September 15, 2005 Source: Nipissing University:
http://www.nipissingu.ca/news/view.asp?ID=22 Nipissing student heading to Ecuador to aid environmental education Nipissing University Environmental Biology and Technology student Caitlin Langlois is heading off to Ecuador this fall, thanks to an internship sponsored by the Canada Corps University Partnership Program (CCUPP). The internship will assist the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation (CFTC) with an environmental education outreach program at the Lalo Loor Reserve, Manabi Province, Ecuador. The intention is to foster a long-term change in the fundamental attitudes of the local people towards the region's forested habitats. During her first two weeks in Ecuador, Langlois, who is a third-year student, will engage in an intensive Spanish language course. For the remainder of her internship she will be stationed at the Seco Lalo Loor Reserve. Working closely with CFTC members, Langlois will develop and implement the teacher-training program. Together they will assemble resources and create a curriculum based on locally relevant environmental knowledge. They will then design a training program to transfer the curriculum to local teachers through a series of workshops in November and December. Langlois received $11,000 provided by the Canadian International Development Agency for travel, accommodation and related expenses. Nipissing University will receive $2000 towards the costs of arranging the Internship and providing academic and administrative support. Nipissing University Biology professor Dr. Peter Nosko, is supervising Langlois’ internship and he will travel to Manabi Province in Ecuador to gain the knowledge of "dry tropical forests" and explore other internship possibilities for our Biology students in the future. Following her unique Ecuadorian opportunity, Langlois will continue traveling, beginning a study exchange at University of West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. There she will study Environmental Biology courses for one semester, returning to Canada and resuming her degree program at Nipissing University in September 2006. The pilot phase of the Canada Corps University Partnership Program (CCUPP), managed by Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, allows young people, who are still engaged in formal learning, to better understand governance challenges in developing countries and to participate with more experienced mentors in the search for solutions. Thus, the pilot phase of the Canada Corps University Partnership Program helps foster a new generation of Canadians committed to applying our country’s values and expertise to help build a safer, more prosperous and more democratic world. The Canada Corps Internship is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through CIDA.
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