PowerPoint Presentation

Borders were made to intrigue us, not to divide us

Steve Sheppard CSO & Co-Founder, EcoPassportsWhat to learn from this deckAbout Me and my company EcoPassports

Who I Am (yes, there is a difference)

Who Are You and Where Do You Want to Travel?

Three Study Abroad Myths that we have to SHATTER TODAY!

Make it Happen: The Steps to Becoming an EcoPreneur / Agpreneur / Social Innovator

Global Agriculture Travel: Costa Rica & Cuba Expeditions

Conclusion/Wrap-Up: Ok, I Want to GoNow What? -Resource Exploration / The EcoPassports $1K Travel Loan -Sign Up, Find Yourself Abroad, Begin your EcoPreneurship journey!

About Me (according to LinkedIn)

Its fair to say youve learned ABOUT meBUT, THIS IS WHO I AM

Steve Sheppard: Traveler, Innovator, Entrepreneur, Dreamer, Doer, Dad

WHAT IVE HEARD ABOUT STUDY ABROADTravel Mythbusters

Myth #1:Travel is expensive

I could never gain enough money to travel & study abroad

Have the Right ToolsPlan (WAY) AheadBudget CarefullyMyth #2:

Study Abroad isnt for me

My grades arent good enough

I dont have time

I dont know a foreign language

etc, etc., etc.

Stop Selling Yourself Short: Figure out a way AbroadAchieve Goals & DreamsTime & Space for a lifetime of personal experiencesLIFEHACKING** Life hacking refers to any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method to increase results in all walks of life; in other words, anything that solves an everyday problem in a clever or non-obvious way might be called a life hack.

Myth #3:Study Abroad is a nice trip and way to have fun

But thats about it

Have the Right ToolsPlan (WAY) AheadBudget Carefully

Remember this guy?

Heres how he views your study abroad experience

Once you travel, youll never be the sameFocus on the experience, visualize being there

Once youre there, travel with all five of your sensesYou can do thisyou really canTHE GOOD STUFF

EcoPreneur: Ready?EcoPreneurs/AgPreneurs/Social Innovators: Entrepreneurs whose business efforts are not only driven by profit, but also a concern for the enviroment EcoPassports supports the spirit & vitality of Collegiate EcoPreneurs! Join our upcoming webinar for additional info & opportunities

FIRST STEPS(S)Figure out WHY you want to travelRead the book- The 4 hour work week and apply it to your life on campusDownload a GOOD budget plannerChoose your destination (gut feeling + this course + internet study + advice)Start Planning: Which month/break are you going to go?Start saving money (beg, borrow, sell stuff)

SECOND STEP(S)Attend the EcoPassports Study Abroad webinar & Information Session MUST DO: Meet with your academic adviser to discuss your plan & graduation timeline Review your budget and determine best destination bases on fundsFind cheap tickets on Kayak or purchase discounted tickets through EcoPassportsUpdate family, friends, and significant others that youll be traveling soon!Get your passport NOW.

THIRD STEP(S)Research Funding Resources to supplement your savings A Big & Important Step: More on this in a moment

FOURTH STEP(S)Its time to go abroad: Learn about the application requirements & process Lifehack: Complete all the requirements by the application deadlineGET ABROAD! Keep in close contact with EcoPassports or your campus study abroad adviser for specific questions

THE HARD STUFFMust Ask Questions for Students

How will I be perceived in my host country? What kind of stereotypes are there? How should I react if I find something to be offensive? Is the person curious or do they have bad intentions? Does my program have support staff that will understand and help me through any offensive incident I may face? Be prepared if an incident does arise, but don't go abroad expecting it

THE HARD STUFF World citizenship = different cultural norms & less political correctness The more you get into the spirit of your trip & INTEGRATE with the culture, the less you'll stand out: REMEMBER THE GLOBAL KINSHIP OF STUDY ABROAD Entrepreneurship is HARD at homebe prepared for an even tougher road abroad Take every opportunity to learn from & partner with other EcoPreneurs & Global College Citizens: Remember that partnerships mean shared pools of money, good ideas, resources, & energy!

Once you do travelwelcome!...youll never be the sameFocus on the experience, visualize being there

Once youre there, travel with all five of your sensesYou can do thisyou really canTHE GOOD STUFF

Costa Rica, Panama & Cuba! We now interrupt this presentation for a short EcoPassports video break

www.ecopassports.com

YOU CANT AFFORD NOT TO GO ABROAD!

Funding Your Study Abroad Experience(oversimplifiedbut only slightly so)

Plan Ahead & calculate the rough costs:

Program DepositProgram FeeAirfarePassport/VisaMealsImmunizationsPersonal Cash

PRIORITIZESet priorities. Try to put aside 25% to 50% of your paycheck and deposit funds into a separate study abroad account. Do without that coffee, movie, or mall trip & push the additional funds towards your trip.

Program deposit is $300Program fee is $3000Plan on approximately $800 for airfarePassport is approximately $100Meals (2 meals included). Plan on approximately $5-7/per day for lunchImmunizations- should be free at the campus health center?Personal cash- personal preference. Anywhere between $10-per day24

Financial Aid:

YES! It can be used for study abroad

Visit the Financial Aid Office

Aid amounts can be increased due to the additional costs, but do not assume you will be awarded 100% of the money needed to cover the costs of your program.FAST FACT:If you are not currently receiving financial aid, complete a FAFSA.If you currently receive financial aid, you must first apply to a study abroad program. The Office of Study Abroad will then forward a Financial Aid Approval Form (FAAF) to the Office of Financial Aid for processing.

Scholarships:

Plenty, Plenty, Plenty of availability

Some administered by the Ag School & others by the Study Abroad Office

Other local professional, social, and service organizations may also provide scholarship opportunitiesREMEMBER:Dont miss the application deadlines!

Creative Fundraising:

Direct, informal appeals: the key to successful fundraising is confidence & perseverance!

Kickstarter Social Innovator Projects & Crowdsourcing

Holiday & Birthday Gifts: Request financial gifts or loans!

QUICK TIP:Fundraising will help to make your trip more affordable and serves as a way to educate the public.

YOU CANT AFFORD NOT TO GO ABROAD!

If all else failscontact me directly to discuss an EcoPassports travel loan!

To Do:

Five Trips now to Spring Break 2014-Cuba, Costa Rica/Panama I & II, Ethiopia, Australia

All-inclusive, affordable LifeHacking!Dont wish itBE IT Social Innovator & EcopreneurLoans/Funding Assistance potentially availablePost-travel employment assistance

Its Time to Go Abroad

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didnt do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Dont just be About MeBe Who I Am

EcoPassportsTravel Cost WorksheetMANRRS Conference 2013

Cost Worksheet

Use this worksheet to estimate the cost of your study abroad trip. Cost information can be gathered from a variety of places including the Study Abroad office, Travel Books, Travel Websites, Travel Agents, Former students, and Professors!

Program Fee:$_______________ see www.ecopassports.com for a listing of our current programs & fees

Accommodations$________________

Meals$________________(if not included in your program fee)(meals are always included with EcoPassports)

On-site Transportation$________________(if not included in your program fee)(onsite transportation always included with EcoPassports)

Field Trips$________________(if not included in your program fee)

Tuition & Fees$________________(as applicable for your study abroad experience)

Airfare$________________

Books & other Educational Supplies$________________

Passport & Passport Photographs$________________(important-take care of this as soon as possible!)(try for discounts at a drugstore or post office)

Visas$________________

Other required documents$________________

Immunizations$________________(try the campus health center-likely free or reduced cost!)

International Student Identification Card$________________

Spending Money$________________

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST:$________________

Its Time to Go Abroad!www.ecopassports.com