CUBA
2025
Following a previous successful June 2024 expedition to Cuba with Merlin-Tuttle Bat Conservation and Proyecto Cubabat, Philip and Teresa and Proyecto Cubabat has created another expedition for 2025 with a focus on kids, parents, and mentorship.
Click Here for a PDF version of the family offer.
We have also opened up our enrolment to include individual persons who would like to join us on this adventure.
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December 13 - 19
KIDS AGED 7 - 12
In December 2025, a team of guides and scientists will be mentoring an international group of kids and parents (kids aged 7 to 12) to inspire, educate, and help them build a foundation for curiosity and learning in the caves and jungles of Cuba introducing them to insects, reptiles, and bats in the context of discovery, science, and photography.
Expedition Days and Events
Because we are on a multi-day expedition in a dynamic environment with participants of varied needs, these days and events may be dynamically adjusted while we are together in Cuba.
Overview:
As part of the multi-cultural experience and enrichment process, school kids from Cuba will be joining us on 4 of the 5 education days. You can expect to hear quite a bit of both Spanish and English spoken and kids are encouraged to practice translation and learning new words.
We will be starting each day with a breakfast together to learn about the day ahead and make sure everyone's needs are being met.
Lunches, snacks, and water/juice will be provided each day during expeditions.
At the end of each day, we will each return to our own places of accommodation and then later meet together for ‘family style meals'.
The following is a summary of our schedule (we may make adjustments if needs vary approaches). A more detailed description of each day (that blew my mind when I realised what we could provide) is provided in the Tabs below the summary.
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Arrival In Cuba Day: We will pick you up from the airport (if needed)
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Day 1: "Jardines de Bellamar" Farm: Night-time activity with bats (stay up late and capture and study bats)
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Day 2: Bellamar Caves 3D explore for fragile formations and learning about relics, and in-person tour inside the cave system itself
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Day 3: Gruta del San Juan: Learning about applied Osteology: human bones and learning how to read them (forensic anthropology and archaeology)
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Day 4: Santa Catalina Protected Area: Caves and cave creatures tour
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Day 5: Bellamar Farm: Environmental education on bats learning about their environmental and ecological role
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Day 6: Varadero Beach Day: This is about relaxing and having some unstructured time with some of the guides
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Return Home Day: Return rides to airport (if needed)
Why Right Now (rather than next year)?
This isn't about a vacation. This is about setting a trajectory of growth and development of special interests and support. This is about relationship development. And the sooner one takes bold steps, the more years of impact and growth can result-- the sooner a trajectory is set. For myself and my colleagues it is a powerful motivator to steer children towards worldwide thinking, discovering their special interests, discovering 'they can do new and challenging things', and valuing themselves as early as possible.
The Fee that covers all expenses directly related to our program:
To keep the experience personal and about your kids and yourself, we limit the number of families visiting Cuba to 5 total. Space is limited. (A family could either be 2 parents and kids, or 1 parent and 2 kids, for example.) Hence, we don't fund the project by stuffing many people into a larger tour. We keep it simple and about you, the activities, education, and meeting kids in Cuba. For families that do not have a means for the full fee, we offer bursaries (we currently have some funds available so please inquire if needed).
To make things easy while you are in Cuba so that you don't have to barter or negotiate with vendors, we are looking after all the complicated parts about fees.
The family rate fee (which covers all immediate family members up to a max of 4) is $7,100 USD and covers all of your 'immediate family members'. (The last-minute individual person fee is $5,000 USD.)
This includes:
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every night's accommodation
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all meals and drinks
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all fuel and transportation while you are in Cuba including transportation to and from the airport
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park and event fees and government taxes
If you are staying extra days in Cuba, or wish to go on excursions that do not involve the program, then you may choose to bring extra cash.
Important Dates:
(1) booking your flight. Generally do this as soon as possible for the lowest airfare.
(2) 20% deposit to ensure there is room for you is due on or before November 10. This is the latest we can take steps to plan your accommodation on the trip
(3) Full fee is due on or before December 1st.
Email me directly (pzeman@clinezeman.com) to discuss payment.
Arrival Day in Cuba
We will pick you up from the airport (if needed)
Mentorship by exceptional professionals who love what they do
Throughout the expedition, scientists and expedition leaders will share their journeys—what sparked their curiosity, the challenges they faced, and how they turned their passions into careers. Through engaging stories and hands-on experiences, they’ll offer insights into their work and the wonders of the natural world.
Parents and kids are encouraged to ask questions, share their own stories, and continue the conversation even after the trip. For those looking to build on this experience, a certificate of participation will be provided, which can be used for future educational and enrichment opportunities.
Fostering Curiosity, Adventure, and Respect for the Unknown
We encourage curiosity, excitement, and a spirit of adventure while respecting individual choices and comfort levels.
To ensure a safe and enriching experience, we provide guidance on appropriate preparation, clothing, and safety equipment—drawing from the expertise of local Cuban scientists and communities who understand the region’s unique climate and wildlife.
During our jungle and cave walks, scientists will inspire kids to pause, observe, and engage with the natural world. They’ll learn how to interact safely and respectfully with creatures such as millipedes, centipedes, snakes, spiders, bats, and scorpions. Photography and storytelling are encouraged, helping children develop their ability to document experiences, share their discoveries, and communicate with others.
Valuing different perspectives and others’ experiences
On this trip your kids will have multiple days to interact with and build relationships with kids from Cuba. At least one full day will be spent in the wild with kids from a participating Cuba Elementary School. The guides will give examples of how they get to learn about the world by being curious about what other people are noticing.
Learning about neurodiversity, how different brains see and notice different things, and building a natural curiosity to understand differing perspectives is a core component of this trip.
Building an international community
Many of us are aware of the Challenges Cuba faces as a Country, People, and Culture. Recently, we have heard quite a bit about power-outages, inconsistent food and water supply. We have considered these characteristics and have been working with people who are there on the ground. With those in Cuba, we determined that we can operate this project in a way that will benefit all involved and that it is wanted by bringing money and supplies into Cuba and building an economy for what Cuba has to offer. We have successfully operated under these conditions in the past and continued to demonstrate value. If you have any questions on this topic, we welcome that you share your thoughts.
In addition to meeting and building relationships with those from Cuba and the organizers of this expedition, it is the intention that children and parents who do choose to join us will have common interests and create future opportunities for growth and learning for one another.
Trip Synopsis and Summary
Prior to being accepted as part of the expedition, we’ll have a mutual interview where you will be able to meet the organizers and ask any questions you may have. You’ll be able to exchange contact information and as questions arise, you will have your questions answered. This also gives us an opportunity to learn about you and your unique needs and help us understand what you will need in terms of support on the expedition.
These interviews and communication will use video calls using Zoom.
It is completely understandable that after meeting and gathering more information, that this expedition might not feel right for you or your family. That is entirely OK, and we of course offer the opportunity to withdraw from the trip entirely or choose to not participate in some component of the expedition at any time. It is important to us that what we are offering be suited for you and your children. That said, because we are booking accommodation and guides (monies spent for your spot on the expedition), we will retain fees paid as the deposit to hold your spot.
Transportation to and from Cuba
It is expected that each party that will participate in this expedition will arrange their own airfare and travel arrangements to Cuba. This includes and is not limited to passports, visas (if required), etc.
Upon the arrival of each party, you will be met outside the airport by guides from our expedition. You will be brought to a central meeting place where you’ll receive additional information and have any new questions answered. You’ll be guided to a home-stay, or apartment that will be your home for the duration of the expedition. Each night we will return to these accommodations.
Similarly as was done when you arrived in Cuba, you will be brought back to the airport by one of our guides.
Family Style Meals
Past expeditions have demonstrated the value of meeting together each day and sharing meals together. Most days will have us eating lunch while ‘on expedition’ and then having a comfortable sit-down family meal at one of the residences reserved for our group events.
Parent/Child Support and Guiding
We are allocating approximately 1 guide per 2 parent/child families. We will bring on additional guides based on the number of people who enroll in this expedition.
It is expected that in most circumstances, each child will be accompanied by their parent, and in those rare cases when the parent is not available to accompany the child, at least 2 guides will be assigned to the child.
Guides/Scientists/Photographers: The organizers of this expedition, scientists, and photographers will serve also as guides.
ABOUT US
Meet Your Guides
With diverse backgrounds spanning elite education, mentorship, and global exploration, our team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to every journey. From top-tier academic institutions to hands-on leadership in education and adventure, we are passionate about guiding the next generation. More than just trip leaders, we are mentors, storytellers, and educators dedicated to inspiring growth and discovery.
Remaining available as a part of your team
The multi-year longevity of this project, organizing and experiencing expeditions, rides the coat-tails of continued access to mentorship and collaboration even after the conclusion of each expedition. In contrast to ‘opening doors and opportunity’ to youth in a 1-time event, on-going collaboration and growth is encouraged by sharing contact information post-expedition to fuel continued growth.
Trip Inspiration
In 2024, Philip Zeman and his 2 children (at the time ages 7 and 9) joined an expedition with Teresa Nichta and Melissa Donally with Merlin Tuttle Bats and Proyecto Cubabat and the positive impact on his kids was striking. They had such a great experience with them, on this kind of adventure, they decided they had to make it happen again. Read more about that expedition in the Cuba 2024 blog post.
