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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
ARCCPrograms|Thailand:ElephantExperience
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
ARCCPrograms|Thailand:ElephantExperience
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
ARCCPrograms|Thailand:ElephantExperience
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