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Botanical Eco-Lodge Reserve

Placement number:  0039
Location: Ecuador 
Preferred Languages: Must be conversational in Spanish, limited English spoken 
Date: All Year
Minimum Period: 6 months

Be part of our Eco-Adventure team in the Andes Mountains, located 17 minutes from Quito Airport at our 200 acre natural Botanical Reserve in the Pichincha Foothills. Study the history of the Last Inca Emperor's Trail and learn firsthand about the country that has been called "an Ecological Miracle" by leading scientists and explorers for generations. This is a unique opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on experience, working within the international eco-adventure community, share stories and possibly even make friends with eco-travelers from around the world!

We believe that having Ecuadorian and international students is a mutually beneficial experience and an integral part of our success! We want you to enjoy Ecuador and we enjoy learning from the skills and experiences that our students have to offer.

Role of Volunteer

We are looking for Volunteers and Student Interns that are creative, outgoing, rugged (able to adapt quickly to new situations and deal with minor inconveniences and surprises), resourceful and independent with an interest or experience in ecotourism, conservation, nature, biology, bird watching, ecology, hotel management services and international marketing.  We ask for 6  month minimum commitment for our internship programs. 

Ideally a 12 month internship would work out great.

Types of Volunteer Work available:

·          Reforestation work - Planting native trees and plants, removing non-native plants

·          Maintenance work - Helping improve through maintenance of trails, and the physical grounds, repainting, gardening, or minor construction of doors, steps, birdfeeders, etc.

·          Hotel management training & tourism activities; hosting, restaurant, kitchen, housekeeping, grounds

·          Research projects - both our research projects and individual research projects you may have yourself or through a university professor. Some research projects may need authorization through the ministry of the Environment in Ecuador (examples include helping identify bird species, and cataloguing the native plants and trees)

·          Assisting with Reception Office, general administration

·          Assisting with the hospitality of the guests

·          Helping guide guests in cultural, natural and historical tours - a good way to work on your English and Spanish

·          Practice worldwide internet marketing & sales; enabling future sales positions

·          Assisting in teaching the local staff English

·          Organic vegetable gardening; planting, weeding, cultivating, composting

·          Helping to develop and implement eco-tourism improvements and other conservation related projects

·          Helping to develop and implement process and efficiency improvements  

·          Any other ideas you may have! Projects can be developed with the skills of the student and the amount of time they can contribute

 

Credit Towards Your Degree if a Student Volunteer
We will work in alliance with your college or university to determine applicable college credit for your time with us.

 

Requirements for Program
Excellent computer skills with Word and Excel; some website experience helpful, must like the outdoors and have a team sprit; Conversational Spanish required with basic writing skills, organic gardening experience a plus, *proven proficiency in specialized field applicable our work is required for special projects

·          We do not have a large internship program, so volunteers should expect to work with a small number of others, or independently, depending on the time of year  

 

Cost

Us$20 per week.

Included

·          Accommodations are provided in either a small dormitory style building or in private rooms depending on room availability. All rooms have private baths and hot water. Linens, towels, soap and bottled water are also provided.

·          3 Meals a day are provided; a vegetarian menu is also available

·          1 free day each week (unless it is high season or extremely busy – then free day is accumulated).  2 free days also given at the end of each month limited internet access, some rides, and a few tours with guests

 

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