Summer Courses Enrollment Instructions and Materials
Enrollment Deadline: April 8, 2013
Congratulations on your acceptance to your Ceiba summer program in Ecuador! We are pleased to have your participation in this exciting learning adventure! Completing your enrollment takes just a few simple steps. Please submit the first two items (*) below before the enrollment deadline, to confirm your space in the program:
*1. Download and complete the Enrollment Form, and email to Ceiba.
*2. Download and sign the Liability Release Waiver, and mail the original to Ceiba (postmarked by the enrollment deadline):Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation
1202 Williamson St., Lower Level
Madison, WI 537033. If obtaining UW-Madison credit, complete University of Wisconsin International Academic Programs enrollment requirements
4. Check that your Passport is valid, or apply for one immediately.
5. Read the Course Information Packet for your program.
6. Read the Frequently Asked Questions about traveling to Ecuador, prior to your departure.
7. Obtain a Yellow Fever Vaccination (Andes to Amazon participants only)
8. Submit your Travel Itinerary - not later than May 1
9. Pay your Program Tuition.
10. Consult these helpful travel websites for more information about your trip to Ecuador.
Enrollment Form for Ecuador Summer Programs
Please download the Summer Program Enrollment Form (you will need Acrobat Reader to open the form, available free from Adobe). The form contains information necessary to prepare sites and staff in Ecuador for your visit, such as diet preferences, contact information and medical concerns. Please fill out all the fields, save the completed file and email to Ceiba. If you cannot fill in the fields inside a browser window, open the file separately in Acrobat. If you have any difficulties with the file, please let us know.
Complete University of Wisconsin Enrollment Requirements
Your Ecuador course is hosted and instructed by the Ceiba Foundation. However, you will be enrolled as a University of Wisconsin student (if you are not one already) while participating in the program. UW provides provides the academic transcript for your study abroad experience. In addition to enrolling through Ceiba, there are a few steps you must complete through UW's office of International Academic Programs (IAP). You will receive an acceptance email from IAP, that will include additional steps to confirm your participation through your MyStudyAbroad (MySA) account. The email provides instructions on logging in to your MySA account to complete IAP's enrollment requirements.
Passport
You must have a valid passport to travel to Ecuador, and it must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival. If you do not have a passport, apply for one immediately. It can take up to 6 weeks to obtain a passport, and you cannot apply for a visa until you have one. Passport applications can be completed at most large US Post Offices or State Department offices. For more information visit the U.S. State Department passport website. As soon as you receive your passport, please submit your passport number to Ceiba via email.
Course Information Packet
Course Packets
Select the packet for your summer program from the list below. Each packet includes detailed information on course logistics, including travel dates, sites visited, and planned activities. It also provide lecture topics, a list of required textbooks, and all required and recommended gear for your program.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I arrive in Ecuador? What if my plane is early or late? What are the accommodations like during the program? Should I bring a laptop or cell phone? What kind of money do they use? The answers to these and many more are provided in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for all summer courses. Many responses were contributed by former students, to ensure they adequately and accurately address your concerns.
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Only participants in the Tropical Ecosystems: Andes to Amazon program need a valid yellow fever vaccination. Proof of vaccination is a requirement for travel to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon. During the trip you will be asked to present proof of vaccination (typically in the form of a standard "Yellow Book" immunization record, which you should ask your physician to complete when you are vaccinated). The vaccination is a simple shot that can be obtained from most health clinics, personal physicians or travel clinics. Vaccinations are valid 10 days after being administered, and are good for a period of 10 years. Please note that contracting yellow fever is not a risk at the Tiputini station; however, proof of vaccination is a strict requirement for entry to the Yasuni area, and no exceptions will be made. For additional information on travelers' health please consult the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) .
Travel Itinerary
We recommend you purchase your ticket to Ecuador as soon as possible so that you get the best available fare and seat. Your itinerary should be sent to us no later than May 1. Please submit your Travel Itinerary Form through UW International Academic Programs. Because we use this information to schedule your airport pickup, however, you must notify Ceiba of any changes to this itinerary prior to your departure. See the FAQ that was sent with your acceptance letter for more details on arriving in Ecuador.
Tuition
Program Tuition
If you are applying through the University of Wisconsin's Office of International Programs, you will receive a bill from the UW Bursar for the program tuition plus administrative fees; if you are not a UW student you may receive this bill directly from your home institution: U.S. and Canadian participants should contact the UW study abroad office with any questions on tuition payment. Participants from outside the U.S. and Canada should contact Ceiba for tuition payment instructions.
Travel Websites
Before traveling to Ecuador, you may wish to consult some of the following websites. Several are Ceiba's project-specific websites that provide more detail on the history and goals of our reserves. Others are governmental or news sites that provide country facts, advice regarding travel medications, US government travel recommendations, and more.
Ceiba Foundation’s Lalo Loor Dry Forest reserve
http://www.ceiba.org/loor.htm
Ceiba Foundation’s El Pahuma Orchid Reserve
http://www.ceiba.org/elpahuma.htm
Ceiba on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CeibaFoundation
BBC News Country Profile – Ecuador
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1212882.stm
Center for Disease Control – Health Information for Travelers
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/ecuador.htm
Ecuador Information - Ministry of Tourism (Spanish)
http://www.turismo.gob.ec
U.S. Embassy in Quito
http://ecuador.usembassy.gov/
U.S. Department of State Consular Information Sheet
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1106.html
U.S. Passport Application Website
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
If you have any questions as you complete the enrollment and pre-departure process, please contact Ceiba or the International Academic Programs office of the University of Wisconsin.
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