Grenada, the Grenadines and Martinique: The Geography of the Southern Caribbean

January 7-20, 2009

GEOG 228A (3 credits)

Continuing the Department of Geography’s program of study of the Caribbean Basin, GEOG 228A offers a unique and challenging “hands-on” study of the Southern Caribbean during the winter term, 2009.

After two day-long briefing session in College Park, students will fly to the island of St. Lucia where they will spend the night and then board a windjammer tall ship for 7 nights of sailing about the Southern Caribbean. The best way to study the Grenadines is by sailing vessel – up front and personal. The Grenadines are the “land of eternal summer,” making them one of the most exclusive sailing grounds in the world.

The class will not only visit the islands under study, but will also stand watches aboard the windjammer, learning to climb into the rigging, navigate and work the helm, among other things.

The class will then fly to Grenada where we will spend 3 nights studying the physical and cultural geography of the “Spice Island.”

Wind and tides permitting, the class will visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory to hear a lecture given by its Director and examine the very active Soufriere Hills volcano. We will also explore other islands rarely visited by tourists. The class will experience the Caribbean of long ago, including the island/nation of Dominica – an island said to look much like it did when Columbus discovered it.

For the seven days we are aboard our windjammer, your ship will be your accommodation and all food is included.

Last year’s class got to visit a spice plantation, a pyroclastic flow field and the only Carib Indian Reservation in the Caribbean. We snorkeled coral reefs and played in a cricket match, among many other activities.

Want to hear firsthand about what that experience was like? E-mail Professor Trocino (see below) and he will supply you with the name and contact e-mail of a former class participant!

Accommodations

In Grenada, participants will stay in a beachfront apartment/hotel. Transportation around Grenada and Martinique will generally be by chartered van. As noted above, the balance of the trip will be aboard the ship, where all accommodations and food will be included for the seven-day voyage.

Faculty and Staff

Joseph R. Trocino is a lecturer in the Geography department. His main area of interest includes the study of Caribbean basin cultures, ecologies and land forms. Please contact Professor Trocino for information about course content and itinerary.

For questions about the application, registration and pre-departure logistics, please contact Shoshana Griffith, a Program Assistant in the Study Abroad Office.