Quito is one of the most compelling cities in Latin America. Nestled in a long, narrow valley in the Andes, between the Volcano Pichincha to the west and the Machangara River Canyon to the east, Quito enjoys a spectacular natural setting. The Ecuadorian capital city's mix of colonial and modern architecture creates a fascinating built environment in which the modern inhabitants forge their busy lives. In addition to being the site of the Ecuadorian government, Quito is also the nation's cultural capital, with an impressive selection of museums and festivals. Depending on arrival time of the flight, students may be able to visit the Historic Center of Quito, purchase some souvenirs at the local market and explore this beautiful city.

"We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience" - John Dewey On every evening of the program, we will set time aside to update our Reflection Journal and share thoughts and impressions that have come to the fore in the course of the day.

We will continue to Camp Donbiki, which will be our base. Camp Donbiki is located in the Arajuno area of the Pastaza Province. The bus journey alone is a traveler's dream, including possible sightings of the glacier of Cerro Antisana, as well as ranging views east across the immensity of the Amazon itself. The last bit of the journey is by motorized dug-out canoe.

At Camp Donbiki, we will be staying in traditional wooden buildings with comfy mattresses on bunk beds, the bathroom facilities have flushing toilets, cold showers and sinks. Staying at Camp Donbiki is a very special experience as you actually get the chance to live inside the Ecuadorian Amazon. You'll start the day in a jacket and end it in shorts and t-shirt. The camp sits beside the Rio Arajuno, on the edge of small community, surrounded by the jungle.

We will be staying in traditional jungle lodges on bunk beds, the bathroom facilities have flushing toilets, cold showers and sinks. The end of each cabin has a chill out space with cushions and there is a small dining room.

The community of Donbiki are situated in the heart of the Ecuadorian rainforest. Ecuador is the eighth most biodiverse country on Earth, with more than 20,000 plant species, 1,500 bird species, more than 840 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 341 species of mammals. Yet it also has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, where up to 200,000hectares of forest are destroyed illegally every year leaving less than 15% of primary forest intact. Most of this is due to the expansion of pastures and pressure from oil and mining companies. The Shiwakucha (Donbiki) community are very concerned about the deforestation and are keen to preserve the forest by planting indigenous trees. As the community expands, more trees are cut down to sell the wood and make space for crops. Since 2019 we have been working with the community to reforest land that had been used for agriculture. Yutzu trees are excellent for helping with issues of erosion in the riverbanks. Chunchos are among the tallest of the locally species. Both species are native and play a part within a process of conservation in the area.

While at camp, three healthy, well balanced and tasty meals will be provided daily. For example, toast, cereal, and fruit for breakfast; fish with veg for lunch and dinner and fruit. The signature dish is Maito de tilapia or Maito de pollo - Fish or chicken cooked inside a banana leaf with palmito (roots of a type of palm) and yuca (root veg) and rice.

Camps has a series of interactive lectures, that cover subjects such as Stakeholder Engagement, Citizen Science and Threats to Biodiversity. These sessions can be run following discussion with the school of the topics considered most appropriate to the group.

Each one of the projects we work on is designed to improve the basic well-being, education, or sustainability of the community and its environment. The projects are identified through a partnership with the community and in all our projects we are working with the community authorities and alongside tradesmen from within that community. Project work could include helping to maintain or develop facilities at local schools, creating organic gardens for families to tackle malnutrition, reforesting or constructing a local medical center. Each of these activities sits at that point of meeting between the needs of the community and the needs of their local environment – a difficult and challenging point of contact which we encourage the groups to understand and think deeply about.

A student focused discussion of leadership, its challenges, models and aims. The students will be asked to think about these issues particularly in the context of their current environment and activities. What has worked, what hasn’t? Are we on schedule for our own aims? How could we do things differently?

Each one of the projects we work on is designed to improve the basic well-being, education, or sustainability of the community and its environment. The projects are identified through a partnership with the community and in all our projects we are working with the community authorities and alongside tradesmen from within that community. Project work could include helping to maintain or develop facilities at local schools, creating organic gardens for families to tackle malnutrition, reforesting or constructing a local medical center. Each of these activities sits at that point of meeting between the needs of the community and the needs of their local environment – a difficult and challenging point of contact which we encourage the groups to understand and think deeply about.

Of great importance is to reflect on what the group has achieved, and we ask the students to lead a discussion focused on that question – particularly looking at the service and learning elements of the time in camp. Camps has a series of interactive lectures, that cover subjects such as Stakeholder Engagement, Citizen Science and Threats to Biodiversity. These sessions can be run following discussion with the school of the topics considered most appropriate to the group.

After a hearty breakfast at camp, we will pack our small rucksacks and hit the jungle trail en route to our satellite camp, Jungle hike to Camp Ceibo. Situated in primary rainforest, to arrive at the camp you'll trek for a few hours through the jungle - the journey is well worth it. During the trek, students will learn about some of the indigenous plants and trees and how many have been used for medicine, building or dating advice (all will be explained). Eating lemon ants is also possible, assuming that nature is forthcoming.

The role of the satellite camp, Camp Ceibo, is to give a full experience of the jungle. In the days before the trek, you will be prepared for life in a hammock and the more intense experience of this sort of immersion. By going deep into the jungle, living without electricity and the luxuries of modern life, you will find a special peace and a more intimate understanding of what the jungle is, and the relationship that its human residents have with it. In the evening, by a small fire, we will talk about the spiritual importance of the forest and about how people have lived in it and with it for millennia. Sleeping in a hammock, listening to the sounds of the forest in the darkness, can be a powerful and inspiring experience.

After breakfast, you will pack up and start the trek back to Camp Donbiki before starting your journey back to Quito.

Following on from the service work briefing, the group starts their engagement with this work by thinking deeply about their goals for the week; in a framed, student led discussion forum. We have established some ambitious goals through a dialogue with the community. This is very much a joint venture, in which we have built a relationship with the community and are working with them in mutually beneficial activities. Through an understanding of the process of dialogue, the development of ideas and the aims that we have, the group can identify their own goals, plan for those and then work towards their own objectives.

Throughout the program, we will set time aside time for discussion, guided reflection, and time to write reflections on self-discovery and what we have learned. "We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience" - John Dewey

Quito is one of the most compelling cities in Ecuador. Nestled in a long, narrow valley in the Andes, between the Volcano Pichincha to the west and the Machángara River Canyon to the east, Quito enjoys a spectacular natural setting. The Ecuadorian capital city's mix of colonial and modern architecture creates a fascinating built environment. In addition to being the site of the Ecuadorian government, Quito is also the nation's cultural capital, with an impressive selection of museums and festivals.

Stand at the place where the northern and southern hemispheres meet, see the Equatorial Monument marking the spot.