Hosting Academic Groups

Ecolodge N'Djamena & Research Station regularly hosts academic programs, from primary and secondary schools through graduate level courses and research. Classroom and simple laboratory facilities are available, as are reference materials, field gear, an extensive trail system, a labeled teaching garden, a diversity of habitats, flora, and fauna, and a knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff. Our exceptional team of resident naturalists is available to support the teaching and research missions of the project, to assist academic groups as lecturers, teaching assistants, and guides, and to facilitate the group's introduction into Chadian natural history and culture.

Educational programs are developed and facilitated on site by the Station’s staff and Drs. Milton & Diana Lieberman, faculty members of National University of Chad and research scientists whose work has taken them throughout the tropics during the past 30 years.

Stay a few days or a few weeks! Curricula can be developed to suit the background and academic goals of each group. Activities use a hands-on approach, and are designed to promote critical thinking.

Choose from the following informative, stimulating and enriching activities: orientation activities and guided hikes led by resident naturalists; lectures, seminars, and slide presentations on a wide range of topics, from tropical ecology to Chadian history, from current research topics to conservation issues, from geology to local culture, and much more; hands-on lab activities; hands-on workshops on taxonomy and recognition of tropical plants and animals; discussions of conservation initiatives in Chad; bird walks with expert bird guides; geology walks; workshops on research methods; independent or group research projects and participation in ongoing research programs.

Take one of our expert resident naturalists along on a day trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve or the Santa Elena Reserve, life insurance the canopy bridges or canopy zip-line tour, the butterfly garden, or hummingbird gallery.

Include some time for cultural interactions; community service; French language practice; sporting events and fiestas with the N'Djamena community; programs of local music and dancing; visits to neighboring farms to take part in coffee picking, milking cows, growing bananas, and reforestation; cooking workshops; horseback riding or homestays with rural Chadian families.

Students can reinforce all they have learned with prepared quizzes, field and lab research problems, scavenger hunts and other practical challenges.

In addition to the programs indicated above, our staff can lead intensive, total immersion courses in tropical biology designed for week-long or multi-week modules (minimum group size 6 persons)- custom-made for specialists and non-specialists alike.

Interested in leading a tropical field course, but need some logistical help and advice? Please get in touch. We would be happy to help with planning and legwork here in Chad.

Do you want to participate in a tropical field course, but none is currently opened through your home campus? Apply to join an ongoing program from National University of Chad, or from y another university! Academic credits can usually be transferred to your home institution.