Bridges to Rolwaling
Bridges-PRTD
Visit their Web Site
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Primary Location:
| Rolwaling - Nepal | |
Highlights:
| Bridges to Rolwaling is an innovative program that combines research with volunteer development work in a remote community in north central | |
Length:
| 1 Semester(s) | |
Included:
| Airport Transfers, Housing, Meals (All), Tuition | |
Accomodations:
| Homestay | |
Description:
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Bridges to Rolwaling is an innovative program that combines research with volunteer development work in a remote community in north central Nepal, just west of the Everest region. Since 1999, our international and interdisciplinary teams have collaborated with the people of Rolwaling in designing and implementing plans compatible with local needs and opportunities. Our fourth expedition will run from February 17 through May 31, 2003.
Agenda: For two months, March and April 2003, the Bridges team will be based in Beding (3650 m), an impoverished village of 64 households in Rolwaling valley. This valley presents an unusual combination of problems and opportunities linking biodiversity, cultural preservation, and tourism development. It is well-established that tea house trekking offers the most beneficial results both for the hosts and for most guests. Relatively isolated and unimpacted both culturally and ecologically, Rolwaling has been prevented from realizing its potential as an ecotourism destination by a regulation requiring trekkers to acquire expensive trekking peak permits, which also entailed traveling with fully-equipped caravans. Recently the regulation has been modified. For three years, Bridges-PRTD has been collaborating with the local people, gearing up for the inevitable rush of tourists, and conducting research that will serve as a baseline database by means of which to monitor development.
Among our many projects scheduled for the upcoming expedition is the installation of a small hydropower plant. We will also be starting new enterprises, including Summiters, a mountain climbing school for tourists. Prospective participants are invited to choose among our projects, or develop new proposals.
Feb 17-22 Kathmandu (orientation)
Feb 23-24 Rafting on Bhote Khosi
Feb 25-March 1 Hike to Beding
March 2-April 27 Research and volunteer work Rolwaling Valley; 10 lectures with assigned readings on topics ranging from "Plate tectonics and the Origin of the Himalayas" to "Tourism in Nepal: Prospects for the 21st Century"
April 28-May 3 Return to Kathmandu; dinner at Yak and Yeti
May 4-5 Flight to Lukla, trek to Namche Bazar
May 6-May 23 Trek to Everest Base camp, Kala Pattar, Gokyo; preparation for Namche Conference
May 24-May 26 Namche Conference: "People, Park, and Mountain Ecotourism"
May 29-May 31 Culmination of Everest Jubilee Year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first ascent by Hillary and Norgay | |
URL:
| http://www.bridges-prtd.com/ |
This listing is part of PlanetEdu's Educational Travel category.
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