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Laboratory. Our laboratory contains a variety of analytical equipment including balances, microfuge, stereo and compound microscopes, dissecting equipment, dial calipers, assorted lab ware, aquaria and pumps, terreria, insect setting and preparation equipment, plant drying boxes, herbarium and insect cabinets, Berlese funnels, tool boxes, etc. A partial list of field equipment includes Pesola scales, sling psychometer, thermometers, 30m and 50m tape measures, spherical densiometers, dip nets, seines, surveyor's flags, flagging, insect nets, UV light, plant shears, plant presses, etc.  Please note that our new lab is currently under construction but that the equipment is available nonetheless.

Library. The main library contains 2000+ volumes and several hundred reprints covering a wide variety of topics.  A printer, scanner and photocopy machine, slide, overhead, and digital projectors, chart-preparation materials, etc. are also available.  Internet WiFi is available at the field station and in town.

Research Opportunities in the Region

There are many opportunities for long-term research in the region. The number of distinct habitats is very large and include terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Terrestrial habitats include florally-diverse tropical wet forest, riparian zones, Raphia/Symphonia swamps and pastures in varying degrees of openness (some are savanna-like). Except for jaguars and tapirs, which have been extirpated from the island, these forests support the same basic fauna as the mainland, including monkeys, sloths, cats, and rodents, and a very diverse bird, reptile, amphibian and insect fauna. Freshwater habitats include vernal pools, streams, marshes, swamps, and ponds which support a diverse fish fauna. Two riverine systems also occur in our area (Soropta Canal and Banana River) and are home to a myriad of wading birds. Marine habitats include soft and hard coral reefs, turtle grass (Thalassia) beds, high and low impact beaches, rocky intertidals, mangrove forests and estuaries. Isla Colón also has limestone caves which support a number of bat species.  Please see “Species Lists”(Pending).

A unique feature of the archipelago is the opportunity to study isolation effects on microgeographic variation among the larger islands. For example, the dart-poison frog, Oophaga (Dendrobates) pumilio, is red and blue on the mainland, green with black spots on Isla Colón, red and white with black specks on Isla Bastimentos, and blue and black on Isla Popa. Similar genetic variation can be expected in other groups with similar dispersal capabilities.

The availability of four species of sea turtles (leatherback, green, loggerhead and hawksbill) makes the Bocas del Toro region particularly well suited for their study. Most abundant are the leatherback and hawksbill which both nest and feed in the region. 

There is also opportunity to study the indigenous cultures of Panama. The Ngöbe and Naso cultures are centered in the Bocas del Toro region and several islands support large populations. Other indigenous cultures in Panama include the Emberá and Wonnan of the Darién, and the very colorful Kuna of the San Blas Islands. The Kuna make the Panamanian mola, a reverse appliqué cloth tapestry that has become famous worldwide.

Emergencies. All participants are required to immediately report to faculty or staff any sickness or injury. Delays in doing so may prolong or complicate your recuperation period, impair your ability to actively participate in the course, and limit you and other participants' opportunity to complete research projects.  The field station maintains an emergency first aid kit.  This kit contains typical items for dealing with minor cuts, stings, contact dermatitis, and contains a variety of band-aids, analgesics, antibiotics, antifungals, etc.  We also have direct communication with the well-equipped hospital in Bocas and an emergency evacuation vehicle is available at the field station at all times. Travel time from the station to the hospital is 30 min. by car and 25 min. by boat.  If necessary, emergency flights to Panama City are possible from the airport in Bocas.  There are poisonous snakes in the islands of the archipelago though they are seldom seen.  Generally, snakes pose no significant threat to our work or safety because they tend to avoid areas often traveled by people such as our trail system. However, in case of a venomous snakebite, the Bocas hospital maintains supplies of polyvalent antivenin.

Vaccinations. Please consult your doctor or public health service regarding vaccinations and medicines for travel in Panama. You and your doctor can make the most informed decisions based on your medical history.  Malaria and dengue are rare in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.

General Health.

Because fieldwork in the tropics can be physically demanding, it is essential that we are aware of your current physical condition and previous medical history.  You will need to provide information regarding your current state of physical health and a list of all prescription medication being taken.  Please answer all health related questions on the application. A certified medical examination from a physician is not required.
If you have any special allergies or conditions which that result in sudden illness (asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, potential for severe allergic reaction, etc.) you must inform the faculty during the first day of orientation. This will enable all necessary personnel to be familiar with your medical needs.  In addition, if you require any special medication (e.g., epipen, insulin, etc), you must bring an adequate supply.  All prescription medication should be kept in their original bottles with the proper labels indicating dosage.  Do not pack medication in your suitcase because checked luggage might be lost by the airlines. Keep all medication in your carry-on baggage while traveling.

Medical Insurance. ITEC provides no health or accident insurance. All participants are therefore required to have active medical insurance while enrolled in a program at the field station. Consult your insurance carrier regarding specific coverage.  Many health insurance policies have very limited coverage outside the United States or Canada and student health insurance may not extend through the summer months. Most universities will allow students to continue their coverage over the summer at low cost.
It is possible to purchase low-cost medical insurance (typically less than $50 per month) for students traveling overseas.  One such company is called HTH Worldwide Insurance Services.  Their policy provides protection for students and scholars in international educational activities and includes hospital, medication and medical evacuation benefits. For more information on this provider, call 1-800-394-2500 or write to: International Group Services, 12900 Federal Systems Park Drive, Suite 2-A, Fairfax, VA 22033. Also check with Council Travel (STA), a nonprofit, student-based travel agency that provides health and accident insurance to members. Call 1-888-COUNCIL for more information. (Note: We provide this information for your benefit and ITEC is not affiliated with these organizations). You can also buy travel insurance from some airlines. Please bring your Medical Insurance Registration Card and claim forms with you to Panama.
Please note that your tuition payment cannot be used to pay for any medical care you may require while in Panama. All participants are responsible for paying medical costs whether or not you are covered by your insurance. You should carry about $50-$100, separate from your other funds, in case you require the services of a local clinic or doctor for minor illness or medication.  Currently, Panama provides a free 30-day $20,000 emergency healthcare policy for all visitors that arrive to Panama through Tocumen International Airport.  However, only private hospitals currently take part in this program and this service could change without notice.

A Final Note. In order to maintain our integrity as a conservation organization, we ask that all program participants conduct themselves in a manner that reflects our conservation ethic. Actions that are contrary to these ideals, such as eating sea turtles or their eggs, hunting wildlife, causing deforestation or littering, jeopardize our legitimacy locally and at home. Participants should also bear in mind that each of us represents not only ITEC, but our respective countries as well, and should conduct ourselves in a befitting manner.

ITEC Education Program

Course Size. Courses are limited to a maximum of 15 students each. Teaching Assistants (TAs) are provided to courses having more than nine students enrolled. Course professors have a Ph.D. in their area of study, and TAs are pursuing Masters or Ph.D. degrees minimally.

Student Statement and Letter. Along with the application, each student is required to submit: 1) a brief statement of interest (limit 1 typed page) that provides information on academic background and interests, purpose for taking the field course, and goals to be achieved by participating in the course, and, 2) a letter of recommendation from the student's academic advisor or sponsor for the course. This letter should be confidential and sent in a sealed envelope independently or with the student's application materials. These letters may be provided to course instructors for final evaluation.

Obtaining Credit. ITEC is a private institution and not directly affiliated with any university. Therefore, ITEC cannot issue academic credit directly. However, most universities have various mechanisms that allow students to obtain credit for field courses taken away from campus. These are often called "independent study" courses. If you are going to take the course for credit you must arrange this through your professor or academic advisor and university. We recommend you do this prior to coming to Panama. The ITEC course instructor or ITEC administrator will provide an official grade transcript to the students academic institution or advisor. The student will be responsible for providing direct evidence of participation such as lecture notes, proposals, reports, exams, etc. Normally, up to six units of credit are awarded for each course, three for the lecture portion and three for the field portion.

Refund Policy. If you withdraw from your course within 30 days before the course starting date, all deposits and tuition will be completely refunded. If you withdraw from your course less than 30 days before the start of your course, only the portion of your tuition used for lodging, meals and local transportation ($500) will be refunded. This policy is necessary because enrollment numbers at 30 days prior to the start of each course are used to determine the hiring of faculty, teaching assistants, program directors and staff. Thus, we will have to expend your share of these tuition cost regardless of whether you attend. Students wishing to withdraw late may use their tuition towards another ITEC course in a subsequent session or year. If ITEC cancels a course, all deposits and tuition will be completely refunded, or students may transfer to different courses, subsequent session or year.

Course Cancellation Policy. ITEC reserves the right to cancel a course up to within 30 days of the course starting date due to insufficient enrollment (five students minimally). Courses may be canceled at any time as a result of accident or severe illness of the instructor (when no replacement can be found).

Cloud Forest Trips. To take advantage of other nearby tropical ecosystems, there will a field trip to Pacific-side tropical dry forest and to the cloud forests of Volcan Barú. At 3,475m (11,000 ft), this volcanic peak is the highest in Panama. This trip is three days and two nights in duration and includes a stay in the town of Boquete, and excursions to hot springs and to pre-Columbian petroglyphs. Transportation and hotel costs are included in your tuition. Food costs for this 3-day trip are the responsibility of the student and average about $10 per day.

Course tuition includes registration, room and board at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station, and local transportation. Tuition fee does not cover air fare or hotel costs to and from Bocas del Toro, Panama, emergency medical costs, soft drinks, beer, or incidental travel unrelated to courses.

Important: If you are applying for a field course, Please include a $100 registration fee/deposit when your application is submitted. Your application will not be processed until this deposit is received. The registration fee/deposit will be applied to your tuition and is refundable to within 30 days of the course starting date. All payments must be in U.S. Currency. Make checks payable to ITEC.

Tuition must be received by registration deadlines. Please note that ITEC reserves the right to cancel a course if student enrollment is less than five at the date of the registration deadline.

Passports. You are required to have a valid passport to travel to Panama.  A visa is not required for U.S. and Canadian citizens to enter Panama, and you can stay of up to 180 days.  If you are not traveling on a U.S. or Canadian passport, please check with the Panamanian Embassy in your country for further information.
If you do not have a passport or need to renew yours, contact your local passport office or post office for an application. Apply for your passport early as it may require up to several weeks to process.

Getting to the Bocas del Toro Biological Station

There are several ways to reach Bocas del Toro. You may either fly directly to Bocas del Toro from Panama City ($260 RT), or take a direct bus from Panama City ($60 RT).  From Costa Rica it is possible to travel by bus from San Jose to Bocas.  For seasoned Latin American travelers, traveling by bus from San Jose may be the cheapest, but see cautions below. For newcomers, ITEC recommends that you fly directly to Panama City, and then to Bocas del Toro.

There is one national airline providing regular service to Bocas del Toro, Air Panama. They will accept reservations and credit card payment on the web.

Important Schedule your travel so that you arrive in the town of Bocas del Toro in the morning or afternoon on the first day of class. Plan to leave the day after the last day of class.

Session	Session Period	Arrive Bocas	Depart Bocas
Summer A	May 15-June 9	May 15, 2013	June 10, 2013
Summer B	June 15-July 10	June 15, 2013	July 11, 2013
Summer C	July 15-Aug. 9	July 15, 2013	Aug. 10, 2013
Winter	December 20-January 9	December 20	January 10

Flight from Panama City. This is the easiest and quickest way to get to Bocas, and ITEC recommends this route. Arrange your international flight to Panama City and then a national flight to Bocas del Toro. You will arrive at the Tocumen International Airport and then, to fly to Bocas, you will need to go to Albrook National Airport (formally called Marcos Gelabert National airport) which is about 30 minutes to an hour from Tocumen. You will probably need to stay over night in Panama City.  There are many moderately priced hotels ($40-$70) near the Albrook National Airport. Most ITEC participants stay at the Hotel Marbella. Amenities at this hotel include AC, TV, pool, restaurant, and the receptionist speaks English.

Bus from Panama City. A direct bus from Panama City to Bocas del Toro, via Almirante represents an alternative route. The bus ride takes approximately 10 hours and the cost is about $60 RT.  From Almirante, you will need to take the water taxi to the town of Bocas del Toro on Isla Colón ($4). Contact ITEC for more information concerning this route.

From Costa Rica.  There are two ways of reaching Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica, by air and bus.  Two airlines provide service from San Jose (Alejuela), Air Panama and Nature Air.  The round trip flight costs about $175.  Please contact these airlines for specifics.

If you plan to travel to Bocas by bus from San Jose the entire trip takes from 6-8 hours and there are several steps. Cost will be about $20. You catch the 6:00 am bus to Sixaola at the Caribbean bus terminal in San Jose.  Warning: be very careful here, do not leave your things unattended even for a moment!.  After passing Costa Rican immigration in Sixaola, you cross the bridge over the Sixaola River to Guabito, Panama.  Go through immigration again here and catch a taxi to Almirante ($10-$15) passing the town of Changuinola along the route.  In Almirante, take a water taxi ($4) to Bocas del Toro.  Important note: Panamanian banks will not exchange Costa Rican money (colones).  On the first day of class, meet ITEC personnel at the Bocas del Toro airport.

Arrival in Bocas del Toro. Schedule your travel so that you arrive in the town of Bocas del Toro in the morning or afternoon on the first day of class. On the first day of each session, ITEC personnel will meet incoming students at the Bocas del Toro airport. If you plan to arrive early, there are several very inexpensive hotels and pensions in Bocas (typically, $15-$20 per night). If you plan to arrive via water taxi on the first day of your session, go to the airport to meet ITEC personnel. Please do not plan to arrive at the station earlier than the first day of class.  Plan to leave the day after the last day of class (check schedule above for session dates).  If you need to contact ITEC, call the field station at 507-6624-9246.

Arrange all national (US, Canadian) and international flights through your travel agency. Shop around for the cheapest flight. You can often find the most inexpensive flights online at one of several online travel web sites.  Also, check with Council Travel (1-888-COUNCIL) or Student Travel Association (STA, 1-800-777-0112). Both are student-based travel agencies, which have offices at major universities and can often find you the cheapest fare.

For travel within Panama, ITEC recommends Sendero Panama in Panama City. For a modest fee, this company will meet you at Tocumen International, book your flight to Bocas, make hotel reservations, etc. Contact Mica Gernez Schmidt at Sendero Panama by phone, (011) 507-6429-8163, or by email at: micaelag@senderopanama.com. Finally, make your reservations early and inform ITEC of your travel plans!

Customs.

When entering Costa Rica or Panama and returning, you will pass through "Migración" (immigration) and "Aduana" (customs). You can expect to have your luggage searched. The possession of illegal drugs or other contraband will result in your arrest by the local authorities and immediate expulsion from the course. Remember, you are not in the States or Canada, and your country cannot help you if you break foreign laws.  Penalties for drug possession in Latin American countries are severe. Costa Rica, for example, has a 10 yr. mandatory minimum sentence for the mere possession of marijuana.

What to Bring?

North American Address:

ITEC, Inc.
2911 NW 40th Place
Gainesville, FL 32605
Tel. (352) 367-9128
Fax: (352) 367-0610
E-mail:ITEC@itec-edu.org

Download an APPLICATION!