International Adventures
"The world is a book; he who stays at home reads only one page."
St. Augustine
The Outdoor Program offers winter and summer international adventures between the semesters to help students get a better understanding about the world we live in, developing connections and insights to other cultures and environments around the world. These trips are not designed as vacations but rather adventures in personal transformation through intense introductions to developing nations and authentic travel moments, making world travel a reality and not just a dream. The typical experience includes a mixture of service work, outdoor adventure, and cultural learning and is conducted in backpacker style, adhering to the tenants of sustainable and ethical travel. Typically a group consists of 7 to 14 sojourners of students, faculty, local teachers, alumni and the trip facilitator (OP director), giving a secure feel to our travels but keeping the group small enough to maximize cultural exposure and leave a small footprint.
The adventures focus on student involvement and the group's collaborative effort to shape the itinerary and events of the trip. We usually start with a trip plan with the idea that it will evolve as the trip unfolds, allowing for the possibility of intuitive interaction to shape and change the orientation of the trip. In this way students learn how to travel and accept change on a continual basis, building understanding and tolerance towards other cultures and ways of living. Quite often it is the unplanned events on trips that become the most memorable experiences.
Students handle their own expenses so that they learn how to budget for a trip and that overspending in one area will mean consequences in another area. With help from the trip facilitator, each student is responsible for buying their own plane ticket, food, travel insurance, in country transportation and any other expenses while in country. The intent is to get away from the typical two week "package" deal where you spend three to four times more than you should and have everything handed to you on a silver platter. These trips are not designed to be vacations, but rather real world experiences that make the individuals actually think about there actions.
We spend 6 weeks preparing for the trip, meeting regularly to discuss geography, politics, culture and travel techniques used for the regions we will be traveling. We will lay out a basic itinerary, knowing that we must be flexible as a group to other opportunities that may arise during our travels. We will read literature about the region and share this with the group. Many of the students have studied foreign languages and this gives them the opportunity to use their language skills in practical situations. College credit is available with many students setting up independent study with Mesa State College faculty, combing academic learning with authentic travel experiences.
Most importantly students will gain greater self-awareness, cultural understanding and have a competitive advantage in the work force. In today’s world economy and global interconnectedness, the experiences gained from international travel will be invaluable for years to come. Don’t miss the boat, hop on for the adventure of a lifetime.
Chad
Outdoor Program Director
Current International Adventure
| Trans-Eurasia OP Summer International Expedition |
June 10 - August 5, 2012 |
Trans-Eurasia OP Summer International Expedition
Join the OP for it's 20th international expedition! This summer students will travel across the Eurasian continent in 8 weeks, from London to Beijing. One of the planet’s most epic journeys, we will start in London, head across Germany, Poland, making our way to St. Petersburg, Russia. Then head to Moscow for the start of the Tran-Siberian railway, traveling across Russia to Lake Baikal, the largest and deepest lake in the world. Heading south, we will make our way through Mongolia and finally end in Beijing. This is no ordinary journey, rather an adventure across the planets most populace and diverse supercontinent. The first two weeks will be a smorgasbord of European cities such as London, Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, St. Petersburg and Moscow, exploring the major sights and getting a feel for train travel. Next, we will board the Tran-Siberian Express heading towards Mongolia, making several stops across Siberia, including a trek along the shores of Lake Baikal. After arriving in Ulaanbaatar, we will head into the outback of Mongolia for trekking, horseback riding and a stay in a traditional ger. The last week will be exploring the Great Wall and the thriving Chinese Capital of Beijing. This eight week adventure will teach you how to be a responsible budget backpacker, avoid being scammed, travel in a sustainable manner and learn how to give back to the communities we encounter through volunteer work, hiring local guides and contributing to local economies. This will not be a vacation; it will be an adventure of a lifetime.
Come to the first information session about the trip on Thursday March 1st at 6pm in the Outdoor Program office.
More trip Info and Links
Contact: Chad Thatcher, OP Director at 970.248.1428 or email cthatche@coloradomesa.edu
Group Size: 12
Approximate Expedition cost:
Per the style of the course, students handle their own expenses so that they learn how to budget for a trip. The only fee that is paid to the college is tuition. With guidance from the faculty, each student is responsible for buying their own plane ticket, food, travel insurance, in country transportation and any other expenses while in country.
Plane Ticket is around $2000 This is based on a one way flight from Denver to London ($700), and a one way flight from Beijing to Denver ($1100). This expense is always a major cost factor in any international trip so we try and spend as much time abroad to absorb the price and get the most bang of the buck.
Train Travel: $1800 to get from London to Beijing during the high season of travel. So that means half the expenses of the trip will go towards travel, however we will be traveling all the way around the globe.
Daily food and lodging will be around $65 per day or $3640 for 56 days. For a backpacker, $65 a day would be a huge budget if we were traveling though a developing country, however we will be traveling though Europe and Russia where expenses will more likely be around $100 per day for a simple hostel, and meals. The first 20 days or so will be the most expensive per day cost and then become a little more reasonable in Mongolia and China.
Visa fees and processing for Russia and China is around $400
Medical Travel Insurance is around $150
Passport is $150.
$500 for extra excursions such as horseback riding and tours.
$1100 for tuition. Includes 3 credit hours and allows you to apply for financial aid to help pay for the trip.
Total Estimated Cost Per Student (includes tuition): $9,740
The actual cost in the end will depend on our actual route taken and how much you want to spend. Remember you would have to pay rent, eat and get around anyway, so you might as well do it some place overseas!
