Tag Archives: voluntourism

andBeyond Launches Philanthropy-Focused Itineraries in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa

 

andBeyond travelers on the “Travel With a Purpose in Tanzania” program visit Ololosokwan Clinic, primary school, and Meirowa School, and can join a group of school children on a game drive and conservation lesson.

andBeyond, a leading luxury experiential travel company,  has launched philanthropic-focused itineraries in TanzaniaKenya, and South Africa to give guests a first-hand look at its core ethos of caring for the land, wildlife, and people. The activities range from adopting an elephant at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Kenya to participating in local school conservation lessons in Tanzania to visiting the Grootbos Green Futures College in Cape Town, an organization that provides educational training to unemployed young adults in the city.

Tanzania: Travelers on andBeyond’s 9-day Travel with Purpose in Tanzania tour start the adventure off in Arusha before heading to andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge to explore the Mayoka and Moya communities by bike, and the new science labs at Kilimamoja School, funded by the Africa Foundation. The excursion continues to andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, perched above the edge of Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, before ending at andBeyond Klein’s Camp on the Serengeti. Here, travelers will visit Ololosokwan Clinic, primary school, and Meirowa School, and can join a group of school children on a game drive and conservation lesson.

Kenya: andBeyond’s new Travel with Purpose in Kenya 12-day itinerary weaves travelers through the Kuku Group Ranch at the foot of the Chyulu Hills in Nairobi, Lewa Downs Conservancy in Laikipia, and the Masai Mara to learn about and engage in various conservation projects. Highlights include a private visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi to adopt an elephant, feeding giraffes at the Giraffe Centre, and a Maasai community visit led by the African Foundation Program Manager, in which travelers can interact with a Maasai family and visit a traditional boma.

South Africa: andBeyond’s Travel with Purpose in South Africa journey is a 10-day excursion spanning from andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve to Cape Town to the Cape Whale Coast. At andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, travelers take an excursion with Africa Foundation to visit projects in the Mduku and Mngobokazi communities, and assist in an exclusive rhino notching experience. Travelers then head to Cape Town for a half-day tour of Uthando, a non-profit that supports various community projects (day care, urban agriculture, environmental, and youth development programs), followed by a half-day tour of the city to explore Table Mountain, Greenmarket Square, and Company Gardens. The tour continues on to the Cape Whale Coast (known for its prime whale watching location), where travelers will have the option to explore the Grootbos’s Green Futures College or the Siyakhula Organic Farm, visit the African Seabird and Penguin Sanctuary, and of course enjoy a whale watching excursion.

In addition to these opportunities for travelers to engage in voluntourism, andBeyond offers Small Group Journeys  affording the opportunity to explore Africa, Asia’s and South America’s extraordinary landscapes in the company of an intimate group of like-minded safari enthusiasts, on a set itinerary. The newest is Land Rover Expeditions around Patagonia Lakes, and another around Chile/Argentina Wine & CountrySnow Leopard Expeditions (India) is on many travelers’ bucket lists and Botswana Mobile Camping Expeditions is THE way to see Botswana for the adventurous.

Also, andBeyond owns and operates lodges and camps in Africa. New lodges opening in 2018 include Bateleur Camp in Kenya, Tengile River Lodge in South Africa, Phinda Homestead in South Africa, Phinda Vlei also in South Africa.

Guests travelling to &Beyond lodges in Africa can take advantage of “Fly Me” offers where the entire package price, including flights, is known; others who build an itinerary lodge by lodge, can benefit from long stay discounts. And for couples who have recently celebrated their nuptials, there is a Honeymoon Offer where a partner only pays 50%.

Asia travelers also can take advantage of long stay and “Fly Me” offers on some Indian itineraries, showcasing the best of the region at great deals.

Established in 1991, andBeyond is one of the world’s leading luxury experiential travel companies, designing personalized high-end tours in 15 countries in Africa, five in Asia, and four in South America. andBeyond also owns and operate 29 extraordinary lodges and camps in Africa’s iconic safari and island destinations. In addition, andBeyond operates small group, set-departure expeditions throughout Africa and Asia. This enables us to positively impact more than 9 million acres of wildlife land and 2,000 kilometres of coastline.

For information, visit www.andBeyond.com.

 

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Voluntourism: Wild Women Expeditions’ Elephants, Treks and Temples Tour Provides Opportunity to Help with Elephant Care in Thailand’s Chiang Mai Region

During Wild Women Expeditions’ Elephants, Treks and Temples tour of Northern Thailand participants get to help bathe, feed and walk elephants at both an elephant rescue center and in a Karen tribal village in the jungle.

CORNER BROOK, NL, CANADA– Elephants are the stars in a new-for-2018 multi-sport Thailand adventure for women-only hosted by Wild Women Expeditions.

Fall 2018 departures of Elephants, Treks and Temples tour of Northern Thailand (http://wildwomenexpeditions.com/trips/thailand-elephants/) will immerse guests for 11 days in the culture and landscape of northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai region on bicycles, and while trekking and coursing down rivers on bamboo rafts.  Stops enroute include helping to bathe, feed and walk elephants at both and an elephant rescue center and in a Karen tribal village in the jungle.

“Ethical, sustainable tourism is the Asian elephant’s best hope to survive. In the spirit of the #BeKindToElephants movement, we want to respect and protect these majestic animals and so won’t be riding elephants on any Wild Women tours,” says Jennifer Haddow, Owner/Director of Wild Women Expeditions. “This practice often relies on wild elephants being brutally tamed before they can be ridden and we are creating tourism opportunities with elephants that do not cause harm.”

The focus on elephants is part of a Wild Women Expeditions’ commitment to change the perception of elephants as beasts of burden for tourists. The company is supporting Chai Lai Sisters, a community-based tourism project to convert an abusive elephant riding camp into a sanctuary or rescue center for elephants that is run by the Karen tribal community near Chiang Mai. This company also benefits a second organization, Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, supporting the work of the work of the first elephant hospital in Thailand to rehabilitate elephants injured by overwork and neglect in tourist camps.

Wild Women Expeditions’ Elephants, Treks and Temples Tour of Chiang Mai, Thailand, provides opportunity to help care for elephants.

Wild Women Expeditions has also thrown its financial support behind Chai Lai Orchid and a Go Fund Me Campaign to empower local women and rescue elephants. Donations are needed to save 13 Asian elephants from abusive conditions and to support a human-trafficking prevention program. For more details and to contribute see: https://www.gofundme.com/ChaiLai.

Elephants in this region are big business. The animals are enslaved to the tourist trade 365 days a year as cheap transportation carrying the weight of a heavy metal chair plus the weight of humans. Elephants are also in chains to logging interests, day after day dragging felled trees from the jungle. In the rescue center caretakers from a Karen hill tribe assure that the animals are well treated and have access to water for bathing. See: https://www.chailaiorchid.com/elephant-sanctuary/.

In Chiang Mai is the world’s first elephant hospital that is supported by a non-profit organization called Friends of the Asian Elephant. Here treatments cover the spectrum of what distressed elephants may require, from illnesses requiring antibiotics to injuries mandating surgeries and future prosthesis, to maternal and infant care. See: http://www.friendsoftheasianelephant.org/en/.

Thailand’s Chiang Mai is the gateway to access the country’s north. The Wild Women Adventure Tour will visit several tribal communities to get a view of the rural landscape through activities including cycling, rafting and trekking.

Rice paddies, orchards, bamboo and fern groves surround women on bicycles in Sri Lanna National Park. To cross a reservoir they board a longtail boat bound for lunch at a floating bamboo raft house. Atop Thailand’s second highest mountain they gaze across a landscape to neighboring Myanmar; they hike along a jungle trail and immerse themselves in the culture of a hill tribe whose business is maintaining tea plantations. The group will stay for two nights at Phu Chaisai, at an award-winning eco-resort crafted by bamboo in the jungle near Chiang Rai. One 3.5-hour trek leads to a Karen village hill tribe where elephants await new hands to feed and bathe them. Another day is spent at an elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai.  Omnipresent throughout this journey are temples – or wats – and the role that rivers continue to play in shaping Thailand’s trade and agriculture.

The per person double rate is $2,295 USD inclusive of 10 nights accommodation (including a home stay), most meals, services of an English-speaking certified female guide and assistant guides, drinking water and snacks, activity-related equipment, travel, including airport transfers, in private air-conditioned vans, sightseeing tickets and zone entrance fees, flight confirmations and luggage transfers.

A quarter century ago Wild Women Expeditions pioneered today’s steam-charged movement encouraging women to travel in small women-only groups. “Wild Women Expeditions gives women the opportunity to empower themselves amongst other women, connect with the natural world and make a positive impact in the communities we explore,” says Haddow.

For details, availability and reservations for these and all Wild Women Expeditions’ programs call 1 (888) 993-1222, email [email protected] or visit online at https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/.

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Avila Beach & Valley Along CA Highway 1: Enter Sweepstakes, Join Voluntourism Program

Avila Beach, on California Highway 1 (photo by Dave E. Leiberman/Travel Features Syndicate)

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.– Don’t miss these ahh inspiring, must-see spots in Avila Beach where you can pick your perfect paradise along the CA Highway 1 Discovery Route. The quaint town’s breathtaking white sandy beaches, Mediterranean climate and warm ambiance set it apart from all others.

Locals call Avila Beach the land of ahhs because of all the ahh inspiring things to see and do. Located just off Highway 1 on California’s central coast, the road to Avila Beach takes visitors through a lush oak valley lined with transformative spas featuring natural, mineral hot springs, world-class massage, yoga instruction, and sense therapies. Journey just a little further and the welcoming paradise of Avila Beach appears. Avila Beach is a breath of fresh salt air, with amenity-laden hotels, charming oceanfront restaurants, magnificent local wines, and shopping and activities for all to enjoy.

“Choose from a number of fine oceanfront resorts or stay in the perfect family friendly vacation rental,” explains Cheryl Cuming, Chief Administrative Officer, CA Highway 1 Discovery Route. “In the fall, tour the apple orchards for the best of the season’s harvest. Check out the oceanfront 18-hole golf course and the Bob Jones Trail, which connects walkers and bicyclists along three miles of San Luis Creek, from the top of Avila Valley to a vibrant beachfront downtown.”

Enter To Win 
Win a $2,000 Avila Beach Getaway! Enjoy your choice of lodging and dining in the Land of Ahhs, plus a Spa Visit at Sycamore Mineral Springs! Just subscribe to the mailing list and reply to the confirmation email. Remain eligible for this and all future H1DR getaway offers by maintaining your monthly email newsletter subscription.

Stewardship Travel in Avila Beach
Stewardship Travel is your getaway to ‘Ah-Ha’ moments on vacation through activities and charitable donation opportunities that protect wildlife, habitat, and cultural heritage sites. As you plan your Avila Beach trip, consider adding an hour or two of fun volunteer time to your day, or schedule a travel adventure to a natural, cultural or historic site. Get the exclusive Avila Beach Free Stewardship Clean-up Kit & Tote Gift Bag,watch the sharks feed at the Central Coast Aquarium and visit the aquarium’s Jelly Tank, take the Pecho Coast Trail Docent Hikes to Point San Luis Lighthouse with PG&E and much more.

For all the must see and do things in Avila Beach, go to: http://highway1discoveryroute.com/avila-beach-visitor-guide/

 

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African Travel Expands Safari with Voluntourism Opportunities

African Travel, Inc. is supporting National Volunteer Week by providing numerous opportunities for travelers to donate their time, expertise and physical labor to a variety of projects in Cape Town, Livingstone, and Tanzania.
African Travel, Inc. is supporting National Volunteer Week by providing numerous opportunities for travelers to donate their time, expertise and physical labor to a variety of projects in Cape Town, Livingstone, and Tanzania.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – African Travel, Inc. is supporting National Volunteer Week by providing numerous opportunities for guests to invest in Africa’s future. Travelers can donate their time, expertise and physical labor to a variety of projects in Cape Town, Livingstone, and Tanzania while enjoying African Travel’s award-winning collection, named one of Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best.”

“It’s our ultimate goal to provide our guests with the safari of their dreams while making a meaningful difference in the world,” said Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel. “We love the fact that our travelers want to give back to the communities they visit and leave their own legacy. We are heralding the age of voluntourism.”

National Volunteer Week 2016 will be held from April 10 through 17. African Travel guests can add voluntourism options to many of the existing brochure tours. One day is the most frequently requested addition, but travelers with more time can extend their opportunities.

African Travel also encourages the sustainable development of tourism by partnering with the TreadRight Foundation and supporting projects that benefit the environment, heritage and community of Africa. Other partners include the Amy Biehl Foundation, which contributes to community building programs in Cape Town, and WildAid, whose mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade by shutting down global consumption of wildlife products.

African Travel, Inc. is a 40-year-old safari operator, with operations in Africa and the USA, offering customized and locally-hosted safaris to Africa at all price points. The company’s focus is solely on planning and operating safaris in Africa. We have dedicated, experienced teams in Africa, Safari Specialists in the USA, an extensive transportation fleet, numerous hotels, camps and lodges throughout The Travel Corporation‘s Africa-based associate companies. Refer to www.AfricanTravelInc.com for a wide variety of ideas and safaris.

Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has more than 35 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. The foundation’s guiding principle is to encourage sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership and support for communities.

TreadRight’s past project partners include WWF, Conservation International and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include sponsoring the National Geographic Society’s inaugural “World Legacy Awards,” helping to combat wildlife crime with WildAid, and empowering individuals with the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise.

To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, visit TreadRight.org.

For more information and to book the safari, contact your Travel Professional, call African Travel, Inc. at 800-421-8907, or visit www.africantravelinc.com.

 

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Earthwatch Invites Public to ‘Citizens for Science Exposition’ at Harvard, Nov. 8

Earthwatch Institute enables ordinary people to work alongside scientists. In 2013, Earthwatch scientists and volunteers completed nearly 135,000 hours of research, on over 50 expeditions, across 57 countries on six continents.
Earthwatch Institute enables ordinary people to work alongside scientists. In 2013, Earthwatch scientists and volunteers completed nearly 135,000 hours of research, on over 50 expeditions, across 57 countries on six continents.

Earthwatch, a travel company that gives ordinary people the opportunity to work alongside scientists doing research, is inviting the public to its Citizens for Science Exposition which will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2014 as part of the Earthwatch Summit 2014.

The event will be hosted at the Harvard University Science Center and will allow the public to learn about Earthwatch scientists’ research, and its impact on the environment, community, and wildlife. They will also learn how they can have a positive impact through Citizen Science.

Some of the highlights of the day will include:

*   Opening Session: Rallying Call for Citizen Science with Opening Address. Speaker, Dr. William Moomaw, Chief Science Officer, Earthwatch Institute

*   Morning Address: Harnessing the Power of Citizens for Science I by Dr. J. Nichols, Marine Biologist and author of Blue Mind

*   Afternoon Address: Harnessing the Power of Citizens for Science II by Dr. Richard Primack, Boston University biologist and author of Walden Warming

*   6 Earthwatch Scientist Presentations a Q & A with Moderator, Dr. Meg Lowman, Chief of Science & Sustainability at the California Academy of Sciences

*   Poster Sessions: Take part in conversations about their research and practices, addressing environmental topics within an informal dynamic

*   Closing Address: Brian Rosborough, Founder, Earthwatch Institute

Those who are interested should register (by October 10, 2014).

Earthwatch: Hands-on Citizen Science

Powered by everyday people from all walks of life, Earthwatch is a community built on sound scientific inquiry, real environmental understanding, and impactful action.

“For more than 40 years, we have pioneered a unique model of hands on citizen science,” says Nicole Morrill of the Earthwatch Institute. “There is no other organization that offers the real, undiluted, and extraordinary opportunity to join scientists and volunteers in the field on environmental projects around the globe.

“Volunteers take part in life changing experiences in the field and return home inspired and empowered.”

In 2013, Earthwatch scientists and volunteers completed nearly 135,000 hours of research, on over 50 expeditions, across 57 countries on six continents. The research collected by Earthwatch volunteers has led to new conservation laws, preservation efforts, and environmental policies.

The expedition that is hardest to get on, and the most in demand, is Shark Conservation in Belize led by Dr. Demian Chapman.

“What is great about our organization is that all of the expeditions offer a chance for the volunteer to contribute to meaningful science that can lead to new laws and environmental polices. All of our expeditions offer life changing experiences on the field working with scientists. In short, Real Science Powered by Real People,” Morrill says.

For more information, contact Earthwatch Institute, 114 Western Ave, Boston, MA 02134, 978-450-1267, earthwatch.org.

 

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New: Moral Compass: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

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Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports Seeks Volunteers

© 2014 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
© 2014 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the largest nonprofit organization in Vermont to provide daily, year-round sports and recreation to people with disabilities, is seeking new volunteer ski and snowboard instructors for its winter programs at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Bolton Valley in Bolton and Pico Mountain in Killington. This rewarding opportunity allows the community to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities seven days a week. Vermont Adaptive relies heavily on its more than 400 volunteers to provide and support more than 2,000 winter lessons to people with physical, cognitive and emotional or behavioral disabilities.

Volunteers are required to attend an off snow orientation at the mountain of choice in November as well as two days of on snow training in early December. Trainings are held on weekends. The off snow trainings are slated for: Saturday, Nov. 8 at Sugarbush, Saturday, Nov. 15 at Pico Mountain, and Sunday, Nov. 16 at Bolton Valley. Junior volunteers, ages 14 and up, also are welcome to attend training and volunteer.

Registration for off-snow training is required by signing up online. Guidelines and prerequisites can also be found online. For more details, visit http://www.vermontadaptive.org/volunteer_overview.php.

Volunteers will be taught about disability awareness, how to teach a ski or ride lesson as well as how to teach a specific type of lesson such as blind guiding, sit down skiing or working with participants with cognitive disabilities. Volunteers are expected to be a competent skier or rider prior to training. The program begins at all three locations on Dec. 26 and runs through the end of ski season at each mountain, typically the end of March or early April.

To sign up to volunteer visit http://www.vermontadaptive.org/volunteer_overview.php or contact Tom Alcorn, senior program coordinator at 802.353.7584 or [email protected].
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