A Transformative Field Course: Conservation & Sustainability in Cuba

Written By Cilla Utne

Johns Hopkins University Marine Science students cleaning the beaches in Guanahacabibes, Western Cuba, during their field course in March 2025.

We are truly honored to have had the opportunity to host the Nature Conservation and Sustainability in Cuba Field Course Spring 2025 for John Hopkins University's MS Programs in Environmental Sciences & Policy, focusing on Energy Policy & Climate. It was a privilege to welcome two distinguished lecturers and 14 master’s students to experience Cuba’s breathtaking ecosystems and learn about its innovative approaches to sustainability and conservation.

Throughout the journey, our participants were able to immerse themselves in both the marine and terrestrial wonders of Cuba, from the coral restoration efforts in the Guanahacabibes Biosphere Reserve to the vital sea turtle conservation projects at La Barca Beach. The opportunity to explore these vital conservation areas, while engaging in hands-on experiences like SCUBA diving and reef monitoring, provided invaluable insights into the challenges and successes of environmental management in a rapidly changing world.

We were delighted to invite expert lecturers who enriched the experience, guiding discussions on fisheries management, coral restoration, and the intersection of conservation with local communities. Our team at Cross Cultural Journeys is deeply committed to creating meaningful, culturally enriching experiences, and we couldn’t have asked for better collaborators than John Hopkins University.

We are excited to extend our heartfelt invitation to other universities and global travel departments to partner with Cross Cultural Journeys for their study abroad programs. This field course not only offers students a rare opportunity to engage with conservation in a dynamic, real-world context, but also provides a deeply transformative experience that bridges cultures, education, and environmental stewardship.

Cilla Utne

Cilla is the owner and CEO of CCJ since January of 2015. A native of Sweden and a world traveler, she has lived for extended periods in Spain, the UK, Chile and Guatemala and has been based in the US since the late 1990's. She holds an undergraduate in intercultural studies from Stockholm University and an MBA in Sustainability from Presidio Graduate School. Cilla also wears the hats of intercultural trainer and consultant and is also a facilitator of systemic and family constellations. A budding author, she is also working on a trans-generational memoir about her mother’s childhood. Cilla loves nature and the outdoors, good food, yoga, healing and meditation, watching her son's soccer games and taking long walks with her French bulldog Lola. Cilla spends her life living between Bainbridge Island, WA, and Norrtälje, near the archipelago and hour North of Stockholm, Sweden.

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The Heart of Cuba: Music, Community and Tradition