Ecuador is one of the most diverse and amazing countries in the world. In fact, it was recently deemed by the United Nations as one of the world's 17 'Mega-Diverse' countries. With volcanic peaks reaching 23,000 feet in the Andean Highlands, the exotic Amazonian rainforest, beautiful coastal beaches and of course, the incredible Galapagos Islands, Ecuador boasts some of the most stunning geography on the planet. Click here for more general facts on Ecuador.

The following volunteer programs in Ecuador are designed to provide opportunities for 'giving something back' to communities in need. Participants will benefit from one-to-one Spanish language training, total cultural immersion, and an unparalleled personal enrichment experience.

Program Components

Rainforest Project Images Quito Images The Andes Images

• 2 weeks One-to-One Spanish language Lessons (Quito)
• 4 week Volunteer Placement at Rainforest Conservation Project (Amazon)
• Accommodation throughout program
• Most meals included (21 per week)
• 24/7 on the ground support
• One day whitewater rafting trip
• Transportation to/from project location & Quito
• Airport pickup and dropoff
• Predeparture Pack of Information related to your program and Ecuador
• Lonely Planet Guide to Ecuador
• One of the most incredibly adventurous cultural experiences of your life!

	Location:	Quito and the Amazon region of Ecuador
	Dates:	June 3 - July 14, 2007 July 1 - August 11, 2007 September 30 - Nov 10, 2007
	Language Req'd:	None. Some Spanish helpful but not required.
	Skills Required:	Minimum 18 years of age. Self-starter, passion for volunteering and travel, attention to detail and interest in foreign culture.
	Accommodation:	Accommodation is included. Again, this is Ecuador, not the Ritz Carlton so accommodations will be basic.
	Program Fee:	$2290 + $100 application fee
	App. Deadline:	April 30, 2007 (June 3 Program) June 1, 2007 (July 1 Program) September 2, 2007 (Sept 30 Program)

Project Mission
To contribute to biodiversity conservation (through the management of private reserves), community development and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Over 50 species of mammals including Puma and Jaguar, 112 species of reptiles and amphibians, over 200 orchid species and 530 bird species have been spotted at the Project, highlighting the success that has been achieved in preserving this small part of the unique Amazon landscape. "I've seen things here I only saw in books or on television growing up. I am living in the jungle.", states a former volunteer.

Volunteers work alongside project scientists, providing invaluable and much needed assistance to ongoing research. Some volunteers conduct biodiversity surveys while others assist in the reforestation program, and some even provide English lessons at the local Quichua schools and work on education initiatives working with locals to help provide a better understanding of the pressures put on the forest. In any case, volunteers will contribute significantly to the success of protecting this ecological reserve. Volunteers are able to choose their work from a wide range of activities, carried out under the supervision of residential researchers, environmental education instructors, and the administrative personnel of each reserve.

The Project staff are extremely friendly and you will find no shortage of other volunteers from Global Experiences and other programs from around the globe.

If you are concerned about staying in very basic accommodations or mosquitoes or staying in the middle of the jungle or having no television or missing any of the things you have grown to rely on in your world, you should think twice about this program. The program provides a very unique opportunity to help protect the diminishing rainforest and make a real contribution to a serious conservation effort in Ecuador, so understand you will be living in a developing country that does not enjoy the vastness of resources you may enjoy in your own home.

The training is provided in a private one-to-one environment with you and the instructor, thus optimizing your ability to learn. Classes are administered in the morning each day for 4 hours (total of 40 hours), which leaves the afternoons open for exploring the city and practicing your language skills.

As there is no minimum language requirement for participating in the program, your training will be structured to conform to your level of proficiency upon beginning the program. For those with limited understanding of the language, we encourage you to study on your own prior to arriving in Ecuador to optimize your cultural experience while there. Obviously the more Spanish you speak, the more enjoyable the experience.

In Quito, you will stay in either a hostel-like accommodations with other program participants or with an Ecuadorian host family - an excellent way to improve your Spanish. You will be either walking distance or within a short bus ride to the language school where you would travel each day. 3 meals are offered each day at your accommodation and will typically include traditional Ecuadorian food (which is good, don't worry!).

At the Project, you will stay in on-site accommodations sharing a room with other program participants and volunteers from around the world. The accommodations are very basic and generally consist of a bed with linens, a mosquito net (it is the jungle!), linens and some storage space. Bathrooms are located just near the accommodation, which are also quite basic but certainly acceptable. Again, please understand you will not be staying in hotel-like accommodations. You will be responsible for upkeep of your own living space and respecting your fellow volunteers accordingly. The project has an onsite kitchen facility staffed with cooks so you will have 3 meals provided each day as well as access to other food.