Ceiba Foundation - Course Application

Tropical Ecosystem: Andes to Amazon

Application Form

Application Deadline: SECOND FRIDAY in MARCH*

Application Instructions

DEADLINES & APPLICATION: *Please note that applicants from the University of Wisconsin system should apply through the UW - Madison office of International Academic Programs (250 Bascom Hall, 608-265-6329, peeradvisor@bascom.wisc.edu, www.studyabroad.wisc.edu). UW's application deadline is February 1, although late applications will be accepted until February 29.

Those students from other universities must apply directly to the Ceiba Foundation, and should mail all materials to our Chicago office. All application materials are due by the second Friday of March. Please be advised that UW students not interested in obtaining credit for the course can apply directly to Ceiba and avoid the extra processing and credit fees charged by UW.

IMPORTANT: All 6 steps below must be completed before your application will be considered.

1) Download and read the Course Information Packet

The packet contains important details about the course, including prerequisites, schedule, topics for lectures and activities, what to bring, etc, etc. You should be familiar with this information before you apply!

2) Submit an Application Form
You may submit an online form, or download the application to complete and submit via postal mail. Please note that you still must mail in the application fee separately if you choose to apply electronically.
3) Submit a Student Recommendation Form
The recommendation form must be completed by a professor or employer, signed. Go to the recommendation section below to download the recommendation form, or email it directly to your reference! Your references should submit the form to CFTC directly via postal mail, email or fax.
4) Submit Undergraduate Transcripts
Please submit official transcripts from all undergraduate universities you have attended. Have transcript(s) sent to CFTC directly via postal mail.
5) Obtain and Submit a Letter of Health
To ensure that course participants are in good physical condition and are able to meet the requirements of a field course, it is necessary that your health be certified by a qualified physician. Have your doctor complete a physical examination of you within 1 months of the date of your application, and submit a signed letter to CFTC stating that you are in good physical condition and have no health problems that would prevent you from participating in this course. The letter may be submitted to CFTC by postal mail, fax, or email provided that it contains your doctor's original signature.
6) Send in your $50 Application Fee
The application fee is payable by check, money order or wire transfer and must be received by CFTC no later than the application deadline. Please make your check or money order payable to the Ceiba Foundation, and mail it to the address below. If you are accepted to and enroll in the course, your application fee will be discounted from the course tuition. If you are not accepted to the course, your application fee will be refunded to you upon notification. No refunds will be given if you are accepted to the course but do not enroll.
All application materials must be received prior to the deadline you select. Please send your application to:

Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation
Education Program
2319 North Cleveland
Chicago, IL 60614 U.S.A.
Fax: (773) 871-3798

Acceptance and Enrollment

Acceptances will be mailed to you within approximately two weeks of the deadline at which your application was received. If you are accepted to the course, your acceptance packet will include the following enrollment materials and instructions on how to enroll. You must confirm your enrollment in the course by submitting these materials.

1) Enrollment Form
2) Certificate of Insurance Coverage
3) Travel Itinerary Form
4) Liability Release Waiver
5) Tuition Payment

In the event that you cannot participate, your tuition is fully refundable up to 60 days before the course starts. A 50% refund will be granted if you decide you cannot participate 30-60 days before the course start date. No refunds will be given within 30 days of the course start date, or if a student is prevented from participating due to failure to provide the required documentation described herein. Exceptions to this refund policy will only be considered in the case of a documented emergency.
Scholarships

CFTC has received continuing financial support from several private donors to fund our scholarship program for Ecuadorian students. If you are an Ecuadorian student seeking a scholarship, you must follow a different application procedure. Please see the scholarships page for details.

Late Applications

Late applications may be accepted in special cases and only if you contact CFTC to ask for prior approval of an extension. The $50 application fee is non-refundable for late applications.

Tropical Ecology Field Course Application Form

Personal Information

First Name: Last Name:

Email Address:

Passport Number:

Date of Birth:  month   day   year

Place of Birth:

Sex: Male       Female

Are you a US citizen? Yes       No

If No, indicate citizenship:

Height:      Weight:

Marital status: Single       Married

Home Address

Address Line 1:

Address Line 2:

City:

State:       Zip or Postal Code:

Country:

Phone:       Fax:

Parent or Guardian Address (if different from above)

Address Line 1:

Address Line 2:

City:

State:       Zip or Postal Code:

Country:

Phone:       Fax:

Email:

Emergency Contact

Contact name:

Relationship:

Address:

City: State:

Zip: Country:

Daytime phone: Nighttime phone:

Email:

Academic/Employment References

Name of First Reference:

Relationship:

Company/Institution:

City:

State: Country:

Daytime phone:

Email:

Name of Second Reference:

Relationship:

Company/Institution:

City:

State: Country:

Daytime phone:

Email:

Medical Information

Describe any physical disabilities you have:
None

List any prescription drugs you take:
None

Describe any allergies you have:
None

Can you swim? Yes      No

Are you currently CPR certified? Yes       No

Are you a vegetarian? Yes       No

Physician

Name:

Phone:

Medical Insurance Provider

Company:

Policy Number:

Phone:

Academic History

For each academic institution, please give the following information:
(1) Institution name, city and state
(2) Number of years completed
(3) Final GPA
(4) Graduation date or expected date of graduation

High school:

College:

Other Institution(s):

List any Biology or Ecology classes you have had:

How much Spanish do you speak, and how or where did you learn?

Essay Questions

Explain why you want to take this course: what do you wish to gain
from your experience, and what do you hope to learn? (250 words max.)

Describe any other experience that is relevant to your participation
in the course. (250 words max.)

How might your participation contribute to the success of the course?
(250 words max.)

Submit Application
I certify that all information in this application is true and correct, and understand that my application will not be considered until all required materials have been received by CFTC (Is my application complete?). I further certify that I have read the course information packet in its entirety, and understand its contents.

Yes       No

Date submitted (MM/DD/YYYY): / /



Click “Submit Application” to send your application by email. Click “Reset” to clear your form. Click the "Back" button in your browser to return from the confirmation message you will see.

Student Recommendation Form

The recommendation form must be completed by one of your present or prior professors or employers, evaluating your academic and personal qualifications for the field course. The signed recommendation form must be mailed or faxed to CFTC (see address below) and received by the application deadline. You can obtain the recommendation form in two ways:
1) Download and print the complete course packet, which includes the recommendation form.
2) Download the recommendation form only (PDF), and send it to your reference:

Amazon to Andes Recommendation Form

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Is Your Application is Complete?

Your application is complete once we receive the following materials from you:

1. Application Form
2. Student Recommendation Form
3. Letter of Health
4. $50 application fee

If you have any questions, see instructions above or please email Ceiba

All materials must be received by Ceiba prior to the application deadline.

Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation
Education Program
2319 North Cleveland
Chicago, IL 60614 U.S.A.
Fax: (773) 871-3798

Download Information Packet & Application Forms

2008 Course Packet (531 kb)

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Application Form Only (220 kb)

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Thanks for your interest in CFTC's Tropical Ecology Field Courses!