The Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation

"The Galapagos of Central America"

The SFS field station on Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro, Panama, is located on 130 acres of open range land adjacent to the vibrant Caribbean waters of Almirate Bay and near massive stands of old-growth rainforest. A brand new station awaits the first SFS class for Fall 2012. Dorms, a lab, library and dining / common spaces have been built with young scholars in mind. Our partner, the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC), has 15 years’ experience in study abroad education in Bocas and they will help SFS shepherd this dynamic Panama study abroad program. The archipelago of Bocas del Toro is our academic playground; it hosts more marine and terrestrial species than almost any other place on Earth. The Bastimentos Marine Park and Sanctuary on a nearby island offers protected beach and forest areas for endangered turtles and land animals. The communities with which we will frequently interact are a colorful mélange of people who are enthusiastic about student visitors. Ex-pats, Afro-Caribbean islanders and indigenous people like the Ngobe and Kuna, mix pleasurably with Latino people and their rich history. Spanish is the lingua franca of the Panamanian isthmus, but English permeates these islands, making communication with newfound friends easy.