Welcome to Belize! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be greeted by Therapy Abroad staff and transferred to your accommodations at the Tropical Education Center. Once you’ve settled in, you’ll join your fellow participants for a welcome dinner and evening orientation. You'll get a full overview of the week ahead—what to expect in terms of clinical work, cultural experiences, and how you’ll earn your observation or contact hours through direct engagement. 

Depending on your flight arrival time, lunch will be on the road during your drive or upon arrival at your local accommodation. After settling, you’ll meet our team for an orientation of the area and our program. This will include safety information, a review of your itinerary, introductions, and hotel information such as WiFi. 

Enjoy a welcome dinner consisting of traditional Belizean food.

Today you'll have time to review information on clients and materials we have for screenings, dynamic assessments, treatment, and Tykes Camp. Once we know the make up of the students and their levels, we will determine the clinical experiences. All of this information will be shared with you prior to departure via a Google Resource Folder. Client files will be located in there along with speech therapy resources, packing list, final itinerary, and more!

Tykes Camp Preparations

Tykes Camp is a learning camp for children with special needs designed around skill based stations - speaking, listening, learning, sensory, STEM, and fine and gross motor skills. The philosophy of Tykes is simple: Provide evidence-based practice in a group setting for children with a variety of disorders and disabilities. Speech, language, and occupational therapy goals will be targeted in the broader context of play, academic skills, and activities of daily living. 

This philosophy is important for three reasons: 

- Group interventions are effective, fun, and create a social network; 

- Treatment intensity (i.e., frequency and dose) predicts the best outcomes; and 

- Academic readiness and strong behavior regulation leads to high-quality outcomes. 

In the afternoon, you’ll head to Hermit’s Blue Hole, a serene freshwater cenote tucked in the forest. You’ll have time to swim, relax, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before heading back to the Tropical Education Center. The day blends heart, perspective, and nature—giving you a grounded start to your journey in Belize.

Today you’ll you have your first day of Tykes Camp! You’ll work through the stations you designed with your assigned camper. Your supervisors will be there to support you throughout the morning.

You may also conduct school screenings depending on the time of year and/or observe pediatric evaluations and dynamic assessments. This is a great chance to practice working with children and gain observation hours if needed.

 After dinner, the day concludes with a night safari at the Belize Zoo. Guided by local experts, you’ll explore the zoo after dark—an unforgettable experience where you’ll encounter native species in their nocturnal habitats and learn about wildlife conservation in Belize. 

This morning you’ll continue with Tykes Camp. Meet with parents and share information for them to take home and continue working with their child. You should be very proud of the work you’ve done!

Students will also complete their SOAP notes this afternoon and work on any documentation from yesterday. There will be flexible time to relax, swim in the pool, and connect with your fellow travelers.

Wrap up Tykes Camp this morning! It’s hard to believe the week has flown by and you’ll say goodbye to your campers. Make sure to leave resources for parents to continue working on goals.

After several meaningful days of clinical work and community engagement, today is all about fun, adrenaline, and adventure. You’ll spend the day exploring the lush Belizean rainforest with two unforgettable experiences.

This afternoon you’ll gear up and soar through the jungle on an exhilarating zipline course, gliding from platform to platform above the treetops.

This day offers the perfect balance of nature, culture, and recreation—giving you time to recharge, connect with your peers, and experience the beauty of Belize in a completely different way.

Your day begins with a visit to The Inspiration Center in Belize City—an outpatient rehabilitation clinic that serves children with disabilities and developmental delays. During your time there, you’ll tour the facility, meet with local therapists, and learn about how speech, language, occupational, and physical therapy services are provided in a resource-limited environment. You may also observe therapy sessions or engage in conversations with clinicians about the challenges and innovations involved in their work.

Following this enriching visit, you’ll make your way to the water taxi terminal for your transfer to Caye Caulker, where you’ll check in to Island Magic Hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and enjoy the island’s laid-back pace—whether that means beach time, exploring, or simply soaking in the ocean views. 

Head out on a boat excursion today for guided snorkeling to see nurse sharks, rays, and many beautiful fish and coral! The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest barrier reef in the world, and the largest in the western hemisphere. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Belizeans work hard to manage this resource sustainably. Our snorkel provider will provide snorkel equipment and life jackets we require all students to wear during the snorkel trip.

Spend your final afternoon relaxing in the sun, swimming, shopping, or exploring the island. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner at one of our favorite spots on the island.

Take the water taxi back to Belize City to catch your flight home! Exchange information with new friends to stay connected! Please reflect back on all of the amazing things you did on your trip.

Share your experience with family, friends, peers and professors! Please be sure to tag us in your social media posts and leave us a review on GoOverseas.com.