Sunday, March 12, 2006
FAQ's Volume I: What to expect on the Program
The following FAQ's are part of the communication received by your Hawaiian Island Discovery Delegation Leaders from Adventures Cross Country, the Delegation Managers (guides) for our program. Please review this information as a family and check the site often for the next few Volumes of FAQ info!
Who are the Field Instructors?
Field Instructors are men and women, typically aged 21-32, who are with you every day of the trip. Most of them are graduate students, naturalists, and educators. They are responsible for logistics, food, and educating students about flora, fauna, natural history and human history. They are responsible for running the morning and evening meetings, and for teaching the students about the areas in which you are traveling. They are also responsible for teaching the students how to set up tents, how to cook the camping meals, and other camping skills. They are responsible, along with the Delegation Leaders, for the safety of the children. All Field Instructors are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.
When you arrive at the airport, you will be met by 3 Field Instructors. They will divide the delegation into three “trail groups”. Each Delegation Leader will be paired with one Field Instructor (If there are four Delegation Leaders, one of the three groups will have two DLs).
Adventures Cross-Country, an organization contracted by People to People, hires the Field Instructors and arranges the logistics of this trip.
How do we travel?
We all travel together on a 53-passenger charter bus. We contract Hawaiian bus companies to do all of the driving for us. Between the Big Island and Oahu we take an “inter-island” flight. The Field Instructors may or may not be booked on the same flight as the rest of the group, so the Delegation Leaders will be the sole supervisors of the students during this flight.
What is the camping like?
We camp only for two nights at Namakani Paio Campground, just outside of Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. (http://www.nps.gov/havo/visitor/camping.htm)
Students in general sleep 4 in large North Face tents, separated by gender. Sinks and hot showers are available. The bathrooms are close by and well-lit.
Field Instructors will show the students how to set up their tents, and how to help with the cooking of camping meals on the outdoor stoves. We set up a dish wash line so that students can be responsible for cleaning their own plates. Students also have the option of sleeping out under the stars.
What will the weather be?
Most days will be shorts and t-shirts weather. However, it can get cold at night while camping in the Volcanoes National Park. On most days there is the possibility of rain, sometimes downpours, especially while traveling on the windward sides of the islands, so a rain jacket is essential.
What kinds of things will the students learn each day?
Field Instructors will teach a variety of subjects each day through games, activities, and short talks. For example, on a typical day Field Instructors may teach an activity about native flowers, read a legend about Pele, and teach the students the different types of lava they may see throughout the day. Delegation Leaders are always welcome to assist in teaching!
Each student will receive a small Activity Book, which will elaborate on topics the Field Instructors are teaching and will include games and puzzles that relate to the curriculum. Students will be able to take these Activity Books home. Field Instructors will leave it up to the Delegation Leaders to decide when and where journaling time is most appropriate and appealing.
Who are the Field Instructors?
Field Instructors are men and women, typically aged 21-32, who are with you every day of the trip. Most of them are graduate students, naturalists, and educators. They are responsible for logistics, food, and educating students about flora, fauna, natural history and human history. They are responsible for running the morning and evening meetings, and for teaching the students about the areas in which you are traveling. They are also responsible for teaching the students how to set up tents, how to cook the camping meals, and other camping skills. They are responsible, along with the Delegation Leaders, for the safety of the children. All Field Instructors are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.
When you arrive at the airport, you will be met by 3 Field Instructors. They will divide the delegation into three “trail groups”. Each Delegation Leader will be paired with one Field Instructor (If there are four Delegation Leaders, one of the three groups will have two DLs).
Adventures Cross-Country, an organization contracted by People to People, hires the Field Instructors and arranges the logistics of this trip.
How do we travel?
We all travel together on a 53-passenger charter bus. We contract Hawaiian bus companies to do all of the driving for us. Between the Big Island and Oahu we take an “inter-island” flight. The Field Instructors may or may not be booked on the same flight as the rest of the group, so the Delegation Leaders will be the sole supervisors of the students during this flight.
What is the camping like?
We camp only for two nights at Namakani Paio Campground, just outside of Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. (http://www.nps.gov/havo/visitor/camping.htm)
Students in general sleep 4 in large North Face tents, separated by gender. Sinks and hot showers are available. The bathrooms are close by and well-lit.
Field Instructors will show the students how to set up their tents, and how to help with the cooking of camping meals on the outdoor stoves. We set up a dish wash line so that students can be responsible for cleaning their own plates. Students also have the option of sleeping out under the stars.
What will the weather be?
Most days will be shorts and t-shirts weather. However, it can get cold at night while camping in the Volcanoes National Park. On most days there is the possibility of rain, sometimes downpours, especially while traveling on the windward sides of the islands, so a rain jacket is essential.
What kinds of things will the students learn each day?
Field Instructors will teach a variety of subjects each day through games, activities, and short talks. For example, on a typical day Field Instructors may teach an activity about native flowers, read a legend about Pele, and teach the students the different types of lava they may see throughout the day. Delegation Leaders are always welcome to assist in teaching!
Each student will receive a small Activity Book, which will elaborate on topics the Field Instructors are teaching and will include games and puzzles that relate to the curriculum. Students will be able to take these Activity Books home. Field Instructors will leave it up to the Delegation Leaders to decide when and where journaling time is most appropriate and appealing.
# posted by Author @ 2:16 PM 
