Take Control of an Ecotour
Ecotourism ventures are popping up all over the place. They are the latest, greatest addition to the travel and tourism industry. People of all ages and any ilk are attracted to ecotours. Guides are in strong demand to oversee these tours and whist some may migrate from other related roles, if you have some form of qualification or training to set you aside from the rest you may well find that opportunity comes knocking.
This course develops your ability to organise and conduct ecotourism services, including tours and activities. Along the way you'll learn about ecology, geology, conservation and the plant and animal kingdoms. Feel confident offering your services by working through this course and enhancing your knowledge and experience. Be prepared to take on any guide role in this challenging and rewarding industry.
What this Course Covers
The course is divided into the following ten lessons as follows:
1. Ecotourism Basics
2. Interpretive Services in Ecotourism
3. Ecology and Conservation
4. Plant and Animal Classification and Identification
5. Geology/Geomorphology
6. Interpreting Aquatic Environments
7. Interpreting Land Environments
8. Planning an Ecotour
9. Ecotour Displays
10. Leading an Ecotour
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 100 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification with vegetable growing, will impress others, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?
We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.
This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.
How This Course Could Help You
This course is aimed at anyone who works in the travel or ecotourism industry whether as a guide, travel agent, accommodation provider or other related position. It will help you to plan and operate businesses better and to look at ways to improve current offerings.
People who are drawn to the idea of working in travel and ecotourism industry will also benefit from this course. Study it in conjunction with some of our other tourism or management courses as part of a certificate or higher level qualification.