URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) – The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) program will allow students to explore the world.

The First-Year Experience Study Abroad Programs is provided with two distinct programs: Panamá: Discovering Agricultural and Environmental Systems and Ecuador: Service Learning and Sustainability. There is an eight-week pre-departure course, ACES 298, that students must start with to explore the agricultural systems and culture of their chosen destination. During winter break, they will then travel to their respective locations.

The Panamá program will be guided by ALEC instructor, Gary Ochs, and study abroad coordinator, Roxanne Patiño. It will feature a deep dive into the country’s culture and agriculture.

“I’ve designed this experience to introduce students to Caribbean agriculture while highlighting Panamá’s importance to the U.S.,” Ochs said.

“The whole experience, from the eight-week course to visiting farms in Panamá was wonderful,” said Sa’nyi Burrill, a student who traveled to Panamá this winter. “We explored not only cultural differences but also the distinct characteristics of Panamá’s agricultural practices.”

“This experience made me more globally aware of agricultural practices, issues, and innovation in other countries compared to the United States,” Burrill said. “I would highly recommend this program to future students.”

The Ecuador program will provide a hands-on sustainable agricultural experience working. Students will work at Nido de Vida (Nest of Life), an experimental farm and visit dairy farms, sugar cane farms, a cheese-making business, and a plant nursery, all while immersing themselves in local culture. It will be led by ABE faculty, Travis Johnson, and ABE staff member, Kelsie Woodward.

“This experience is unique in that we stay in a small town in Ecuador called San Miguel de los Bancos, hours away from typical tourist locations, which helps students understand the culture, lifestyle, and struggles of Ecuadorians,” Johnson said.

“The residents of Los Bancos, along with the Nido de Vida team, were incredibly welcoming, and students were encouraged to practice their Spanish to fully immerse themselves in the local culture,” Woodard said.

“Traveling to Ecuador was genuinely one of the best experiences I have had in my life. It was so much fun to build meaningful relationships with my classmates and members of the Ecuadorian communities we visited,” said Ansley Faivre, a participant of the program.

Visit the College of ACES Education Abroad website to learn about more programs available to ACES students.