Requirements and Training
Rainforest Expedition in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Skills Required

Expedition members must be aware that because of the remoteness of the expedition site, transport is by motorized dugout canoe. All volunteers must be strong swimmers who are able to swim 300m. Knowing Spanish is not essential for this expedition, but participants will benefit much more by knowing some basic phrases, as you can interact with the community to immerse yourself in the culture of the area. Therefore why not book a couple of weeks of Spanish lessons through GVI before the start of the expedition?

All expedition members should be physically fit as the environment is demanding. You should also be enthusiastic, adventurous, self-motivated and have a good sense of humour. Expedition members are often role models who provide a valuable cultural experience to the students with whom you work, and therefore it is important to maintain a good personal comportment throughout the expedition. On arrival at the expedition site, we will run through program expectations and the cultural sensitivities which you must respect and adhere to. You must understand that the expedition has specific long-term aims in conjunction with the local community to which you will contribute by facilitating in a learning environment, collecting and analyzing data and taking part in community projects. All expedition members must be team players who are happy and willing to assist each other and the staff in the daily tasks.

Training and Qualifications

Expedition members receive a continuous comprehensive training program that encompasses theory lectures, group study and field practice. This will give you with a base, holistic understanding of all aspects of the rainforest on which to build throughout your stay. Subjects included in the training are as follows: conservation, rainforest ecology, bird and mammal identification, bird call identification, amphibian and reptile studies, teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) and emergency first aid.

BTEC in Biological Survey Techniques

In the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador you can gain a BTEC qualification unique to GVI. With this qualification will come the skills to manage successful scientific research in the rainforests. You will learn specifics to the area such as the health and safety aspects of an Amazonian expedition and also more general skills such as the reasoning and implementation of risk assessments. You will also gain knowledge and experience in the survey techniques used in the area and transferable skills such as the general supervision of research teams that can be applied anywhere in the world.