Ecuador Tropical Ecology Program - Summer 2009
IAP Program Handbook
This program is offered by International Academic Programs (IAP) at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison in partnership with Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation
(Ceiba). Throughout the course of your study abroad experience you will be
communicating with both IAP and Ceiba staff. It is essential that you pay close attention
to all information provided to you from both organizations. This IAP Program Handbook
supplements handbook(s) or materials you receive from Ceiba as well as the IAP Study
Abroad Handbook and provides you with the most up-to-date information and advice
available at the time of printing. Changes may occur before your departure or while you
are abroad.
Ceiba handles the program’s day-to-day operations. Generally, questions about aspects
of your program abroad should be directed to Ceiba (ie. program housing options,
program facilities abroad, excursions offered as part of the program, etc.) Questions
relating to your relationship with UW-Madison or your academics should be addressed to
International Academic Programs at UW-Madison (ie. course credits, equivalents, UW
Madison registration, etc.)
This program handbook contains the following information:
Contact Information ........................................................................................................... 1
Program Dates .................................................................................................................. 2
Preparations Before Leaving ............................................................................................. 2
Travel and Arrival Information............................................................................................ 3
The Academic Program ..................................................................................................... 3
Living Abroad .................................................................................................................... 4
Student Testimonials ......................................................................................................... 5
Contact Information
On-Site Program Information
Joe Meisel, Ceiba Instructor
Ceiba Education Program
1202 Williamson Street
Madison, WI 53702
Email: jmeisel@ceiba.org
In EcuadorEugenio de Santillán N34-248 y Maurián
Quito, Ecuador
Tel: 593 2 243-2240
Tiputini Office (Quito): 593-2-289-4803
Cell: 593-8-414-2310
UW-Madison Information
Javier Robayo, Ceiba Instructor
Eugenio de Santillán N34-248 y Maurián
Quito, Ecuador
Tel: 593 2 243-2240
Tiputini Office (Quito): 593-2-289-4803
Cell: 593-9-502-3341
International Academic Programs (IAP)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
261 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-262-2851 Fax: 608-262-6998
Web: www.studyabroad.wisc.edu
For Program Advising & Grades:
Tammy Gibbs
IAP Student Study Abroad Advisor
Phone: 608-261-1020
E-mail: tjgibbs@bascom.wisc.edu
For Financial Matters:
Judy Humphrey
IAP Financial Specialist
Phone: 608-262-6785
E-mail: jhumphrey@bascom.wisc.edu
Emergency Contact Information
In case of an emergency, call the main IAP number (608) 262-2851 between 7:45 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; after-hours or on weekends call the IAP staff on call at (608)
516-9440.
Embassy Registration
Program participants who are U.S. citizens must register at the U.S. Embassy before
departure as this will help in case of a lost passport or other mishap. You can register online at <https://travelregistration.state.gov>. If you are not a U.S. citizen, register at your
home country’s embassy or consulate.
U.S. Embassy in Quito, Ecuador
Ave. Avigiras E12-170 y Ave. Eloy Alfaro (next to SOLCA)
Telephone during Business Hours: 593-2-398-5000
Fax: 593-2-398-5100
Web: http://ecuador.usembassy.gov
Program Dates
June 1 - course start, and last day for students to arrive in Ecuador
June 30 - final course activities
July 1 - course end, first day students can leave Ecuador
Preparations Before Leaving
Refer to the Pre-Departure Checklist on pages four and five of the IAP Study Abroad
Handbook for essential information.
Immigration Documents
Passport
A passport is needed to travel to Ecuador. Apply immediately for a passport if you do not
already have one. If you already have your passport, make sure it will be valid for at least
6 months beyond the length of your stay abroad.
Visa
No visa is required for participants who are U.S. citizens who enter Ecuador for less than
90 days.
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Packing
Participants are required to bring proof of yellow fever vaccination and valid health
insurance card with you to Ecuador. All students should also bring two photocopies of
their passport photo page (one for themselves in case their passport is lost or stolen and
one to be given to the course instructor).
Consult the Ceiba Course Information Packet
(http://www.ceiba.org/documents/A2Apacket.pdf) for a comprehensive list of
recommendation items to pack. In addition to the information in this packet, the course
instructors have provided participants with the following tips:

Participants will be leaving stuff behind in various places (like leaving coast clothes
behind when they go into the mountains, etc.) so it helps to bring two smaller bags
rather than one big bag. Also, students have to carry all of their stuff up a
mountain in the El Pahuma reserve, including their sleeping bag, so a backpack or
some such thing that will fit all of their stuff for a two night camping trip is a good
bet.

Plan to buy rubber boots in Ecuador (if your shoe size is larger than 10, larger
sizes can be hard to come by) – they’re less than $10.

When in Quito, the group usually goes out to many restaurants to eat and people
should be able to dress “appropriately.” For men, this would be a pair of slacks (or
jeans in good condition) and a buttoned down shirt or a nice sweater to wear over
a t-shirt. For women, the same can be worn or a skirt. Students should consider
bringing a pair of shoes other that hiking boots that are suitable for going out.
Travel and Arrival Information
Participants will need to make their own travel arrangements for arriving in Ecuador by the
course start date.
The Academic Program
General Information
This is an intensive program designed to provide participants with a solid background in
ecological principles and field methods while giving a realistic view of the biological,
sociological, and economic complexities underlying conservation issues. Participants will
have full-day program activities throughout the week and on the weekends.
Course Information
Courses
Please consult the Ceiba Course Information Packet (available at
(http://www.ceiba.org/documents/A2Apacket.pdf) for further academic details.
Participants are required to read the following text prior to departure:
A Neotropical Companion. By John Kricher, 1997. 2nd edition. Princeton University Press.
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In addition, the Ceiba Course Information Packet provides students with a suggested list
of readings relevant to your experience in Ecuador.
The course faculty and staff include Dr. Joe Meisel, Ph.D. in Zoology, and Javier Robayo,
an Ecuadorian botanist with years of conservation experience. Both have extensive
international field research experience and have previously led this program in Ecuador.
Registration
UW participants will receive 4 credits in Botany or Zoology either as:
- Botany 699: Directed Study
- Zoology 699: Directed Study
- Zoology 460: General Ecology
Students are required to fill out a course preference form prior to departure. This form
designates which Botany or Zoology credits students wish to receive for the program.
Credits
Conversions
This course is worth 4 credits.
Limits and Load
UW participants will receive 4 credits in either Botany or Zoology.
Pass/Fail/Drop/Audit
Please refer to the IAP Study Abroad Handbook for Academic Policies.
Grades and Grade Conversions
Grades will given on the UW-Madison grading scale.
Living Abroad
Educate yourself about your host country. Read the Preparing to Live in Another Culture
section of the IAP Study Abroad Handbook. Consult the following resources as well as
travel books and program binders in the Study Abroad Resource Room (250 Bascom
Hall).
UW-Madison International Academic Programs (IAP):
http://www.studyabroad.wisc.edu
Ceiba Program website:
http://www.ceiba.org/andes2amazon.htm
US State Department Students Abroad Site:
http://www.studentsabroad.state.gov/
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Student Testimonials
The testimonials below are from past participants; they reflect various students’
experiences and are included to provide different perspectives. IAP does not endorse any
specific view expressed in this section.
This course is an amazing opportunity to see so many plants, animals, and places in only
three short weeks. The only bad part about the course is that you have to go home!
I learned a lot about ecology in the tropics but the experience was more valuable because
of the chance to see the impact of consumer societies on third world countries. I think I will
carry a lot of what I learned with me for a long time.
Definitely an intensive field course, and a potentially life-changing experience.
This has been one of the most influential months of my life. I am leaving Ecuador thinking
about the world in a different way.
The only thing I would recommend that isn’t already somewhere in the course literature is
to search for airfare using sidestep.com. It is a discount airline compiler that searches all
of the other travel sites (travelocity, etc.) as well as all of the carrier websites for you and
provides an organized list of every flight you can book.
If you bring your iPod, leave it in Quito with the rest of your stuff (cell phone, wallet, and
other things you don't need in the field). It'll likely get damaged anyway and it leaves a
bad impression on your fellow participants, mostly because the idea of the whole trip is to
rough it a little.
I wanted to get some hands-on experience in my field and I felt that I received valuable
insight.
Some of the things students found most rewarding:
Being able to travel around Ecuador and learning a little bit about everything.
The amazing places we went to and experienced hands-on.
Close interaction with professors.
Able to really understand and experience tropic ecosystems.
Experience in a different country with a large group.
Location and experiencing the material.
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