Where am I going:

I will be traveling for a short study abroad trip to South America. My first stop will be the capital city of Ecuador, Quito. While in Quito, we will be exploring the city and visiting significant historical and geographical locations such as the International University of Ecuador (UIDE), Middle of the World, Intiñan Museum, the Historic Center of Quito, and Plaza Grande. Later, we will spend a few days in El Coca, which is in the Amazon Rainforest. Here, we will get to explore the jungle and learn about the biodiversity of the Amazonian ecosystem.

Finally, for the last 3 days, and the part that I am most excited about, our group will be taking a plane to the Galapagos Islands. While on the islands, we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the conservation programs they are working on. There will be an afternoon of snorkeling to see the many tropical fish and marine wildlife around the Galapagos. We will also visit a ranch in the highlands on Santa Cruz Island, where we will get to see dozens of giant tortoises in their native habitat. Finally, before we leave the islands, we will visit the Darwin Eco Farm. Here, they are working on sustainable agriculture projects, organic farming, and agroecology.

How this benefits my studies:

By participating in this trip, I will earn college credit. As an online student, I don’t get to make the personal connections one would make while attending in-person classes. This will allow me to network with students from around the country with similar majors and interests. I also get to meet 2 of my instructors in person.

How donations will help me:

Your donations will help pay the remainder of program costs not covered by my scholarship. They will also go toward plane tickets and tourist fees Ecuador and the Galapagos have. Finally, all other expenses that are not included in my program, such as meals while abroad and the pre-trip medical expenses such as vaccines needed to travel in South America.