thailand program highlights elephant … · over the past century, thailand’s elephant population...

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• WorkAlongsideConservationExpertstoCareforAsian

ElephantsatLocalSanctuaries

• WhitewaterRaftthroughRicePaddiesandLush

MountainForests

• EarnYourSCUBACertificationwhileDivingAmongBrilliant

CoralReefs

• HelpEagerThaiStudentsPracticeEnglishthrough

GamesandPlay

• LearntoPrepareLocalDelicaciesinaThaiCookingSchool

• ExperienceanImmersiveOvernightStayina

BuddhistMonastery

• 50HoursCommunityService

ARCCPrograms|Thailand:ElephantExperience

Spotlight Project: Elephant Rehabilitation

Over the past century, Thailand’s elephant population has decreased significantly—from as many as 100,000 at

the start of the century to a mere 4,000 today. ARCC students in Thailand work to help elephant populations

bounce back from the effects of illegal logging, encroaching urbanization, and poaching. Our work takes place

at two different elephant sanctuaries where we assist local naturalists and wildlife biologists in rehabilitating and

caring for elderly, disabled, abused, and orphaned elephants. As we bathe, prepare food, and restore habitats for

these magnificent creatures, we share intimate interactions and lend a hand in sustaining one of the world’s most

cherished species.

Days 1 - 3: Travel Days

ParticipantsaremetattheLosAngelesInternationalAirport(LAX).Oncethegroupgathers,weallintroduceour-

selvesthroughgames,conversations,andteambuildingactivitiesandthendepartforThailand.Uponlandingin

Bangkok,wearegreetedbyourThaifriendsandtakentoacomfortableguesthouseontheoutskirtsofthecityto

getsomemuchneededrestafterthelongtraveldays.Duringourfirstdaysweintroducetheroleof“Leaderofthe

Day”andthe“ChowCircle”routine,whichareessentialcomponentsofeveryARCCprogram.Bangkok Accom-

modations: Guesthouse

THAILANDELEPHANT EXPERIENCE

Days 3 - 4: Bangkok Orientation and Rice Farming

We start our first full day inBangkokwith a brief language and cultural

orientation.Webeginwithafewclassroomsessions,learningaboutthein-

tricaciesandcustomsofThaicultureandpickingupafewkeyThaiphrases

tohelpusalongourjourney.ThroughoutourtimeinBangkokwevisitlively

markets,tastethelocalcuisine,andpracticeournew-foundlanguageskills.

Wespendourseconddayintheregionataricefield,learningriceharvest-

ing techniques fromthe local farmersandplaying in the fieldswith local

school children eager topracticeEnglishwith native speakers.We leave

BangkokatnightonanovernighttrainboundforChiangMaiinthenorthof

Thailand.Accommodations: Guesthouse and Overnight Train


Days 5 - 6: Chiang Mai

UponourarrivalinChiangMai,the“CapitaloftheNorth,”webeginexplor-

ingthetemplesandhistoricsitesofthisancientcity.Onourseconddayin

ChiangMai,wetakepartinafull-dayThaicookingcoursewherewelearn

howtopreparesomeofThailand’smostwell-knowncuisine,includingspring

rolls,PadThaiandstickyricewithmangoes.Intheevening,wepreparefor

ourupcomingelephantserviceproject. Accommodations: Guesthouse

Days 7 - 10: Spotlight Project: Elephant Conserva-tion & Whitewater Rafting

OurtimeatElephantNatureParkallowsusto immerseourselves fully in

thedailyroutineofanelephantsanctuary.Wediveintoourelephantcon-

servationexperiencebylearningtocareforinjured,orphaned,andelderly

elephantsrescuedfromtrekkingcamps,theloggingindustry,orstreetbeg-

gingsituations.Welearnabouttheherdandthechallengesfacingtheirspe-

ciesaswefeed,bathe,andsocializewiththeseincrediblecreaturesalong-

sidethehumansthatknowthembest.Ourthreedayshereprovideuswith

an introductiontothemostrespected levelofThaielephanttourismand

conservationatworkinthecountry.

WedepartElephantNatureParkanddrivethroughmountainousterraintoa

dayofadventureontheMaetangRiver.Wesplashandfloatpastwaterfalls,

hotsprings,andgorgeousjunglebeforeheadingtoournextserviceexperi-

enceinanearbyhilltribevillage.Accommodations: Bungalows

Days 11 - 14: Hill Tribe Village Service

Afteranexhilaratingpaddle,weheadtoasmalllocalvillagewhereindig-

enoustribeswelcomeusintotheircommunityandteachushowtheyhave

maintainedtheirtraditionalwaysoflivinginthehillsofnorthernThailand.

Manytribes lackthenecessaryresourcesto improvetheirvillages,sowe

bringinessentialmaterialsandspendthenextseveraldaysworkingtogeth-

ertomakeimprovements.Wehelpoutwithanumberofdifferentprojects,

frombuildingconcreteroadsandwalkwaysforsafeaccesstoschoolinthe


wetseason,tobuildingavillagemeetinghouseoracoveredplayareafor

thelocalschool.Westayinasmallbambooguesthouseandenjoythetradi-

tionalcuisineoftheNorthcookedbymembersofthevillage.Withafeeling

ofaccomplishment,wedepartfromthevillageandheadbacktoChiangMai

toprepareforourjourneysouth!Accommodations: Guesthouse

Day 15 - 16: Buddhist Monastery

AfteramorningflighttoBangkok,wemakeourwaytothePowerofPeace

House,wherewemeettheBuddhistmonksthatwillbehostingusforthe

evening. Throughout our time at themeditation retreatwe learn about

Buddhism,themainreligionofThailand,andexperiencevariousmethods

ofmeditation.Wehavetheuniqueopportunitytoaskthemonkspersonal

questionsaswellassleep in themonasteryand join themonks forearly

morningalms.Accommodations: Buddhist Monastery

Days 17 - 20: Spotlight Project: Elephant Conservation

Wetraveltoourhomeforthenextthreedays,aself-sustainingeco-village

andnaturepreserve tucked away in lush, forestedwild elephant habitat.

Wefloatthejungleriverintothisprotectedland,whichservesasacorridor

forwildelephantsandavarietyofothernativewildlife.Overthenextthree

dayswediscusselephantconservationwithvisitingbiologistsandveteri-

narians,visitlocalfarmerstolearnabouthuman-elephantconflict,andwork

onhabitatrestorationprojectswithinthepreserve.Ifwearelucky,wemay

catchaglimpseofwildelephants,boars,deer,andothersmallcreatures

fromanobservationtower.Wealsospendtimeatanearbyelephantsanctu-

arycontinuingtocarefor,feed,andbathethesemajesticcreatures.

Withnewly formed friendshipsanda senseofpride inourwork,wesay

goodbyetotheelephantsandbeginourjourneytotheislandsforSCUBA

diving.BeforeboardingtheovernighttraintoChumphonwevisitErawan

Falls,aspectacularnationalparkrenownedforitsaquamarinepoolslinked

bycascadingwaterfalls.Accommodations: Bungalows

Days 21 - 25: SCUBA Diving

WetakeatraindownthecoastandboardaboatacrosstheGulfofThai-

landtoourislandhomeofKohTao,wherewelearntoSCUBAdive.Koh

Taoistrulyanislandparadise.Hereweenjoyawell-deservedbreakfrom

ourtravelingandserviceinThailand.Overthecourseofthenextfourdays,

weworktowardsattainingourPADIOpenWaterDivercertification.*For

thosealreadycertifiedthere isanoptiontotakeaPADIAdvancedOpen

WaterDivercoursewithour instructors. Fornon-divers thereareample

opportunitiestosnorkelaroundthesamereefswheretheothersarediving.

AfteraccomplishingourgoalofbecomingSCUBAcertified,wehavetime

forafewfundivesinandaroundKohTao,world-renownedfortheclarityof

itswatersandimpressivedivesites.Accommodations: Overnight Train and

Beach Hotel


Want to Learn More? Contact the Regional Director:

Danielle Baker | Regional Director: [email protected]

*Please Note: To become SCUBA certified, you will have to study, take quizzes and pass a final

written and practical exam. You cannot have used an inhaler for any reason or suffered from

asthma in the last three years. If you have any questionable medical conditions, you also need

to pass a thorough physical exam performed by a dive physician before your program begins.

Day 28: Departure

WesaygoodbyetoThailandandbeginourjourneybackacrossthePacific.

OncewearriveinLosAngeles,wegeteveryonetotheirconnectingflights

home.Thememoriesoftheexperienceandthegroupwillcarryusthrough

tonextsummer!

Days 26 - 27: Bangkok

After completing our SCUBA course, we take a boat back to Thailand’s

mainlandcoastandcatchanovernighttrainbacktoBangkok.Uponarrival

inBangkok,weheadback to theguesthousewherewe started thepro-

gramnearlyamonthago!Wecelebratetheendofourjourneywithvisits

tothereveredGrandPalaceandthefamousWatPho,whilereflectingon

thememorieswe’vesharedandthelessonswe’velearned.Wealsoenjoy

adeliciousfinalfeastofThaicuisineandperformourprogramclosingcer-

emonies.Accommodations: Overnight Train and Guesthouse

thailand program highlights elephant … · over the past century, thailand’s elephant population...

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