Support the Lamanai Outpost Lodge and Staff
Donation protected
Each year for the past 14 years, the Lamanai Outpost Lodge in Belize has collaborated with a team of 60+ bat biologists to help study and protect the bats of the surrounding tropical forest ecosystem. Biologists from 10 countries and 35 universities were booked in for the 2020 season.
In addition to building lasting friendships with the lodge’s management & staff, the biologists help support the lodge and its 38 employees financially during a time of year that is generally quite slow. The biologists & students also engage with the neighboring communities of Indian Church & San Carlos – combined population of 450 or so – where they visit local schools to introduce students to the bats of their neighborhood and provide specialized training to local guides and naturalists.
The COVID-19 crisis has meant cancellation of the annual two week Bat-A-Thon originally scheduled for April & May 2020 and all other tourist bookings for the foreseeable future. Obviously, these sudden cancellations will put a real financial strain on the guides and staff who usually rely on lodging fees and tips for their livelihood.
We put together this campaign to raise money to help support the staff members of the Lodge who will be impacted by this enormous hit to the Belize tourism sector. The Indian Church community has for many years supported our bat researchers, students, archaeologists and eco-tourists, now it’s our turn to help support them.
Your funds will provide direct relief for staff members who might otherwise find themselves without income during this stressful time. The Lodge employs 38 people from the villages of Indian Church & San Carlos whose livelihoods and that of their families are totally dependent on tourism.
HISTORY
The annual "Bat-a-Thon" started in 2007 as a way for scientists working with bats to gather for a week to talk shop, work with bats, and test ideas for further research and collaborations. There has never been a fixed program, just opportunities to interact, experiment with field techniques, and conduct research in the tropical forest habitats of the area. The annual event has been particularly important for students -- a chance to discuss their ideas and plans, become familiar with live bats, and learn field techniques. In more recent years, many students have conducted part or all of their thesis or dissertation work at Lamanai. Several long-term research programs have been established by our team focused on better understanding the Lamanai bat fauna (particularly the vampires) and biology of bat parasites and pathogens. Since 2007, over 200 people have been involved, and at last count (Jan 2020), over 40 papers arising from work conducted at the batathons have been published in scientific journals. Since 2015, participants in the event have visited two local elementary schools to introduce students to bats and people who study them. None of this work would have been possible without the outstanding support of Lamanai Outpost Lodge and its staff.
In addition to building lasting friendships with the lodge’s management & staff, the biologists help support the lodge and its 38 employees financially during a time of year that is generally quite slow. The biologists & students also engage with the neighboring communities of Indian Church & San Carlos – combined population of 450 or so – where they visit local schools to introduce students to the bats of their neighborhood and provide specialized training to local guides and naturalists.
The COVID-19 crisis has meant cancellation of the annual two week Bat-A-Thon originally scheduled for April & May 2020 and all other tourist bookings for the foreseeable future. Obviously, these sudden cancellations will put a real financial strain on the guides and staff who usually rely on lodging fees and tips for their livelihood.
We put together this campaign to raise money to help support the staff members of the Lodge who will be impacted by this enormous hit to the Belize tourism sector. The Indian Church community has for many years supported our bat researchers, students, archaeologists and eco-tourists, now it’s our turn to help support them.
Your funds will provide direct relief for staff members who might otherwise find themselves without income during this stressful time. The Lodge employs 38 people from the villages of Indian Church & San Carlos whose livelihoods and that of their families are totally dependent on tourism.
HISTORY
The annual "Bat-a-Thon" started in 2007 as a way for scientists working with bats to gather for a week to talk shop, work with bats, and test ideas for further research and collaborations. There has never been a fixed program, just opportunities to interact, experiment with field techniques, and conduct research in the tropical forest habitats of the area. The annual event has been particularly important for students -- a chance to discuss their ideas and plans, become familiar with live bats, and learn field techniques. In more recent years, many students have conducted part or all of their thesis or dissertation work at Lamanai. Several long-term research programs have been established by our team focused on better understanding the Lamanai bat fauna (particularly the vampires) and biology of bat parasites and pathogens. Since 2007, over 200 people have been involved, and at last count (Jan 2020), over 40 papers arising from work conducted at the batathons have been published in scientific journals. Since 2015, participants in the event have visited two local elementary schools to introduce students to bats and people who study them. None of this work would have been possible without the outstanding support of Lamanai Outpost Lodge and its staff.
Organizer
Melissa Ingala
Organizer
New York, NY