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How to Set Up Your Internship     Documents & Forms   Internship Opportunities    

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TCS Students! Enjoy our new & improved internships page
with new opportunities listed!

		How to Set Up Your Internship
1. Read the Conservation Internship Guidelines so you know what is required to obtain credit for your internship.
2. Search the Internship Opportunities for internships that interest you, and select at least a FIRST and SECOND choice. Evaluations from prior interns are available upon request from Ceiba.
	- If you are a Tropical Conservation Semester student, you may select from the full list of internship opportunities below.
	- If you are on the 8-week Summer Conservation Internships program, you may only apply for internships with the Ceiba Foundation on this list.
3. Contact the organizations you are interested in working with to make sure the opportunity is in fact available for the dates you need. We recommend you also send them the "Letter of Introduction" from Ceiba in Spanish that explains the program you are applying through.
	- IMPORTANT: While we try to keep opportunities updated, organizations may change activities or projects or add new projects without notifying us. Therefore, it is incumbent on each student to specifically request updated information about current projects and activities. It is up to you to understand exactly what your duties will be before you commit to an internship. Once an internship has begun, it is very problematic to depart and start again with another organization, so do your homework, establish detailed communication with your future supervisor, and you will ensure yourself an enjoyable experience!
4. Fill out Part I of the "Internship Agreement" form and send it to the contact person for your 1st choice internship, asking them to fill out Part II of the form, sign it and return it to you. You must turn in a signed internship agreement form before Ceiba will issue a final acceptance for your internship!
5. Submit the signed agreement form to the Ceiba internship program coordinator. If you are applying through UW-Madison for a summer internship, this form is required by the application deadline.

Internship Documents and Forms

Conservation Internship Guidelines (includes all forms below - PDF)
Carta de Introducción (Letter of Introduction to organization)
Internship Agreement - Fillable Form between Student and Supervisor (Acuerdo Estudiante y Supervisor)
Evaluation of Student by Supervisor -Fillable Form (Evaluación del Estudiante)
Evaluation of Organization by Student - Fillable Form

Internship Opportunities with the Ceiba Foundation

LALO LOOR DRY FOREST RESERVE

The Lalo Loor Dry Forest protects a rare remnant of highly threatened coastal forest. Located in western Ecuador, the reserve boasts a unique mixture of wet and dry forest elements, from cactus to palm trees, as well as superb wildlife including two types of monkeys and several endangered bird species. The reserve is managed by the Ceiba Foundation in partnership with the landowner, Sr. Lalo Loor. Broader programs based out of the reserve include community development and environmental education programs in the nearby towns of Tabuga and Camarones.

The following internships are currently available. Click on one for more information or see all of them here:

Avian Diversity Research	Howler Monkey Research
Women's Microenterprise Project	Native & Medicinal Plants Garden
Community Library	Reforestation & Forest Dynamics Research
Coastal Ecotourism	Science Education and Outreach
Environmental Education	Trail Construction & Mapping
Water Quality Monitoring

 

Internship Opportunities with Other Organizations
(TCS students only)

Alandaluz & Canta La Piedra - learn about and assist in projects on ecotourism and environmental education at these locally-run ecotourism lodges and forest reserve. Interns typically spend time at both sites, so be clear about your preferences. Near Puerto Lopez (Manabi province), coastal and near-coast moist forest. (see info sheet)

AmaZoonico & Selva Viva - wildlife rehabilitation center, forest protection patrols. Tena (Napo Province), in eastern lowlands. (see info sheet)

Aves y Conservacion (BirdLife International) - an international bird conservation organization conducting bird research in a variety of habitats (including cloud forest, and coastal wetlands), particularly for threatened species. Various sites in Ecuador, but projects are not always active. (see info sheet)

Charles Darwin Foundation - A research and conservation organization working in Galapagos Islands. Requires a 2-3 month commitment for most projects, but check with them. Working at CDF, while an amazing opportunity, costs substantially more than other internships. You must be prepared to pay the additional costs associated with this internship. Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands.

EcoDess - A collaborative, long-term research project between USFQ, University of Michigan and other entities investigating links between land use and human disease in Esmeraldas province, Ecuador. (see info sheet)

Equilibrio Azul - An Ecuadorian marine conservation organization doing shark fishery monitoring, sea turtle monitoring, environmental education and coral reef restoration. Puerto Lopez (Manabi province), coastal. (see info sheet)

Fundacion Cordillera Tropical - An Ecuadorian NGO that works to protect biodiversity and foster sustainable resource use in páramos and montane forests in and around the buffer zone of the Sangay National Park. NOT AVAILABLE SPRING 2012

La Hesperia - A working farm with a cloud forest reserve.  Volunteers work on forest protection and restoration, demonstration organic farm, biological inventories, environmental education. La Esperie (Pichincha province), montane & cloud forest. (see info sheet)

Las Orquideas Orchid & Botanical Garden - A locally run reserve for the conservation of native orchids. Orchid care, environmental education, botanical research, translation, guiding visitors. Puyo (Pastaza province), Eastern lowland rainforest. (see info sheet)

Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Conservation - An Ecuadorian NGO that manages a large cloud forest reserve in NW Ecuador and has several ongoing projects for volunteers and interns.

Merazonia Wildlife Rescue Center - a new wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center working with Ecuador's environment ministry to help trafficked and abused Amazonian animals. Located in Mera, a lowland rainforest environment. (see info sheet)

Nazca Institute - An Ecuadorian organization dedicated to marine conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Manage the Punta Galera Marine Reserve in Esmeraldas province. (see info sheet)

Quito Botanical Garden - Ecuador's world class botanical garden. Learn care and maintenance of tropical plants and exhibits, and plant-based tourism and education. Quito (Pichincha province).  (see info sheet). Contact: Monica Navarro, navarrorum@panchonet.net

Quito Vivarium - A live animal exhibit facility in Quito. Management of captive reptiles and amphibians, guiding and exhibit development. Quito (Pichincha province). (see info sheet)

Reserva Las Gralarias - A montane forest with many ongoing research and environmental education projects. Potential opportunities to assist in research of herps, birds and plants. Near Mindo.

Rio Muchacho Organic Farm - A working organic farm. Learn permaculture and organic farming techniques, demonstrate techniques to visitors, environmental education, recycling program. Near Canoa (Manabi Province), rural farm & forest. (see info sheet and organization FAQ)

Third Millennium Alliance - A small conservation organization based in Manabi province, above the village of Camarones, near the Lalo Loor Dry Forest reserve. Forest conservation, demonstration agriculture, community development and environmental education projects. (see info sheet)

Tucanopy - A new cloud forest reserve (100 ha) an hour from Quito where canopy ziplines provide visitors with a fun adventure and the reserve with revenue. Various projects in habitat restoration and environmental education. Volunteers maintain nurseries and organic coffee plots, assist reforestation, and engage in environmental education at local schools. (see volunteer webpage).

Yanayacu Biological Station - A research station on the lower montane forests of the eastern slopes of the Andes. Conduct independent research, assist in ongoing research, build trails, maintain field station.  (see info sheet).