An expedition this summer to Cuba, an island nestled in the Caribbean Sea lying 90 miles off the coast of Florida, will be open for students this summer.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville will accompany Eastern students in their exploration of one of the purest environments on earth Aug. 4 through 17, said Marylin Lisowski, trip organizer and education professor at Eastern.

Lisowski said both universities chose to sponsor the trip because of Cuba’s exotic plant and animal life, sandy beaches, historical treasures and rich land with splendor and ripe learning opportunities for students.

This island is one of only four countries still sustaining a communist government in the world today. It remains one of the richest environments on Earth because it has not been marred by a booming tourist trade or much of the outside world at all for that matter, she said.

Participants on the trip will explore the natural wonders of Cuba, Lisowski said.

She said creating an organized trip was a far from easy task.

“It wasn’t easy,” Lisowski said. “We had to get special permission from the Cuban government just to be allowed in the country at all. We were also passed through a committee of scientists and museum curators to confirm our approval.”

Lisowski was enthusiastic about the upcoming summer trip; however, she said traveling there would be a bit of a nuisance.This trip presents a unique opportunity for students because Cuba is a very difficult place to travel to.

“We have to fly to Mexico first and get a connecting flight to Cuba, which is very wasteful because Cuba is only 90 miles away (from the U.S. border),” she said.

The trip provides another plus for educators and students because, in addition to being biologically diverse and worthy of study, it also is an important place in history, Lisowski said.

The students that would benefit in particular from this opportunity would be biological science majors and science education majors, but everyone is welcome to attend, she said.

The cost of the trip is $1,620 plus an additional $150 for a single room, plus international airfare and any additional spending money. The price covers in-country transportation, accommodations, expert local guides, meals and activities covered on the itinerary.

Students also will stay in Havana, Trinidad, and Vinales besides visiting destinations all over Cuba. Some places the students will visit are the University of Havana, a cigar factory in Pinar del Rio, the ruins of a French coffee plantation, the Zapata wetlands, the National Botanical Gardens and the Museum of Natural History.

Also, the students will have the opportunity to visit Cuban artist Lester Campo and get a boat cruise to Cayo Macho for a day at the beach.

Lisowski said students should take advantage of the opportunity because the trip may genuinely be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Students can apply for the trip in the International Programs office in Blair Hall, or contact Lisowski by phone at 581-7830.