By Dr. Dan Wagner
For the last six years a group of pharmacy, medical and other health-related college students have trekked to Belize with a non-profit, educational group called the STUDENT RAINFOREST FUND. In May, 2001, we had 23 students from 9 different universities attend. Our faculty included two educational directors from Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Dr. Wendell Combest from Shenandoah University, Dr. Steve Morris, a naturopath from Washington, and myself. Dr. Rosita highly impressed everyone! She was so inspirational and her classes on Maya medicine, narrating the medicinal plants along the Panti Medicine Trail, compounding unique rainforest products in the Ix Chel Tropical Research Center, and much more informative and spiritual guidance and wisdom. During our 3 and ½ days of wondrous educational classes with Rosita (including a few dips in the river, great organic veggy meals, lunch at Mrs Juana’s, and a few scorpions here and there) we spent an inspiring day at Terra Nova - the world’s only known reserve for the preservation of medicinal plants. It’s a great stretch of 6000 acres of old growth forest in northwestern Belize. We collected some herbarium samples and got caught in a voracious rainstorm (we all stood out in the warm tropical rain and had a sort of group baptism of the Maya spirits). It was fun and sensual. In short the students were mesmerized with the wisdom of Rosita, Miss Beatrice and Polo. How can we ever thank them for selflessly imparted their timeless knowledge to these impressionable young pharmacists and doctors on looking at medicine and healing in a more holistic way. Friday afternoon our 3 vans made for the Toledo District in the far south of the country. We trucked down the beautiful Hummingbird Highway and drove the 100+ miles of the (mostly unpaved and rocky) Southern Highway. We made it 7 hours later to the port city of Punta Gorda- a quaint and peaceful seaside city that rests on the ocean. We stayed in a great place called the Sea Front Inn. The rooms were clean, the food was wonderful and the owners (Larry, Carol & April Smith) were most accommodating. We rented motor boats on Saturday and cruised for an hour out to Snake Island. It was fantastic! The beach was pristine, the snorkeling was superb, and the beer was cold. Fortunately the sky was a bit overcast so no one got too fried. That night we all rock n’ rolled at a local lounge that plays African drumming music. (Gosh those college girls can drink!) On Sunday we visited a local nature reserve and walked for hours across open savannah and into deep, dark rainforests full of howler monkeys and lakes full of huge crocodiles. The bird life and flora was overwhelming. Monday was the long trek up the coast back home. We all made it with no health problems, accidents, or bruises (a few hundred insect bites, and a little sun burn though). Few wanted to come home. We’re looking forward to next year. It was all great!!! THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT !!!!!
The Belize 2001 Photo Gallery
 Partying at Ix Chel (Pass the rum and coke) |
 Atop the Mayan ruin, Xuantunich |
 Hiking single file in TERRA NOVA looking for medicinal plants |
 Walking the savannah at Payne's Creek National Park to see the Howler monkeys |
Dr. Rosita in "granny's garden" |
 The 3 healers: Miss Beatrice, Rosita & Polo |
 Drs. Dan Wagner, Wendell Combest & Steve Morris, SRF faculty |
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Some of the highlights of the 2001 expedition included:
THE ITINERARY