Tropical Conservation Semester: Galapagos, Andes & Amazon

  Ecuador

• Quito: 
Quito
• Galapagos Islands: 
Galapagos Islands
• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Rural Areas

Term: Spring 
Dates: Early January through mid-May

Description: The Tropical Conservation Experience: Galapagos, Andes & Amazon (TCE) undergraduate semester in Ecuador combines training in tropical ecology and conservation with immersion in Latin American culture. Offered by the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation in partnership with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), and accredited through the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this program is ideal for students in both scientific and social fields that seek applied experiences in international conservation along with instruction in ecology and field research. Participants in the program will enroll in the following sequence of courses:

* Spanish Language & Latin American Cultural Immersion (3 cr.)
* Conservation Biology (3 cr.)
* Terrestrial Ecology & Conservation (4 cr.)
* Marine Ecology & Conservation (4 cr.)
* Internship or Research Experience in Conservation (2 cr. )

Students travel throughout Ecuador together with faculty, and spend over half the semester at field sites that exemplify the varied habitats and biodiversity of the tropics. We explore the tundra-like páramo and lush cloud forests of the Andes, delve into the complexity of the Amazon rain forest, and study the living treasures of the Galapagos Islands.

Each student is paired with a host family in Quito with whom they reside over the course of the semester. The semester begins with an orientation to the people and environment of Ecuador and a month of intensive Spanish language training. Coursework takes place at USFQ, one of Ecuador's most prestigious academic institutions, and at numerous field sites, and covers natural history, adaptation and evolution, research methods, ecosystem management, biological monitoring, and conservation theory and practice. USFQ staff teach all language courses, while TCE faculty provide instruction in ecology and conservation.

Each student selects an internship or research project with an Ecuadorian conservation or development organization with whom they work for the last month of the semester. Students may work with an ongoing program or project, or develop a new project jointly with the host organization. For example, students may participate in protected areas management, reforestation, biological inventories, environmental education, or a community development project. The internships will allow students to apply what they have learned in their coursework and language training to gain first-hand experience in international conservation work.

Participants in the Tropical Conservation Experience will gain a thorough knowledge of the natural history and ecology of the world's richest habitats, acquire useful language skills, and obtain practical experience in applied conservation. The TCE program provides a special opportunity to travel to exotic and fascinating places, with astounding biodiversity and a rich and varied culture very different from our own. Such an opportunity can be a life-changing and eye-opening experience.

Highlights: While on a TCE semester program you'll experience:

- 2 weeks in the Galapagos Islands!
- 3 weeks deep in the Amazon rainforest!
- 1 month internship with a local conservation or community-development organization!
- Learn Spanish, immerse yourself in Ecuadorian culture, and see amazing wildlife and scenery!
- Highly qualified instructors for your field-based classes in marine biology, tropical ecology and conservation biology!
- Earn 16 credits!

*Summer programs also available! Search for Tropical Ecosystems: Andes to Amazon*

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: approx. USD 11,500

Experience Required: yes

One previous college-level course in biology, ecology or environmental science and minimum one semester of Spanish.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of max. 20

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation's Mission Statement: The Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation (CFTC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research, conservation and education organization dedicated to conserving the ecosystems of the tropics. The purposes and goals of CFTC are to: 1) provide educational opportunities to teach people about the diversity and importance of tropical ecosystems 2) support community-based conservation efforts in the tropics, 3) identify and support resource management practices that maintain ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, 4) monitor human impacts on tropical ecosystems, and 5) facilitate communication among conservation organizations, farmers, scientists and resource managers.

Year Founded: 1997