PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• ExploreBangkokandLearntheThaiLanguage,Customsand

TraditionalCookingTechniques

• VisitaBuddhistMeditationCenterandTemples(Wats)

throughoutThailand

• TeachEnglishtoThaiElementarySchoolchildren

• WorkinaTraditionalThaiVillageandHelpBuildNecessary

StructuresandFacilities

• EarnPADIOpenWaterSCUBACertificationonaPristine

TropicalIsland

• WorkwithMahoutstoProtectElephants

• 50HoursCommunityService

ARCCPrograms|Thailand:ElephantExperience

Spotlight Project: Elephant Rehabilitation

Over the past century, Thailand’s elephant population has dropped significantly – from as many as 100,000 to a

mere 5,000 today. This drop in numbers is largely a result of illegal logging, encroaching urbanization and poach-

ing. Of the elephants still left in the wild, many are killed for their tusks, taken into captivity for labor, or left to

fend against an urbanized and destroyed habitat. Our work in Thailand takes place at a sanctuary where we care

for and rehabilitate old, disabled, abused and orphaned elephants. Working alongside their caretakers, we lend a

hand in sustaining one of the world’s most cherished animals.

Days 1 - 3: Travel Days

ParticipantsaremetattheLosAngelesInternationalAirport(LAX).Oncethegroupgathers,weallintroduceour-

selvesthroughgames,conversations,andteambuildingactivitiesandthendepartforThailand.Uponlandingin

Bangkok,wearegreetedbyourThaifriendsandtakentoacomfortableguesthouseontheoutskirtsofthecityto

getsomemuchneededrestafterthelongtraveldays.Duringourfirstdaysweintroducetheroleof“Leaderofthe

Day”and“ChowCircle”whichisanessentialcomponentofeveryARCCprogram. Los Angeles Accommodations:

Hotel / Bangkok Accommodations: Guesthouse

THAILANDELEPHANT EXPERIENCE

Days 4 - 5: Bangkok Orientation

WespendourfirstfulldayinBangkok,whereweworkoffourjetlagand

startourlanguageandculturalorientation.Webeginwithafewclassroom

sessions, learning about the intricacies and customs of Thai culture and

pickingupafewkeyThaiphrasestohelpusalongourjourney.Onoursec-

onddayinBangkokweventureoutintotheheartofthecity.Herewevisit

thereveredGrandPalaceandthefamousWatPho,homeoftheReclining

Buddha.ThroughoutourtimeinBangkokwevisitlivelymarkets,tastethe

localcuisineandpracticeournew-foundlanguageskills.WeleaveBangkok

atnightonanovernighttrainboundforChiangMaiinthenorthofThailand.

Accommodations: Guesthouse and Overnight Train

ARCCPrograms|Thailand:ElephantExperience

Days 6 - 7: Chiang Mai

UponourarrivalinChiangMai,the“CapitaloftheNorth”,webeginexplor-

ingthetemplesandhistoricsitesofthisancientcity.Onourseconddayin

ChiangMai,wetakepartinafull-dayThaicookingcoursewherewelearn

howtopreparesomeofThailand’smostwell-knowncuisine,includingspring

rolls,PadThaiandstickyricewithmangos.Intheevening,wepreparefor

ourupcomingelephantserviceproject. Accommodations: Guesthouse

Days 8 - 9: Spotlight Project: Mahout Training CourseInthemorningwetraveltoanelephantsanctuaryandmeetthemahouts

(localelephantcaretakers)whoareourguidesduringour timehere. As

visitorstothecamp,wehavetheopportunitytoexperiencewhatlifeasa

mahoutislike;eachstudentisassignedanelephantforthedurationofour

stayattheelephantcamp.

Wespendthenexttwodayslearninghowtocareforourelephants.Theel-

ephantsthatweworkwithhavebeenrescuedfromillegalloggingpractices

or“begging”inBangkok.Themahoutswhocarefortheseelephantsare

typicallyconnectedwiththeelephantforlifeandformabondandrelation-

shipthatisveryunique.Afterourtimewiththeelephants,wemakeourway

backtoChiangMaitoprepareforourvillageservicework.Accommoda-

tions: Bungalows

Days 10 - 13: Village ServiceAdrivethroughmountainousterrainbringsustoournexthome,asmall

localvillagewhereindigenoustribeswelcomeusintotheircommunityand

teachushowtheyhavemaintainedtheirtraditionalwaysoflivinginthehills

ofnorthernThailand.Manytribeslackthenecessaryresourcestoimprove

theirvillages,sowebringinessentialmaterialsandspendthenextseveral

daysworkingtogethertomakeimprovements.Wehelpoutwithanumber

ofdifferentprojects,frombuildingaconcreteroadsandwalkwaysforsafe

accesstoschoolinthewetseason,tobuildingavillagemeetinghouseora

Day 14: Travel Day

Todayweboardaplane forBangkok. Uponour arrival,wehead toour

guesthouseandgetreadyforourupcomingvisittoaBuddhistMeditation

Retreat.Accommodations: Guesthouse

ARCCPrograms|Thailand:ElephantExperience

coveredplayareaforthevillageschool.Westayinalocalbambooguest-

houseandenjoythetraditionalcuisineoftheNorthcookedbymembersof

thevillage.Withafeelingofaccomplishment,wedepartfromthevillage

andheadbacktoChiangMaitoprepareforourjourneysouth!Accommo-

dations: Guesthouse

Day 15: Buddhist Monastery

Inthemorningwemakeourwaytothe“PowerofPeace”House,wherewe

meettheBuddhistmonksthatwillbehostingusfortheevening.Through-

outourtimeatthemeditationretreatwelearnaboutBuddhism,themain

religionofThailand,andlearnavarietywaysofmeditating.Wehavethe

uniqueopportunitytoaskthemonkspersonalquestionsaswellassleepin

themonasteryandjointhemonksforanearlymorningmeditation.Accom-

modations: Buddhist Monastery

Days 16 - 18: English Language CampAfterourmorningmeditation,wesaygoodbyetothemonksasweheadto

thesiteofournextserviceproject.Wejumprightintoourwork;anEnglish

languagecampforthelocalelementaryschool.Forthenexttwodayswe

pairupintogroupsoftwoandfacilitatefungamesandactivitiesthathelp

teachtheEnglishlanguagetothechildrenfromthissmallvillage.Accom-

modations: School

Days 19 - 20: Spotlight Project: Elephant RehabilitationWecontinueourelephantserviceworkwithatwo-daytrainingcourse in

Kanchanaburi.Wemeetwiththecenter’sfounderandchiefbiologist,learn-

ingfromhimthehistoryoftheThaielephant.Wealsolearnandpractice

elephanttrainer’s tasksandresponsibilities. Thesetasks includetracking

elephantsinthebush,howtoapproachandbenearelephants,thelifecycle

ofanelephant,dailyhealthcareandobservationofelephants’body lan-

guage,moodsandcommunication.

Withnewly formed friendshipsanda senseofpride inourwork,wesay

goodbyetothemahoutsandelephantsandbeginourjourneytothesouth-

ernpartofThailand.BeforeboardingtheovernighttraintoChumphonwe

visitErawanFalls,aspectacularNationalParkrenownedforitsaquamarine

pools linkedby cascadingwaterfalls. Accommodations: Guesthouse and

Overnight Train 

ARCCPrograms|Thailand:ElephantExperience

Want to Learn More? Contact the Regional Director:

Bryan Salyer | Regional Director: Thailandbryan@arccprograms .com415-332-5075Ext.245

Days 21 - 25: SCUBA Diving

WetakeatraindownthecoastandboardaboatacrosstheGulfofThailand

toourislandhomeofKohNangYuan,wherewelearntoSCUBAdive.Koh

NangYuanistrulyanislandparadise.Hereweenjoyawell-deservedbreak

fromourtraveling,serviceandexplorationofThailand.Overthecourseof

thenextfourdays,weworktowardsattainingourPADIOpenWaterDiver

certification*.ForthosealreadycertifiedthereisanoptiontotakeaPADI

AdvancedOpenWaterDivercoursewithour instructors. Fornon-divers

thereareampleopportunitiestosnorkelaroundthesamereefswherethe

othersarediving.AfteraccomplishingourgoalofbecomingSCUBAcerti-

fied,wehavetimeforafewfundivesinandaroundKohNangYuan,world-

renownedfortheclarityofitswatersandimpressivedivesites.Accommo-

dations: Beach Bungalows *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

Eventuallyallgoodthingsmustcometoanend.WesaygoodbyetoThai-

landandbeginourjourneybackacrossthePacific.OncewearriveinLos

Angeles,wegeteveryonetotheirconnectingflightshome.Thememories

oftheexperienceandthegroupwillcarryusthroughtonextsummer!

Days 26 - 27: Bangkok

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

mainlandcoastandcatchanovernighttrainbacktoBangkok.Uponarrival

inBangkok,weheadbacktotheguesthousewherewestartedtheprogram

nearlyamonthago!Wespendthisdaycelebratingourtrip,reflectingon

thememoriesthatwe’vehadandthelessonswe’velearned.Wealsoenjoy

adeliciousfinalfeastofThaicuisineandperformourprogramclosingcer-

emonies. Accommodations: Overnight Train and Guesthouse