, Lodging site, Activities

Sun 15-Mar

Georgetown

Fly to Georgetown, Guyana. Lodging at Georgetown Hotel.

Mon 16-Mar

Iwokrama

Travel to Iwokrama by shuttle bus. Explore central Guyana ecosystems en-route.

Tue 17-Mar

Iwokrama

Intro to staff and Iwokrama facilities. Safety guidelines & rules.  Guided instructional forest walks on station trail system.  Evening lecture by instructor.

Wed 18-Mar

Iwokrama

Iwokrama biological monitoring- two groups: River and Road. Afternoon: Set up camera Trapping exercise.  Evening nocturnal animal spotting.

Thu 19-Mar

Iwokrama

At Iwokrama- early day trip to Turtle Mountain; afternoon- Iwokrama Tourism; Petroglyph Tour. Evening lecture by instructor.

Fri 20-Mar

Iwokrama

AM field problem: bird diversity using vocalizations.  Afternoon: Indian House Island Birding Tour. Evening lecture by instructor.

Sat 21-Mar

Iwokrama

Morning Iwokrama Sustainable Forestry demonstration; afternoon collect camera traps and review data. Evening lecture by instructor.

Sun 22-Mar

Surama

Day trip on Iwokrama road. Morning - Canopy walkway, then to Bina Hill insitute & indigenous peoples' conservation efforts. Transfer to Surama lodge.

Mon 23-Mar

Surama

Morning- Ecological Walk to observe Savanna Ecosystem, Surama indigenous village tour. Afternoon Surama's Tourism Story. Evening wildlife watching.  

Tue 24-Mar

Surama

Morning - Community Farm activity.  Afternoon:  Traditional Knowledge Exercise.  Evening local Culture Group presentation.

Wed 25-Mar

Georgetown

Travel to Georgetown by shuttle bus. Lodging at Georgetown Hotel TBA.

Thu 26-Mar

USA

Fly to USA