upcoming Travel Options


Anticipated Animal-And-Nature-Focused Trips During The 2011-2012 Academic Year

We are contemplating eight different trips for the 2011-2012 school year.  Canisius students can use this information as they think about their own schedules, examine their budgets, and weigh the options.  However, please note that this list is subject to change as the year progresses.  As each opportunity firms up, signup sheets will be available in the ABEC Office (HSC303A). 



Stellwagon Bank Whale Watch 
Destination: Rockport, Massachusetts
When: Labor Day Weekend (three days) Sept 3-5, 2011
What: Whale watch excursion off the coast of Massachusetts with goal of sighting humpbacks.  Focus will also be on seabirds and exploring coastal ecology. 
Sponsor/Mentor: CZS/ISHAR/Noonan
Participation: Open to all members of the Canisius Community. 
Approximate Cost Per Person: $285

Cross-city Zoo Tours and Comparisons
Destination: Erie, Toledo, Chicago, Detroit
When: Fall Break (five days) Oct 7-11, 2011
What: Study of zoo exhibits, with critical evaluation as implementation of zoo missions. 
Sponsor/Mentor: ABEC/Margulis
Participation: Restricted to students enrolled in ABEC350. 
Approximate Cost Per Person: $90

Wolf Ecology
Destination:  Yellowstone National Park
When: Winter Break (seven days) Dec 17-23, 2011
What: Exploration of the mountain-prairie ecosystem in the Yellowstone volcanic caldera.  Particular focus will be upon the population of wolves that have recently been re-introduced to that area. 
Sponsor/Mentor: CZS/Noonan
Participation: Open to all students. 
Approximate Cost Per Person: $800


Charismatic Mega-vertebrates of Tropical Central Asia
Destination: Kaziranga National Park, India
When: Winter Break (fourteen days) Jan 2-15, 2012
What: Tigers, Rhinos, and Elephants as flagship species of tropical forest and montane habitats. 
Sponsor/Mentor: CAC/Noonan
Participation: Limited to six students.  Space allocated in competitive process.  These studies begin three credit course to be completed in Spring 12 semester. 
Approximate Cost Per Person: $3650
For more information, visit:  www.canisius.edu/~noonan/cac/cac_india.htm

Photo Hunting
Destination: Badlands Nat’l Park, South Dakota, and T Roosevelt Nat’l Park, North Dakota
When: Spring Break (six days) Mar 9-18, 2012
What: Preparation of wildlife documentary film that advocates nature photography (hunting with a camera) as an alternative to “Sport Hunting”.  Bison and pronghorn in South Dakota Prairies.  Elk and wild horse in North Dakota Badlands. 
Sponsor/Mentor: CAC/Noonan
Participation: Limited to six students.  Space allocated in competitive process.
Approximate Cost Per Person: $650
For more information, visit:  www.canisius.edu/~noonan/cac/cac_photo_hunting.htm

Borderlands – Migratory Birds
Destination:  The US-Mexico border region in the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas
When: Easter Break (seven days) April 4-10, 2012
What: Study of bird migration patterns, with focus on the numerous nature preserves found along America’s southern border.  This study is continued on weekends during Spring semester, and is followed by five weeks of service teaching children at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in May-June 2012.
Sponsor/Mentor: CAC/Noonan
Participation: Limited to six students.  Space allocated in competitive process.
Approximate Cost Per Person: $0 (all expenses covered by program)
For more information, visit:  www.canisius.edu/~noonan/cac/cac_flyway_exploration.htm

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in South Africa
Destination:  Lajuma Research Centre and Kruger Nat’l Park, South Africa
When: Summer Break (21 days) July 29-Aug19, 2012
What: Field study of monkeys, and other highland wildlife endemic to the hill regions of South Africa.  Kruger National Park for observations of additional wildlife species endemic to scrubland habitat.
Sponsor/Mentor: ABEC/Margulis
Participation: Participation limited to 8 students. These field studies begin a three-credit course which will continue into the Fall-2011 semester.
Approximate Cost Per Person: $3900
For more information, visit:  www.canisius.edu/~margulis/so_africa_field_studies/so_africa_field_studies.htm

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