Scarlett Trillia '10

Scarlett, HS Major 2010, is the Development Intern for Fall 2007. She is a third year Human Services student at Northeastern University and selected HSTF for her first full time Co-Op Internship. Scarlett has always had a strong interest in social services, youth programs, and eco-literacy. Prior to joining the Development team at HSTF she cut her teeth working on grants for Boston based La Alianza Hispana. Scarlett recently spent six weeks studying and doing social and environmental research in Southern Mexico. Next year she plans to continue her research, studies, and social service work in Argentina, her family's country of origin. She is a strong supporter of community gardening and was a participant in the original Edible Schoolyard program. She hopes to make this the focus of her future work in urban youth development.

The Effect of Ecotourism in Southern Mexico; taken from : Honors PERSPECTIVE; Volume 3 - Fall 2007

In the fall of 2006, when I decided to switch into the Human Services department, my academic life suddenly kicked into high gear. Within days of joining the major, I applied to the Human Service Summer I Dialogue program to Mexico. From there, my curiosity and enthusiasm just grew and grew. I soon discovered that I was eligible to apply for a research grant from the Provost and hoping to expand the experience of the Dialogue program, I began to investigate potential research topics in Southern Mexico.

Drawing from my background of interest in Ecology and outdoor adventure, I proposed to continue to travel in Mexico in order to experience first hand the development and impact of Ecotourism. I was very shocked by the results of this research project. Going into it I was expecting to be greeted by the kinds of programs and tours I had researched on the Internet. However, there is a huge discrepancy between what an American tourist can do through an American agency and what an average Mexican tour guide can offer.

The meaning of the phrase "Ecotour" seems to be completely lost in translation. Expecting to be guided through lush wilderness and educated in the local ecology, we found instead that we were met by desperately under-funded guides hoping to make a little money however they could. One of our "ecotours" guided us literally past not only a quarry but also a garbage dump!

At least hoping to find the high costs of these tours being redistributed back into local communities, I was upset to see that all the best tours were run completely independently of the local people. Even worse, instead of finding a keen interest in ecology, my inquiries about environmental tourism were met with anything from confusion to utter disgust. How could I have expected elevated ecoliteracy in a place where most people are not even exposed to basic literacy education? We realized we needed to take a huge step back.

Despite the fact that the project took a sharp turn in a direction I hadn't expected, I was very pleased with the way it turned out. I was exposed to so much more than I had ever hoped to be and the places we visited really helped to identify which things I will be interested in studying in the future. I hope to return to Latin America, this time focusing on more critical issues, such as literacy, women's rights, cooperative education, and contemporary social movements. However, by maintaining a dedication to eco-literacy and the environment, I also hope to find, or develop, a middle ground that can address environmental issues while simultaneously working to improve quality of life.

We had the opportunity to visit so many amazing organizations, both with the Dialogues program and during my independent study. There is a successful history of cooperative efforts in every realm, including the environment. What I would like to do is find a way to draw the tourist's attention to these types of organizations. I think everyone is beginning to realize that coming together is the most powerful way to tackle big issues. Right now the environment might not be a top priority but it definitely plays a role. I can't wait to continue to learn and grow through continued research and travel.