Frequent Questions
What programs do you offer and when do they take place?
January – April Baja California Whale Ecology Program
March – July Costa Rica Sea Turtle Ecology Program
March – July Galapagos Islands Ecology Program
June – August Greater Yellowstone Ecology Program
Oct – Dec & February – May Baja California Island Ecology Program
I’m a teacher! Where does this deposit money come from?
- Students. Students can submit their applications and enrollment deposits to you. Send them in as soon as you’ve got the $500 or $1000 deposit, and EPI will reserve your group’s space. We can provide a sample invitation letter if you’d like to invite specific students.
- School. Reserving early guarantees a desirable course date that can be advertised to prospective students. EPI will refund the deposit to the school once applications are received.
- You. If you cover the deposit you will guarantee that you get the exact course date that works for you. EPI will refund your deposit once applications are received.
When should a school sign up?
Reserve Early! Many courses are reserved before the previous school year finishes. $500 reserves 10 spaces; $1,000 reserves maximum group size (varies from 16 to 20)
What’s the maximum group size?
The maximum group size depends on the course:
Baja – Islands: 16 participants
Baja – Whales: 10 participants
Costa Rica: 20 participants
Galapagos: 14 participants
Montana: 16 participants
Where does the program take place?
Students fly in and out of the capital city of San Jose, and then transfer by chartered bus to the Atlantic slope. The majority of time is spent at the Pacuare Nature reserve, located north of the town of Limon on the Caribbean coast. Additionally, students visit local communities and other rainforest preserves.
What are the accommodations like in Costa Rica?
On arrival and departure participants stay at a hotel outside the capital city of San Jose. For the remainder of the course, participants stay in rustic, dormitory style cabins that are single-gender.
What if I’ve never been rafting? Will I be OK?
Yes. EPI hires Explornatura, an award-winning outfitter, to lead the rafting trips on the Pacuare River. All participants are required to wear personal flotation devices and helmets. No prior rafting experience is necessary. If you group would like an alternative to rafting, contact our office as we can provide other rewarding opportunities. If a participant does not want to raft they are not required to do so.
Is there running water and electricity?
There is running water at all locations, but not hot water. There is no electricity at the Pacuare Nature Reserve.
What if I have fewer than the minimum students interested? Can we still go?
Yes, you can. We’ve got several options: run a smaller course, combine you with another group, and reach out to other students in your community.
What are the teacher costs?
9 students – one chaperone goes for $100
Full group (i.e. maximum number of participants) – second chaperone goes for $100
At different times of the year we offer early-enrollment or new school sign-ups programs that allow teachers to participate for free. To learn more about these opportunities, contact our office.
What shots or immunizations are required?
No shots or immunizations are required for ANY of our programs. We do recommend that all participants are current with Hepatitis A and Tetanus.
What does EPI do to keep students safe?
Student safety is EPI’s number one priority and we take risk management very seriously. Our instructors are trained in wilderness first aid and we have at least one Wilderness First Responder on every course. We have a detailed emergency action plan and communication protocol for situations that require immediate attention. Additionally, we maintain a 24-hour emergency cell phone in the US in the event something needs to be communicated from the field to the US or vice-versa. Please contact our office with specific questions.
Does a physician have to sign the EPI medical form, or can we submit a different form signed by a doctor?
We require that all participants have a physical examination at least one year prior to their course, and we ask that they submit the EPI medical history form signed by an M.D. If a student has had another physical for other reasons (sports, etc.) within one year, we do not require an additional physical but we do require a physician’s signature on our form.
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes! In locations where it’s necessary, EPI provides purified water to participants at all times on-course.
Do I have to be part of a pre-established group to participate?
No. In addition to group enrollment, many courses are ‘open enrollment’. Individuals are welcome to join any open enrollment course.
Can individuals from outside the US participate?
Yes. We welcome students from any country in the world, and we’ve had participants from the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, South Korea, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United Kingdom, and more!
Does EPI offer financial aid or scholarships?
Yes. We offer need-based financial aid and scholarships each year to our US participants in addition to the awards we offer our local students in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Mexico. The deadline for financial aid is in late October. Please conact our office if you’d like a financial aid application.
Will I be able to check e-mail and use the internet while I am on-course?
No. EPI maintains an ‘unplugged’ policy at all time on-course, in part to help ensure that students maximize their time away from home (and away from cell phones, computers, and Ipods), and to minimize the chance of damaged and/ or lost electronic equipment. Participants are encouraged to bring cameras and take as many pictures as appropriate. If students wish to bring Ipods or similar devices to use on airplanes, they are welcome to do so. EPI instructors will collect the devices on-arrival to the host country and return them to students at the end of the course.
What kind of insurance does EPI carry?
Ecology Project International carries an International Commercial Insurance Policy. The $1,000,000 international liability policy covers our participants who are traveling outside of the US; the coverage is valid anywhere in the world.
Where does the program take place?
Students fly in and out of the capital city of Quito, Ecuador, where they spend one night on arrival and departure. Participants then fly to the Galapagos where they visit various islands, spend time on land and in the water, and experience remote and populated areas. During four days/ three nights of the course, students will live aboard a yacht while exploring different islands within the archipelago.
Do participants prepare their own meals?
No. EPI hires local cooks to prepare meals during all international courses. Occasionally breakfast will be served buffet style. The only exception is the Montana/ Yellowstone course in which students help out with meals preparation.
Do we camp in tents during this program?
Yes. Participants spend time in hotels, hostels, on a live-aboard yacht, plus a few nights in tents.
Do people live in the Galapagos?
Yes. Over thirty thousand people live in Galapagos, distributed among the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal, Floreana, and Baltra. On-course you will have the chance to visit different towns and interact with lots of locals.
Where does the program take place?
Students arrive and depart from our campus in La Paz, Baja California Sur, located three hours north of Cabo San Lucas. The majority of the program takes place on Espiritu Santo, a protected, uninhabited island a short boat ride from La Paz. Additionally, students visit the Sierra de La Laguna mountain range south.
I am scuba-certified. Will I have the chance to scuba dive while on course?
No, but you will have the opportunity to snorkel at various locations throughout the archipelago. As one expert diver said, “My best day of scuba diving was snorkeling in the Galapagos!”
How do we get to the islands?
Participants fly on commercial airplanes from Quito to the island of Baltra. The flight takes approximately three hours, including a short stop in the coastal city of Guayaquil. This flight is part of your all-inclusive tuition.
Do we get to pet the whales?
No, but we do get very close to them, close enough to take incredible pictures and record unique markings that allow scientists to identify specific individuals within a population.
Are we guaranteed to see whales?
As with all wild animals, there is no guarantee that they will be where you want them to be at just the right moment. That being said, groups in the past have seen blue, humpback, fin, Bryde’s, sperm, and killer whales in addition to a variety of dolphin species, plus much more.
Where does the program take place?
The majority of the program takes place in the Sea of Cortez, traveling between the cities of La Paz and Loreto. Each program’s itinerary varies depending on whale activity.
Do we need wetsuits?
If they are necessary, EPI will provide wetsuits. Typically, the water is warm enough that we don’t need them. During winter and spring courses participants will have access to wetsuits if they want them.
How much time do we spend on the boat?
The typical course consists of five days of boat travel and research with the majority of nights spent camping on remote beaches.
Where does the program take place?
Students arrive and depart from Bozeman, Montana. The majority of the course takes place in and around Yellowstone National Park. Some groups have the option of visiting Grand Teton National Park as well. Depending on the research our partners are conducting, groups might also travel to the Red Rocks Wildlife Refuge or the Madison Valley.
What is the weather like in Montana in the summer?
Generally, the weather can be very pleasant, with hot temperatures during the day and colder temperatures at night. The weather can be unpredictable: snow is possible any month of the year, but July and August can also be hot. As they say, “If you don’t like the weather in Montana, wait five minutes!”
What are the accommodations like?
Participants sleep in simple cabins on arrival and departure. The remaining nights are spent in tents camping in and around Yellowstone National Park. Occasionally, EPI groups will sleep at a ranch or conservation center.
What if we want a custom itinerary?
We have ample flexibility in terms of the length and content of our courses. If you have a special request, please let us know and we will do everything possible to accommodate your request.
How long are the patrols?
Every night while at the Pacuare Nature Reserve, students go out to patrol the beach. They walk about 6 miles, which is around 4-5 hours of patrol to look for turtles nesting. The students will be divided in 3 different patrols to be on the beach the all night and make sure we work with as many turtles as possible.
Will we have time to buy souvenirs?
During the program we have tight itineraries to follow that include traveling from one place to another in order to finish our activities at each site. If we have time we’ll stop by a supermarket or shop to buy souvenirs to bring back home.
Can we charge our camera batteries in the Galapagos?
Yes! You will be able to recharge any batteries at different points on-course, including at the hostels, at the reserve in the highlands, as well as on the yacht (for groups participating in the yacht version of the course).
Do I need to bring any first aid supplies?
No. EPI provides all necessary first aid supplies. Our instructors travel with comprehensive first aid kits at all times while on-course and participants do not need to bring any additional supplies.
Where do we stay during the island exploration part of the course?
Participants stay at a bed and breakfast in the charming town of Puerto Ayora. Each day you’ll get on a different boat and head out to one of the islands in the archipelago to snorkel, hike, and explore. You’ll return to town each night for dinner and time to reflect about all the amazing wildlife you’ve seen.
Is there adult supervision 24/7?
Yes! At least one (usually two) of our staff members will be with students at all times while on-course from the time the group exits security at the airport to the time they enter security at the airport on departure, including all points in-between.
How can I contact my child while they are on course?
If you need to communicate something to your son or daughter while they are in the field, call our office at 406.721.8784. Our staff is in the best position to know the fastest way to contact the group when they are in the field. Calls placed after-hours will be transferred to our 24-hour emergency cell phone.
How many students do you take on one course?
Course size depends on location. On average, we have 11 – 14 students per course plus one to two chaperones and two EPI instructors.
Costa Rica Sea Turtle Ecology: 20 participants
Galapagos Islands Ecology Program: 14 participants
Baja Island Ecology: 16 participants
Baja Whale Ecology: 10 participants
Montana Wildlife Ecology Program: 15 participants
Will EPI staff fly with the group?
No. The only time our staff is not with the group is during the airline travel prior to and after the field course. Teacher-chaperones travel with the group at that time and on-arrival our staff meets the group at the airport.
Who are your instructors?
Our instructors are some of the most talented and interesting people you’ll have the chance to meet. They all have experience in field science, education, outdoor leadership, first aid, international travel, and for all international programs they are bilingual. For more information, read their biographies on our staff page.
Can I receive academic credit for participating in an EPI program?
During your course you will conduct research and carry out service-learning projects, all of which are worth academic credit at your school.
Before your course, we’ll work with your teachers and administrators to figure out the best way for you to get credit through your school based on the length of your course and the projects you’ll complete.
If you are a high school student interested in getting college credit for your course, ask your teacher to contact our office. When possible, we’ll work together to create a plan for you and your classmates to participate in one of our courses AND earn college credit at the same time. Call our office today for more details.
In addition, for some students the service-learning component of our courses is as important for graduation as credit-hours. Each of our programs provides verification of completion along with corresponding service hours.