Leadership Conference & Ecuador Service Learning
Contribute to the well-being of our planet with hands-on reforestation work in Ecuador and ignite a lifelong passion for civic engagement.
Kick things off in Costa Rica harnessing The Power of Environmental Stewardship at our inspiring leadership conference. From there, head to Ecuador to participate in a Service Learning project, restoring indigenous forests through tree planting and resource mapping. You’ll also visit a sustainable village in the Yunguilla cloud forest, witness a rare, inhabited volcanic caldera, and jungle trek to the Devil’s Cauldron waterfall. You’ll return home with a deeper understanding of habitat regeneration and practical applications for your own community.EF Summits are open to rising 9th graders through graduated seniors.
-
Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica
Meet your Tour Director at the airport -
Day 2: San José • Leadership Conference
Participate in an activity centered around The Power of Environmental Stewardship
Kick off your leadership conference experience
-
Day 3: San José • Leadership Conference
-
Day 4: San José • Leadership Conference
-
Day 5: San José • Quito
Fly to Quito
-
Day 6: Quito • Yunguilla
Take a day trip to Yunguilla, a sustainable community in Ecuador’s cloud forest
With your Tour Director you will:
· Discover organic farming practices for raising crops and livestock
· Explore the reforestation areas that are now protected by the community
Stop for a photo at Pululahua Volcano
Immerse yourself in a blindfolded sensory dinner, savoring local cuisine with heightened
awareness.
-
Day 7: Quito • Wikiri Sapoparque • Baños
Travel via Wikiri Sapoparque to Baños
Visit Wikiri Sapoparque, a biodiversity education center that teaches sustainable land management
-
Day 8: Baños • Tena
Travel to Tena
Visit the Devil's Cauldron waterfall and learn about the role it plays in the rainforest’s ecosystem
-
Day 9: Tena • Service project
Kick off your service project protecting indigenous forests:
· Restore land using modern reforestation practices and ancestral knowledge
· Lend a hand in the plant nurseries and learn about the vegetation used to regenerate healthy forests
-
Day 10: Tena • Service project
As communities evolve, so do their needs. That’s why we work closely with local organizations to better understand each community’s issues. Since projects are determined closer to your actual tour date, here’s what a typical day might look like:
- Work on a community conservation project using modern reforestation practices and ancestral knowledge to reforest land once cleared for farming.
- Assist in plant nurseries and learn about the diverse species utilized to regenerate a healthy forest.
-
Day 11: Tena • Quito
Enjoy a whitewater rafting excursion
Travel to Quito
-
Day 12: Depart for home
-
Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica
Meet your Tour Director at the airport -
Day 2: San José • Leadership Conference
Participate in an activity centered around The Power of Environmental Stewardship
Kick off your leadership conference experience
-
Day 3: San José • Leadership Conference
-
Day 4: San José • Leadership Conference
-
Day 5: San José • Quito
Fly to Quito
-
Day 6: Quito • Yunguilla
Take a day trip to Yunguilla, a sustainable community in Ecuador’s cloud forest
With your Tour Director you will:
· Discover organic farming practices for raising crops and livestock
· Explore the reforestation areas that are now protected by the community
Stop for a photo at Pululahua Volcano
Immerse yourself in a blindfolded sensory dinner, savoring local cuisine with heightened
awareness.
-
Day 7: Quito • Wikiri Sapoparque • Baños
Travel via Wikiri Sapoparque to Baños
Visit Wikiri Sapoparque, a biodiversity education center that teaches sustainable land management
-
Day 8: Baños • Tena
Travel to Tena
Visit the Devil's Cauldron waterfall and learn about the role it plays in the rainforest’s ecosystem
-
Day 9: Tena • Service project
Kick off your service project protecting indigenous forests:
· Restore land using modern reforestation practices and ancestral knowledge
· Lend a hand in the plant nurseries and learn about the vegetation used to regenerate healthy forests
-
Day 10: Tena • Service project
As communities evolve, so do their needs. That’s why we work closely with local organizations to better understand each community’s issues. Since projects are determined closer to your actual tour date, here’s what a typical day might look like:
- Work on a community conservation project using modern reforestation practices and ancestral knowledge to reforest land once cleared for farming.
- Assist in plant nurseries and learn about the diverse species utilized to regenerate a healthy forest.
-
Day 11: Tena • Quito
Enjoy a whitewater rafting excursion
Travel to Quito
-
Day 12: Depart for home
Reviews
Refer a friend or colleague to EF and we’ll thank you with $1,000. Learn more
Your experience includes
-
Airfare & transportation
Round-trip flights on major carriers; internal flight; comfortable motorcoach
-
Hotels
11 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms
-
Regional-style meals
Breakfast and dinner daily; lunch on days 3, 4, 6 & 11
-
Full-time Tour Director
Your bilingual, culturally connected Tour Director stays with you 24/7 to handle all on-tour logistics and provide knowledgeable insights everywhere you go.
-
Student Leadership Conference
Conference registration, keynote addresses, expert-led workshops, and design thinking workshops are included.
-
Entrances
Summit-themed activity; Day trip to Yunguilla; blindfolded sensory dinner; Wikiri Sapoparque; Devil's Cauldron waterfall; whitewater rafting
-
Continuous Support
Your dedicated EF team helps you every step of the way—from recruiting and enrolling travelers to planning and managing your tour.
-
Worldwide Presence
EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide so wherever you go, we're there too.
-
24-hour Emergency Service
Travelers and their families can count on EF's dedicated emergency service team.
-
Peace of Mind Program
Feel secure knowing your group can change their destination or travel dates due to unforeseen circumstances. Learn more about your flexible options at eftours.com/peaceofmind.
Lowest price
Price is valid for students under the age of 20 at the time of travel that room in triples and quads. Minimum participation is required. Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price will apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at www.eftours.com/baggage. Program price is valid today only.
Price displayed includes an Early Enrollment Discount; restrictions apply. To determine if you qualify, please contact your Tour Consultant. Tours departing between 10/1/2023 and 9/30/2024 may be eligible for a $100 discount. Tours departing 10/1/2024 and beyond may be eligible for a $200 discount; restrictions apply.