Center for Engaged Learning Abroad, CELA Belize

What Center for Engaged Learning Abroad, CELA Belize does

Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA) Belize is an American-owned experiential study abroad operator founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Ignacio, Belize, operating as a subsidiary of Loop Abroad. The company designs and delivers short-term (1–4 week) field-based academic programs in Belize and Thailand, with a thematic focus on One Health — integrating nursing, veterinary medicine, wildlife conservation, marine ecology, public health, and mental health counseling. Programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on clinical rotations, veterinary field work, conservation fieldwork, and cultural immersion; flagship offerings include the 4-week Nursing Experience ($6,360), the 4-week One Health: Public Health in the Tropics ($6,360), a 10-day Tropical Marine Ecology course, and Thailand-based Medical Shadowing and Mental Health & Counseling programs priced from $3,250 to $3,450. CELA also runs customized faculty-led group programs and a network of internship placements across nearly 50 host organizations.

The underlying technology stack is a modest web-based program management platform — online applications, payment processing via Zoho Secure Pay, and digital coordination with partner institutions — rather than proprietary software IP. Distribution is hybrid: direct-to-student enrollment through the celabelize.com website, university channel partnerships where CELA programs are listed on institutional study abroad office portals (Boston College, Penn State, Rutgers, SUNY Cortland, Texas Tech, University of Kansas Medical Center, and others), and faculty-led custom group arrangements. In November 2024 CELA formalized a School of Record relationship with Culver-Stockton College, enabling students to earn U.S. college credit, and the company holds a memorandum of understanding with the Belizean Ministry of Health for clinical placement of nursing and health interns. The customer base is primarily individual undergraduate and graduate students in nursing, pre-veterinary, animal science, public health, and anthropology, supplemented by university groups and internship seekers; the staff of 11 includes a U.S.-based admissions team and Belize-based operations personnel. Revenue derives from program tuition, application fees ($30–$50), deposits ($500), and college credit fees ($499), and is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Center for Engaged Learning Abroad, CELA Belize

Legal name

Center for Engaged Learning Abroad

Website

https://celabelize.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA) Belize designs and delivers 1–4 week experiential study abroad programs in Belize and Thailand focused on One Health disciplines — nursing, veterinary, wildlife conservation, marine ecology, and public health — for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty-led university groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad Programs

NAICS

Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Experiential & Field-Based Study Abroad (Research, Field Schools, Practicums) (EDAIAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAA), Field Schools & Experiential Academic Programs (Archaeology, Ecology, etc.) (EDAIAIAG), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Experiential learning services
• International internships
• One Health education
• Field-based academic programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Ignacio

HQ country

Belize

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition: Core revenue from tuition fees for study abroad programs ranging from 1-4 weeks. Programs include nursing, veterinary, wildlife conservation, marine ecology, public health, and anthropology. Prices range from $3,250-$6,360 per program depending on duration and content.
2. Application and Processing Fees: $30 application fee for standard programs, $50 for internship applications. Non-refundable fees collected during the application process.
3. College Credit Fees: $499 transcript fee for students seeking college credit through partnership with Culver-Stockton College.
4. Program Deposits: $500 non-refundable program deposit required within two weeks of acceptance to secure enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA) Belize designs and delivers short-term (1-4 week) experiential study abroad programs in Belize and Thailand, combining classroom instruction with hands-on clinical, veterinary, conservation, and cultural field experiences. The offerings target undergraduate and graduate students in nursing, pre-veterinary, public health, wildlife conservation, marine ecology, anthropology, and mental health disciplines, with optional U.S. college credit through Culver-Stockton College and customized faculty-led group programs.

Product overview

The Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA) Belize offers experiential study abroad and internship programs primarily focused on One Health disciplines. The product portfolio includes short-term field courses (1-4 weeks) in Belize and Thailand covering nursing, veterinary medicine, wildlife conservation, marine ecology, public health, and mental health counseling. Programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on field or clinical experience. CELA operates as a unified offering with programs available as standalone courses or combined into longer multi-week experiences, including the flagship 4-week Nursing Experience and One Health program. The company also provides faculty-led custom group programs and internship placements through partner organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nursing in Belize 4-Week Experience A four-week nursing study abroad program combining global health coursework with clinical rotations in Belize, allowing students to shadow Belizean nurses and develop cross-cultural healthcare competencies.
• Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation An intensive ten-day experiential coral reef ecology course covering classroom, field, and laboratory components, with focus on the Belize Barrier Reef ecosystem through snorkeling and marine exploration.
• Global Perspectives in Health A two-week healthcare study abroad program introducing global health concepts through the Belizean healthcare system lens, combining field visits, lectures, and observational clinical experiences.
• One Health: Public Health in the Tropics A four-week study abroad program introducing One Health concepts, combining large animal veterinary practice with global health perspectives, designed for students in public health, veterinary medicine, and conservation biology.
• Large Animal Veterinary Practice in the Tropics A pre-veterinary and animal science study abroad program providing hands-on veterinary examination experience at working ranches and farms, covering husbandry and health issues of horses, sheep, pigs, and cattle in Belize.
• Wildlife Health and Conservation A two-week course introducing tropical ecology, wildlife conservation efforts, and veterinary practices, with focus on jaguars, tapirs, howler monkeys, and raptors based at the Belize Zoo and Runaway Creek Nature Reserve.
• Community Health Nursing Clinical Internship A two-week clinical internship placing nursing students in hospital facilities and community health settings in Belize for shadowing experience with Belizean nurses and medical professionals.
• Belize Internships Customized international internship placements across nearly 50 host organizations in Belize covering fields including animal science, health, business, education, indigenous studies, archaeology, and environmental studies.
• Faculty-Led Groups Customizable academic programs for university groups led by faculty, offering tailored itineraries in fields including nursing, global health, veterinary science, wildlife conservation, and cultural studies.
• Medical Shadowing & Healthcare in Thailand A two-week medical shadowing study abroad program in Chiang Mai, Thailand, offering clinical observation in public and private hospitals alongside cultural immersion activities.
• Mental Health & Counseling Study Abroad in Thailand A 15-day mental health and counseling study abroad program in Chiang Mai exploring Thai mental health practice, Buddhist psychology, and contemplative approaches through site visits and professional shadowing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over a decade of operational experience providing study abroad programs since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Culver-Stockton CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Culver-Stockton College serves as CELA's U.S. School of Record, enabling students to earn college credit for programs. Partnership provides courses in Large Animal Practice in the Tropics, Tropical Marine Ecology, Wildlife Health and Conservation, One Health, Global Perspectives in Health, and internship modules.
• Community Baboon SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots conservation project focused on sustaining Black Howler Monkey habitat while promoting economic development in local communities. Supports wildlife conservation programming.
• Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in funding management and sustainable development of Belize's natural and cultural resources.
• Belize Forest DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency coordinating resources for sustainable management of Belize's natural resources. Supports environmental science and conservation programs.
• Friends of Conservation and Development (FCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespected community-based conservation organization recognized by the Government of Belize. Supports conservation and development initiatives.
• The Belize ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-renowned zoo providing home for previously orphaned or rehabilitated wildlife. Base for wildlife health and conservation programs.
• Belize Bird RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife rescue organization providing care for sick and injured birds on their private reserve in Cayo District.
• Belize Botanic GardensminorStrategic or Co-development Partner45-acre native plant garden and arboretum between Maya Mountain foothills and Macal River. Supports botanical and environmental education.
• Tumul K'in Center of LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaya NGO promoting sustainable development through intercultural education, training and research. Supports indigenous studies and cultural programs.
• National Institute of Culture and Heritage (NICH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment institute focusing on protection, preservation and promotion of Belize's cultural heritage and archaeological sites.
• Belizean Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCELA has a memorandum of understanding with the Belizean Ministry of Health, facilitating placement of nursing and health interns in healthcare facilities across Belize.
• Belizean Ministry of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose working relationship with Ministry of Agriculture supporting One Health and agricultural programs.
• Loop AbroadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company providing veterinary and global education study abroad programs worldwide. CELA Belize is a Loop Abroad company. Also coordinates Thailand medical shadowing programs.
• Runaway Creek Nature ReservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRemote nature reserve used for field research conditions in wildlife health and conservation programs.
• Crocodile Research CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization founded by Dr. Marisa Tellez, supporting wildlife research and education programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IES Abroad: Large, established US study abroad provider with a broad portfolio; competes for the same university-channel student and faculty relationships but lacks CELA's One Health/niche veterinary specialization.
• API (Academic Programs International): US-based study abroad provider with extensive university partnerships and faculty-led offerings; comparable in channel structure and credit-earning model even though its catalog skews more toward language and cultural programs.
• The School for International Training (SIT): Experiential, credit-bearing study abroad programs focused on global issues including health, conservation, and development; overlaps with CELA's Global Perspectives in Health and One Health offerings.
• CIEE: Major US study abroad organization offering faculty-led and direct-enroll programs; overlaps with CELA on the faculty-led channel and university partnership recruitment model.

Direct peers

• Loop Abroad: CELA's parent company and the most direct peer: runs veterinary and animal science study abroad programs globally, sharing leadership and back-office functions with CELA. Operates an overlapping student base in pre-vet experiential learning.
• School for Field Studies (SFS): Field-based study abroad provider focused on environmental science and sustainability across multiple countries; competes directly with CELA's Wildlife Health & Conservation and Tropical Marine Ecology programs on experiential, field-school positioning.
• Broadreach: Adolescent and college-focused experiential learning provider offering veterinary, marine biology, and global health programs abroad; directly comparable to CELA's pre-vet and One Health offerings for high-school and undergraduate students.
• Where There Be Dragons: Experiential learning provider running multi-country programs in the Americas and Asia emphasizing community-based learning and cultural immersion — directly comparable to CELA's anthropology and Belize field programs.
• SIT Study Abroad (World Learning): Experiential, field-based study abroad provider with credit-bearing programs across global health, conservation, and development — a comparable model targeting the same university-channel student seeking hands-on international learning.
• Child Family Health International (CFHI): Nonprofit placing health-professions students in clinical and global health rotations abroad; directly comparable to CELA's nursing and public health programs in terms of audience, ethical framing, and university-channel recruitment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CayoSonia
• Facebookfacebook.com/celabelize
• Instagraminstagram.com/celahealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-sustainable-international-studies-isis-belize

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Engaged Learning Abroad, CELA Belize