Overview
Gain first hand, on the ground experience of the phusical and cultural landscapes of Ecuador, an Andean country that may serve as a microcosm of much of Spanish-speaking South America. From the Amazon to the high Andes to the Pacific lowlands see the impacts of past history, present economic development, globalization and global climate change.

 

 

Activities

• Visit all three of Ecuador's physical regions: the Amazon Basin (oriente), Andes (Sierra), and Pacific Lowlands (Costa)
• Fly over the Western Andes into the Amazon Basin
• Canoe on the Rio Napo and walk through Tropical Rainforest
• Hike in Cloud Forests and above tree line
• Observe snow-capped volcanoes
• Bus from the Andean highlands down to the Pacific Coast
• Observe the "vertically" inherent in Andean societies and nature: see how climate, vegetation, and ways of life vary with elevation.
• See pre-Incan and Incan ruins
• Observe traditional agriculture and rural villages, including markets where native Andean crops are still bought and sold.
• Visit modern industrial agriculture producing crops for export
• Look for impacts of oil exploration and extraction
• Tour the Incan, Spanish, and modern capital city of Quinto
• Stand on the Equator
• Visit Cuenca, home of the Panama hat, and other settlements in the Andean Uplands (Altiplano)
• See how a remote village is tackling Ecuador's rampant problem of emigration
• Take part in ecotourism and judge its effectiveness in conserving Ecuador's extraordinary diversity of plants, animals and habitats
• Visit the port of Guayaquil and discuss economic changes related to globalization
• Meetin local inhabitants in each region

Objectives
Participants in the Institute will:

• Learn to distinguish different types of regions, both physical and cultural
• Recognize past and present impacts of humans on the natural environment
• Become able to analyze cultural landscapes in terms of the imprints of different cultures through time and by different technologies
• Record observations on maps and diagrams
• Become familiar with some impacts of global climate change
• Develop an understanding of current ecomonic and social issues in a developing country in South America
• Appreciate the natural and cultural diversity of part of South America
• Be able to describe some of the impacts of urbanization and the rural-to-urban migration in a developing country of South America
• Be able to describe some of the impacts of urbanization and the rural-to-urban migration in a developing country of South America
• Understand implications of widespread emigration to other countries
• Understand the interplay of economic development and conservation in ecotourism

Activities of the Institute will be aligned with appropriate Virginia Standards of Learning. A Virginia Geographic Alliance teacher consultant will be on staff to assist teachers in developing learning activities that incorporate Virginia Standards of Learning.

Participation
The institute can accommodate up to 15 participants. Application must on a form provided by the VGA. (Get it Here)

Eligibility-Participants must be Virginia teachers. Priority will be given to teachers of world geography, AP human geography, world history, world cultures, or the history and geography of Latin America. A few places are reserved for those who teach introductory level world regional or cultural geography at Virginia's 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education. Others will be accepted as space permits.

Requirements-An orientation meeting in May 2008 must be attended. Selected readings will be provided in advance of the trip. During the Institute participants are expected to engage in discussions with leaders and local guides, document their observations photographically, keep a daily journal of reflections on their explorations of different regions, and complete a set of observation exercises. A final illustrated report in a format of your choice must be submitted after returning to the US. Each participant is expected to develop instructional materials that will enhance the teaching of world regional geography and/or cultural geography and present these materials in formats that allow them to be distributed to nonparticipating teachers.

Please note: Strenuous activities, some at elevation will above 8000 feet are planned.

Credit- Continuing Education Units from Virginia Tech

Logistics- Travel is by plane, private bus/canoe, and on foot. Lodging will be in good hotels and lodges. Breakfasts, lunches, and most dinners are provided. The midday meal is the big meal of the day.

 

 

Cost
The Virginia Geographic Alliance will pay for:

• All transportation in Ecuador
• All lodging in Ecuador
• Most meals in Ecuador
• Admission to all sites

VGA will also reimburse participants for most of their airfare to and from Ecuador.

Personal Expenses-
Continuing Education Fee $500.00

In-Country expenses including some meals, beverages, gratuities, souvenirs, and personal items. est. $300.00

Travelers need valid passports. No visas are required of US citizens entering Ecuador.

• Applications for Summer Institure must be received by February 1, 2008.
• Date of receipt of application is a factor in selection

 

 

Institute Personnel
Leaders-

 

• Dr. Susan Woodward, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Radford University. Geography of South America, biogeography.
• Dr. Robert Morrill, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Virginia Tech. Geographic Education, field courses and study abroad.
• Dr. Bernd Kuennecke, Professor of Geography, Radford University. GIS and technical geography; historical and economic geography.

CONSULTANTS

• Rodrigo Paez, Serendip travel agency. Site selection and travel logistics in-country
• Dr. Olga Mayorga, Professor of Geography, Universidad Catolica del Ecuador. Geography of Ecuador.
• Teacher Consultant, Virginia Geographic Alliance. Participant in an earlierVGA Summer Institute; experience in developing materials at high school level.