Multiday volunteer programmes

4-day Nature trail development (VWB 401)

Description: Work with villagers of Ban Mae Lai on the Pang Soong Nature Trails.
Duration: 4 days/ 3 nights
Meals: 3 Breakfast, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners.
Cost: Baht 7,780.- per person (Plus transport to and from site) *

Sample Itinerary

Day - 1:
Volunteers must arrive in Chiang Mai the day before their programme begins. VWB can assist in sourcing accommodation for this night if required.

Day 1:

1000 hrs. Volunteer group meets at a pre-assigned location and travels to the Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education & Research Centre.

1100 hrs. Become oriented with Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education & Research Centre.

1200 hrs. Lunch

1300 hrs Explore trails and learn about the local natural and cultural history through discussion with VWB staff and local guides.

1800 hrs. Dinner

1900 hrs. Free time

Days 2 & 3: Nature Trail Development work

0800 hrs. Breakfast

0900 hrs. You meet your co-workers, and are provided with gloves, tools and drinking water. There will be a minimum of 2 villagers, but otherwise one co-worker per voluntourist.

You and your co-workers set off along the nature trail to the task area, accompanied by your guide/interpreter and led by a community forest guide, and commence the work allocated to the group for that day.

1200 hrs. Break for lunch with the workforce.

1300 hrs. Return to work with your co-workers.

1600 hrs. Or thereabouts, collect tools and walk down path back to Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education & Research Centre.

1800 hrs. Dinner

1900 hrs. Free time

Day 4: Nature Trail Development work

0800 hrs. Breakfast

0900 hrs. You meet your co-workers, and are provided with gloves, tools and drinking water. There will be a minimum of 2 villagers, but otherwise one co-worker per
voluntourist.

You and your co-workers set off along the nature trail to the task area, accompanied by your guide/interpreter and led by a community forest guide, and commence the work allocated to the group for that day.

1200 hrs. Break for lunch with the workforce.

1300 hrs. Return to work with your co-workers.

1500 hrs. Or thereabouts, collect tools and walk down path back to Pang Soong Lodge,Outdoor Education & Research Centre.

1730 hrs. Depart Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education & Research Centre, and return to Chiang Mai city.

* Cost includes: Meals (including water, coffee and tea), standard Thai tourism insurance cover,contribution to the community fund, village coworker day rate, & VWB staff.
* Cost does not include: Transport to and from the lodge (Shared between passengers).

Additional transport cost

General Cost breakdown:

1. Transport – Transportation in or out from Chiang Mai costs Baht 2,000 per 8 seat minibus (one way) – you will need to pay between Baht 4,000 – 500 in cash at the start of your programme depending on how many people are in the programme.

2. Food – Two to three meals a day will be provided for longer term volunteers, including breakfast (Baht 150.-), lunch (Baht 150.-) and dinner (Baht 200.-). Meals will be served as a “set meal”, but will not be provided during volunteer free time.

3. The VWB Onsite Team – One full time Foreign-National Project Manager plus a Thai speaking assistant, are on a 1 year contract and tasked with looking after the needs of volunteers, planning the work to be undertaken, recording job progress, communicating with the village committee, training the community forest guides and ensuring project work continuity. Volunteers contribute Baht 500.- each/per day to cover the cost of the ‘onsite’ VWB staff only.

4. Accommodation – At the Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education & Research Centre, and the costs Baht 350 per person/ night.

5. Additional fees – There are a variety of fees that directly go to the community

(a) Village co-worker is Baht 200.- per day/per volunteer.
(b) The VWB development fund contribution is Baht 500.- per volunteer/per day, which goes directly a fund used for schools materials, trail development, agroforestry equipment etc.