Adventure Tags: Eco-Friendly
Brazil: Explore and Befriend
Experience the Amazon, its tropical forests, abundant wildlife, and beautiful sunshine. You will explore a unique place and culture, and connect with people in ways that can contribute to their lives, as well as your own. Enjoy varied experiences–see for yourself why some call Santarem the ‘Dodge City of Brazil’; enjoy an afternoon or two relaxing on the beach. This trip can be tailored to meet travelers’ needs/requests. In Brazil, you can combine service and learning with fun!
China: Tibetan Plateau to the Great Wall
As the 21st century unfolds, it is clear that China will take a leading role in shaping the way our world develops. The world’s most populous nation – and dynamic economy – has as its backdrop 5000 years of history and is home to a wide variety of rich cultural traditions, wide geographic diversity, stunning natural beauty, and exotic cuisines. Your journey in China can include visits to the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and exotic markets; study of Mandarin, Kung Fu, Chinese cuisine, Tai Chi, and calligraphy; visits to isolated villages and staggering Himalayan peaks on the Tibetan plateau; seminars with business leaders and government officials; biking though rice paddies and traditional farming villages, community service; and more.
Peru: Explore the Incan Empire
Perú: Immense, rugged, colorful, vibrant and mystic. No one word or idea can symbolize a land so diverse in geography, culture and history. Whether enjoying the sun rising above Lake Titicaca, tracking a wild boar in the Amazon Basin, listening to live salsa music in Lima, seeing wheat sway in the shadow of the mighty Andes or a rainbow forming above the ruins at Machu Picchu, you will be transported by the beauty of Perú. The contrasts of Perú permeate every part of the country. Despite its charm, there are large discrepancies among socioeconomic classes and wide differences in standards of living throughout the country. There is need for help and aid in the wake of a divisive colonial legacy, natural disasters, and decades of uneven development.
United States: Outdoor Skills and Environmental Education (MN)
Participants will connect with each other and to nature through experiential education. In the beautiful bluff country of southeastern Minnesota, individuals will engage in classes in an outdoor setting which promotes learning in a manner not duplicated in a classroom.
United States: San Juan Islands Multi-Sport
A ferry ride away from the Northwest coast is a string of islands that offers a sweet mix of play on land and on water. Take to the bike or trail to power yourself through the San Juan Islands’ small towns and ubiquitous evergreen forests, and then switch to arm-power to kayak along the rugged coastline and spot harbor seals. Opt for larger boats for up-close meetings with Orcas Island’s namesake whales. At the end of the day, feast on local salmon and camp at the water’s edge, primed for the perfect wake-up view. The San Juan Islands are an easy-going, charming playground for nature-lovers.
Thailand: Cultural Immersion and Service in Isaan Villages
For those intrigued by cultures and real-life experiences, this trip is designed to immerse the traveler in the life of rice-farming villagers in the materially-poor but culturally-rich Northeast region of Thailand. The itinerary highlight is a village home-stay, where you’ll be welcomed into a family and included in everything from collecting ingredients for lunch to Buddhist ceremonies, weaving bamboo mats to preparing cassava for the market. As you fall in love with Isaan life, we explore the region more in depth, hiking to the prehistoric drawings on the Mekong, meeting local health and agricultural officials, and visiting with village women’s groups to learn of their economic development activities. A highly rewarding adventure for both the traveler and the hosts.
This trip is ideal for those seeking unique adventures that include volunteering components, and can be customized to meet groups’ needs. It is a great fit for high school trips, whether for a senior class trip that focuses on volunteering for students, or for a high school trip that includes touring and a combination of activities.
Peru: A Jungle Experience
In the heart of the western Amazon rainforest, this program has been rated as one of the best in the world in various travel sources. In business since 1981, this is the only tourism program with access to the Area de Conservacion Reserva Comunal de Tamshiyacu Tahuayo, having the greatest diversity of mammals in the Amazon. The diversity of primate species is greater than any other protected park or reserve in the world and includes two rare and endangered species. The bird list of 599 species is one of the highest counts in the Amazon, with several species available that cannot be seen on any other travel program.
Nepal: Himalayan Volunteer Adventure
Nepal is a fascinating country divided into green flat planes, lush foothills and valleys, and arid Himalayan peaks. The people of this stunning country are warm, friendly, proud, and resilient.
Nicaragua: Sea Turtle Conservation Program
The Tora turtle (Dermochelys coriácea) is an endangered species due to the fact that its population has declined by 80% in the last 10 years. The turtle population located in the Pacific Ocean (from México to Chile) has suffered a particularly severe decline in numbers and most colonies here have disappeared. There are three beaches on the west coast of Nicaragua key to the protection of the Tora turtle, as they are the main regional spots where nesting colonies arrive. The number of nests in this part of Nicaragua is the highest amongst all Central American countries for this particular species. Various actions have now been set up on the beaches to monitor and protect the nests, encouraging community participation and working to raise awareness.
Nicaragua: Community Work and Ecotourism
With Caribbean beaches, lakes, volcanoes, colonial cities, old colorful houses, cloud forests, frothing waterfalls and outstanding coffee, this incredible country has many attractions to offer its visitors. However, Nicaragua has suffered a troubled past of economical instability, war, and revolutions; these ended over 15 years ago, making Nicaragua now one of the safest countries in the Americas, though it remains a nation struggling to overcome its past reputation. Despite efforts made in recent years in the areas of economic growth and poverty reduction, Nicaragua still has highly unequal income distribution and development levels. This program combines voluntary work with a small rural village, educational activities related to the environment and sustainability, a visit to a turtle sanctuary, a volcano climb ╴and time to relax on the long sandy beaches!
