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Ceiba Conservation Internships

Students are working together in the forest. Some are kneeling while others are standing. They are concentrated on their work on the ground.

This program is currently suspended. We will continue to evaluate circumstances for future durations.

Ecuador, Tabuga and Jama

Gain valuable hands-on field experience through a conservation internship with Ceiba. This program will immerse you in coastal communities and biodiverse ecosystems in Ecuador. Interns can choose from a variety of subjects: Wildlife Monitoring, Environmental Education and Teacher Training, Water Quality Community-Based Research, Coastal Conservation Corridor, Forest Dynamics Research, Agroforestry, Native Plant Garden, and Communications and Media.

Coastal Ecuador is known for its lush hills, villages, and expansive coastline. Internships are based at the Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve and the nearby communities of Tabuga, Camarones, and Jama, where Ceiba has been working on projects since 2004.

This internship is an opportunity for you to form working relationships with Ecuadorian organizations and communities, providing for a mutually-beneficial cultural exchange, the potential for acquiring useful job skills and improving your Spanish, and a chance to become familiar with environmental careers.

Examples of ongoing projects include: leading environmental education programming with rural school children and teachers, participating in community-based water quality monitoring, collecting population data on local species using camera traps, and helping communities establish sustainable economic enterprises including ecotourism and women's microenterprise development.

Prior to applying for the program, review the internship opportunities currently available with the Ceiba Foundation. This page also provides important instructions on working with Ceiba to select and set up your internship. You are encouraged to contact Ceiba with your first and second choices so they can help match your interests and skills with the internships available.

The Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation is a non-profit organization offering field courses taught by staff with over 25 years of experience in conservation. Ceiba's field courses provide quality education while taking you to some of the most remote and pristine ecosystems left on earth.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • 2.5 cumulative GPA
  • Language Prerequisite(s): Depends on internship position; minimum of 1 semester Spanish for most placements
  • Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree seeking students and all degree-seeking undergraduate students at a US college or university. Preference is given to UW-Madison students
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

Provider

Subjects

Biological & physical science, environmental studies

Classroom Language

English, Spanish

Housing

Housing varies depending on placement

Program Duration

Summer: Late May - Late July (8-week internship)

Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2026 - [Suspended] 3/6/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

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You will earn 6 credits for an 8-week internship after successful completion of the program. Your performance during your internship will be evaluated on the basis of overall participation and contribution to the project, quality of products produced (written or otherwise), a journal of daily activities and an oral presentation to be given at an internship symposium at the conclusion of your stay in Ecuador.

Some internship placements may have Spanish language requirements. Final placements will depend in part on a match between your language skills and interests, and the current priorities of the host organization. Prior to departure and once on-site, your internship will be coordinated and hosted by the Ceiba Foundation, and you will work on projects within Ceiba or one of its partner organizations.

You may be required to confirm your participation in this program prior to receiving your specific internship placement. The timeline for receiving your internship placement varies and some students in your program may hear earlier than others. It could be likely that you won't be informed of your placement until after you've arrived in country or right before departure. As with all study abroad experiences, flexibility and open-mindedness are key.

Program Web Pages

Ceiba Foundation Internships

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents