Ecuadorian Political Ecology

From CFI

Contact us for course application and registration information.

Cloud Forest Institute and Amazon MycoRenewel Project 2008 Summer Service Learning Course

Ecuadorian Political Ecology, Oil Pollution, and Mycoremediation

Adventures in Education

Dates: June 10th - 30th, July 8th - 29th, August 5th - 26th

Course Description Cloud Forest Institute has been networking, teaching, and conserving forest in Ecuador for over 10 years. CFI provides in-country logistical administration and fully qualified bilingual instruction for groups of five to fifteen students. Whenever possible students may choose to stay in safe, comfortable, boarding with local families. While at bioreserves eco-tourism style boarding varies from basic accommodations to almost luxurious. Otherwise students are lodged at international hostels recommended by trusted travel guides and approved by our staff.

A Country Study: Introduction to Ecuadorian Culture, History and Ecology We begin in colonial Quito and spend the first few days learning about Ecuador's history and culture, including do's and taboo's and the importance of respectful behavior while in a foreign country. Students then travel to Mindo where they experience world class cloud forest while learning about Ecuador's incredibly diverse ecology, the many native groups and their varied ways of life as they have existed historically and in the modern era. Students will also learn about current political and economic trends, issues and events.

Peak Oil Issues – Production: Destruction of Ecology, Community and Traditional Ways of Life Students will next travel to the hot springs of Papallacta where they will begin a “toxic tour” to Lago Agrio. Stops along the way introduce students to affected communities and visit toxic sites abandoned by the oil industry. Students will travel 4 -5 hours in car stopping throughout to visit a variety of toxic sites including, pipeline ruptures, abandoned wells, and communities located near active wells. We will stop mid afternoon at comfortable eco-lodges en route where participants will be able to bathe, relax and recuperate in intact nature while processing the days activities. This sections learning will be an in depth case study on the economic and socio political legacy of 30 years of Petroleum Production.

Field Study: Mycorenewel of Toxic Sites in the Amazon Students will next arrive in Lago Agrio for Service Learning with the Amazon Mycorenewel Project. This mycoremediation course will run in conjunction with community workshops training locals to utilize mycorenewal techniques to clean toxic petroleum pollution. Instruction is science based and includes a laboratory component. This section ends with a foray into Amazon wilderness to observe and compare intact Amazonian ecology. The journey is over and students travel back to Quito to return home or extend their travels independently.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Quito, evening introductions.

Day 2 - Morning welcome and orientation, afternoon cultural tour through colonial Quito, evening talk: A Peoples History of Ecuador.

Day 3 - Morning Teleferico and museums, afternoon Spanish lessons, evening talk: Democratic Participation of Indigenous Movements.

Day 4 - Morning Spanish lessons, picnic lunch at Botanical Park, afternoon free to explore Quito.

Day 5 - Morning travel to Mindo, afternoon explore town, evening talk: Biology of the Cloud Forest.

Day 6 - Morning birdwatching, afternoon Spanish lessons, evening talk: Threats to the Cloud Forest.

Day 7 - Morning river rafting, afternoon Spanish lessons, evening talk: Conservation of the Cloud Forest.

Day 8 - Morning trips to butterfly farm and orchid park, afternoon Spanish lesson, evening night hike in the forest.

Day 9 - Leave Mindo, spend day at AMP mushroom labs doing first part of mycoremediation workshop.

Day 10 – Finish at AMP labs in the morning leave to hot springs at Papallacta for the night. Begin Toxic Tour, discussing the petroleum industry throughout the day.

Day 11 – Toxic Tour from Papallacta, stopping at significant sites en route to Baeza.

Day 12 - Toxic Tour from Baeza to Lago Agrio.

Day 13 – SL Mycoremediation Project with Santa Cruz Community.

Day 14 – SL Mycoremediation Project with Santa Cruz Community.

Day 15 - SL Mycoremediation Project with Santa Cruz Community.

Day 16 – Enter jungle.

Day 17 - In jungle hiking, learning and sharing with amazon natives.

Day 18 - In jungle hiking, learning and sharing with amazon natives.

Day 19 - In jungle hiking, learning and sharing with amazon natives.

Day 20 - In jungle hiking, learning and sharing with amazon natives.

Day 21- Leave jungle and fly back to Quito.

Add on alternatives

Extra week of Spanish Instruction in quito before course begins. $500 covers room and board and language instruction.

Second week of Myco Workshops through Day 21, then visit the indigenous community Days 22 – 29, $1000 additional.

Extended stay with the Indigenous community from Day 19 through Day 29, $1000 additional.

Participate in the Toxic Tour and Service Learning Mycorenewal portion of the program only, at a cost of $2000.

Back to Amazon Mycorenewal Project