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UPDATED INFORMATION:
WHAT IS AN EARTHWATCH EXPEDITION?
Earthwatch is the largest
environmental volunteer force in the
world. For 40 years, Earthwatch has
involved students worldwide in
scientific field research and education
to promote the understanding and
knowledge for a sustainable environment.
A student group on an Earthwatch
expedition has the opportunity to
conduct team-based research, gain
scientific knowledge and skills and
develop relationships with exceptional
mentors in the field of scientific
research. Students come back from
their Earthwatch experience having been
on the front lines of scientific
research and environmental
conservation. They’ve gone to learn,
understand, and help protect the world’s
most beautiful and threatened
ecosystems. They’ve been taking water
samples (not just pictures) and
collecting data (not just souvenirs).
After evaluating 155 organizations,
National Geographic Adventure has named
Earthwatch Number One in both
volunteerism and education.
Additionally, in 2011 Prince William
and Princess Catherine of England
selected Earthwatch as one of only a
handful of charities to which donations
were made in honor of their wedding.
Also,
read what the
travel giant Frommers has to say about
an Earthwatch expedition!
Advantages for Earthwatch volunteers?
Earthwatch expeditions
provide excellent experience for college
applications and valuable work skills
for resumes. Volunteers will gain field
experience with scientific research
experts. They will learn and apply
current techniques utilized in today’s
most ground breaking research efforts.
Students gain confidence, learn about
other cultures and environmental issues
as well as returning invigorated about
science after seeing how it applies in
the “real world.” If you are an IB
diploma candidate in the class of 2012
or 2013, this trip will provide you with
amazing opportunities for your CAS and
extended essay requirements.
WhAT IS THE RAINFOREST CANOPIES AND
WILDLIFE EXPEDITION?
During
the Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife
project, students will work
alongside a friendly and motivated
international team that includes expert
Ecuadorian and international scientists
and inspirational conservationists from
the local community.
There are a number of
parallel projects occurring, which will
address scientific and management
questions regarding both wildlife and
habitat. Earthwatch volunteers
will be involved in the following:
-
Canopy mammal,
reptile, and invertebrate survey:
Teams will set up, test, and collect
data from a range of innovative
canopy traps to survey small canopy
mammalian species, reptiles, and
invertebrates.
-
Camera trapping: Team
members will help set up a network
of pulley-based camera traps in the
canopy to survey the wildlife of the
treetops, which will provide the
first census of this habitat in
Ecuador. Most of the larger mammals
and many of the bird species that
form the focus of our work are
considered at risk of extinction by
the IUCN (International Union for
Conservation of Nature), so we
urgently need to gather information
on their status and the threats
facing them to determine whether the
current reserve network is capable
of sustaining populations in the
long term.
-
Ecosystems services
and degradation: In addition to
acting as carbon sinks forests also
play a vital role in the water cycle
through evapotransipration,
influencing local climate and
hydrology. We will be investigating
the influence of forest degradation
on rates of evapotranspiration from
the canopy.
WHEN
WILL WE TRAVEL?
The estimated date of
departure is June 18, 2012. We will
travel back to Seattle on or around June
30, 2012
WHERE WILL WE GO?
This Earthwatch project
is based in a protected forest northwest
of the Ecuadorian capital of Quito that
spans an altitude of 1,400 meters to
2,600 meters (4,590 to 8,530 feet). The
Santa Lucía Reserve, declared a
protected forest in 1988, covers an area
of 713 hectares of cloud forest,
protecting over 320 species of tropical
birds, thousands of plant species and an
estimated 45 species of mammals. Mammal
species registered at Santa Lucía
include four species of cat (jaguarundi,
ocelot, Andean cat, and puma),
coatimundis (raccoon-like mammals), and
spectacled bears. Native plants include
an amazing variety of orchids,
bromeliads, and other epiphytes that
reach their crowning glories in these
forests.
Santa Lucía is a
community-based organization formed by
local campesino families who manage
their own resources. Santa Lucía has
won a number of awards for ecotourism
and offers a model of what a
community-owned and community-run
organization can achieve in terms of
responsible tourism, conservation, and
development.
The base station at 1,900
meters has a pleasant daily temperature
in the mid to upper 20s (degrees
Celsius—upper 60s Fahrenheit), although
afternoons and evenings can be chilly as
the clouds envelop the mountain in the
late afternoon. We will be working in
the region in the drier season, from
June to August, although rainfall still
occurs on most days during this period.
WHO
CAN travel?
The nature of Earthwatch’s scientific
research expeditions requires small
groups. Our group will have a maximum
of 12 students and 2 chaperones.
Priority will be given to past and
current IB Biology 1 students, however
others are welcome to join as space
allows. The research staff is lead by a
primary investigator and 2 – 3 field
research staff. This is beneficial as
it enables students more direct
interaction with the scientists.
WHAT DOES THE EXPEDITION COST?
The expedition cost will be $3,375
per student assuming the group takes
advantage of early enrollment and has at
least 3 students sign up before June 15,
2011. This cost is 100% tax
deductible. Earthwatch is a
non-profit organization and is
classified by the US government as a
501(c)3 public charity. Therefore, the
entire cost of our expedition is tax
deductible for those paying taxes in the
US. The price of each expedition covers
food, accommodation, on-site travel,
emergency medical and medical evacuation
insurance,
carbon offsets, and all of
the various costs of field research
(field permits, equipment, etc.). In
the past, students with parents who work
for corporations that offer matching
gift donations have reduced the personal
expense to their family in half! For
example, Microsoft will match any
donation made to Earthwatch, so the
individual’s responsibility for the
expedition would be reduced to $1700.
HOW
DO I PAY?
$500 deposits are due
when you sing up. Since the expedition
size is limited to 12 students, students
who pay their deposits first will have
priority for the trip. The final
payment will be due by February 15,
2012.
NOTE REGARDING MICROSOFT CORPORATE
MATCHING PROGRAM
If you
work for Microsoft, then donations
to Earthwatch count towards the
corporate matching program. In
order to have our group benefit from
the matching donation, the Microsoft
employee pays and completes matching
gift documentation form (online from
Microsoft at
http://give
or print copy). Employee
chooses organization to which
matching gift is to be sent
(Earthwatch) and designates a GROUP
within Earthwatch for matching.
In the purpose line of the matching
gift form, you MUST say:
“For
use by Gretel von Bargen and
Skyline High School to be
applied towards their total
Earthwatch expedition
contribution.”
Technically, a Microsoft employee
can not send matching funds for a
specific individual (i.e. their own
kid), but can designate matching
funds for a volunteer group.
Earthwatch then certifies that the
employee has made a donation (via
internet or hard copy) and a
matching check is sent. At the
Earthwatch end, the money is applied
towards our whole group balance.
However, I can keep track of
donations and the balances owed by
individual students. Please
forward me the confirmation email
received from your matching gift
donation for my records.
Thanks!
WHAT
OTHER EXPENSES ARE THERE?
Airfare to the
destination is not included in
the expedition cost. You can estimate
that airfare will be around $1000 round
trip. Assuming that a student is only
traveling to the Ecuador for the
duration of the project and not adding
on additional travel, the airfare
can be fully tax deducted as well.
On the expedition, students may want
some spending money for souvenirs or
incidentals. Other costs may include
passports, airport taxes, vaccinations,
and the costs of any activity the group
may decide on for their recreational
day.
If
students cancel will they receive a
refund?
-
If a student cancels
outside of 120 days before the
project begins, the initial deposit
of $500 is non-refundable but can be
transferred to another student
without penalty.
-
If the cancellation
occurs 60 – 119 days before the
project begins, there is a $300 fee
to transfer to another student or
65% of the cost will be retained by
Earthwatch.
-
Within 59 day of the
project start date, the full payment
is non-refundable.
WHAT
IS THE TRIP Itinerary?
-
Day 1:
Meet team. Transfer and hike up to
the lodge at Santa Lucía Cloud
Forest Reserve. Evening social and
icebreaking activities.
-
Day 2:
Morning seminar providing overview
of project—fieldwork briefing and
commencement of fieldwork. Start of
evening discussion series and
workshops.
-
Days 3 – 5:
Carry out fieldwork. During
research days, expedition members
will be split into teams of 2–4
people to conduct different
activities. Activities will be
rotated to allow all volunteers to
participate in the variety of
projects available. Each group will
be accompanied by staff to ensure
questions are answered and quality
data are recorded. The aim for each
Earthwatch expedition is to carry
out mammal, bird, and habitat
surveys. The daily schedule may vary
depending largely on weather
conditions and immediate research
needs.
-
Day 6:
Recreational Day: Optional trip to
archaeological site of the Yumbo
civilization (Tulipe) or Mindo.
Please note that these trips are not
included in the costs of the
Earthwatch project so bring some
funds (about $40 US) to cover
transport, food, and entry.
Alternatively, we can relax at the
lodge or go bird-watching nearby.
There may be an opportunity to spend
the night in the forest, depending
on weather.
-
Days 7 – 10:
Same as days 3 to 5
-
Day 11:
Return trek and transfer to Quito.
WHAT
IS THE DAILY SCHEDULE AND TASKS?
What
type of accommodation is used?
Volunteers will stay at
the Santa Lucía lodge, which is
extremely comfortable and sleeps over 22
people in a mix of double and shared
single-gender rooms. Some rooms have
double and single beds and others have
bunk beds. Bedding is provided but it
is recommended that volunteers pack a
sleeping bag to ensure extra warmth when
cool, damp weather rolls in. Depending
on logistics, some volunteers may share
cabañas (4–5 per cabaña).
There are hot showers
with particularly spectacular views of
the forest. Visitors are asked to
conserve water and energy but showers
are always available.
The lodge has electricity
supplied by solar panels but must be
rationed; electricity is shut off
overnight. There is only a limited
supply of electricity and limited
outlets. Volunteers may use electricity
to recharge small equipment on a limited
basis but project equipment will be
first priority.
Be prepared to live in
the mountain forest for 11 days. You
will miss it afterwards!
What
will we have to eat?
No matter what you have
for to eat, after a full day in the
field, the food will taste like heaven!
Below are examples of the foods you
might expect in the field. Please bear
in mind that variety depends on
availability. This list is intended to
provide a general idea of food types,
but it is very important that volunteers
be flexible.
-
Breakfast: Home-made
bread, eggs, fruit juice and hot
drinks, granola with fruit salad,
bread and jam, pancakes with syrup
and fruit salad
-
Lunch: Soup followed
by rice and beans or lentils with
salad/vegetables
-
Dinner: Chicken,
potatoes and vegetables,
Llapingachos (potato and cheese
cakes), stew, pizza
-
Snacks/Other:
Popcorn, banana chips, etc.
-
Beverages: Black and
herbal teas, coffee, hot chocolate
-
Water: Drinking water
is always available (water has been
boiled and tested to be safe).
What
does Earthwatch do in the case of an
Emergency?
The emergency medical and
evacuation assistance provider for
Earthwatch is “On Call International”.
On Call is a 24 – hour international
operation which provides medical
assistance and evacuation, a 24 hour
nurse help line and other travel
assistance services such as lost baggage
and lost document assistance. Earthwatch
research staff has been specifically
trained with an emergency response plan
for all expeditions. If the matter is
serious, the parents are contacted as
soon as possible. The research
scientists are in touch with the
Earthwatch head office in Massachusetts.
How
do I contact my child while they are
traveling?
Earthwatch has staff on
call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to
contact should you need to reach your
child. All projects have some method of
communication during the expedition.
This may range from regular email and
phone communication to a satellite phone
for more remote expeditions.
There is cell phone
reception at the lodge so volunteers may
bring and use their own cell phones
during recreational time. Volunteers
will need to check with their carrier to
find out if their phone will work in
Ecuador and how much calls will cost.
Cell phone use is not permitted during
project activities. Unless volunteers
bring their own mobile telephones, they
should expect to be isolated for the
duration of fieldwork at the lodge.
Does
Earthwatch have rules and regulations
for student travelers?
Volunteers will be given
a copy of the Earthwatch Rules and
Regulations which is sent to each
student prior to departure. All
volunteers are required to sign a
liability form acknowledging they
understand and accept these rules as a
contract so everyone understands what
constitutes proper behavior while on the
expedition.
WHERE
CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
ANY
THING ELSE?
All daily fieldwork, once
at Santa Lucía, does involve trekking
within the reserve, so good walking legs
are an essential requisite. There is a
hike to Santa Lucía at the start of the
expedition, with a two-hour ascent on
well maintained switchback trails before
arriving at the lodge. Volunteers are
not expected to carry luggage, as mules
will transport all equipment up to the
lodge.
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