THE GIANT PANDA CONSERVATION PROJECT - High School Summer Programs (800) 321-4353

Giant Pandas – the few, the adored
Perhaps the most beloved and well known endangered mammals in the world, pandas are truly charming creatures. Playful, adorable, and easy going, they have won the hearts of millions across the globe. Since their discovery by the western world in the 19th century, pandas have been shrouded in mystery. Scientists have struggled with how to formally classify them and even today know very little about their behavior in the wild. Even in captivity, pandas have a very low birth rate, so it is easy to imagine that in the wild the rate is even lower – given that the solitary animals must manage to find each other within the dramatic landscapes before their three month mating season is over. However, people across the globe have united to save the panda, and Rustic Pathways is proud to join this struggle in 2008.

Wolong National Park – the gem of Sichuan
Sichuan Province is home to nearly all the wild pandas in the world – estimated to be somewhere around 1,000 or so pandas. The Chinese widely believe this to be one of the most beautiful areas of the country, and with its dramatic peaks (some over 20,000 feet!) and rumbling rivers, it is easy to concur. Established in 1958, Wolong National Park was the original panda sanctuary – today there are scores of sanctuaries across Sichuan, but Wolong is the true home of the panda today. It is also the site of the Giant Panda Protection and Research Center – home to 70 pandas in captivity - and the Rustic Pathways Giant Panda Conservation Project. This program starts in Chengdu – the heart of Sichuan – where you will see some notable sites to get a taste of this fast growing city. Chengdu is one of the last major cities in western China – and a frequent departure point for travelers heading west toward Tibet. After a Sichuan style feast (known as the hottest in China) and a good night’s sleep in Chengdu, we’ll make to voyage north to Wolong, where we’ll stay at the Research Center for the duration of the program.

Service – learn the panda to save the panda
The Giant Panda Protection and Research Center is among the largest collections of captive panda’s in the world, and is the most prestigious research and conservation center in the region. Nestled amongst the dramatic peaks of the National Reserve, it is an ideal place to learn about, care for, and study these amazing animals in their natural habitat. The research center features large confined areas with trees the pandas can climb, and enclosed areas where they can find peace and quiet. While at the Research Center, students will be helping the caretakers with their daily business – everything from learning about the panda’s diet, selecting and preparing their food (they eat a lot!), cleaning the environment, working on maintenance projects - and all the meanwhile helping the researchers with their research when possible. Students are sure to learn a great deal about these docile creatures and how to care for them – and above all else, just having such close interaction with these pandas is a truly endearing experience.

Help us save the giant panda!
A portion of the program fees for this project will be used to adopt a panda, and to support the continuing efforts of this great institution. If you love animals and want to be a part of a great new service initiative to save our endangered friends, come join us at Wolong!

For more information e-mail Jamie Spates at jamie@rusticpathways.com, or Bryan Haggerty at bryan@rusticpathways.com

Due to the importance of the Giant Panda species and the level of care and dedication the world shows these animals, there are special requirements set forth by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, with which all Rustic Pathways applicants must comply.

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CHINA PACKING LIST (The Giant Panda Conservation Project)

IMPORTANT: PACK LIGHT! Domestic airlines in China have a check-in baggage weight limit of 20 kilos (about 44 lbs). If your bags weigh more than this, the airline may charge you an excess baggage fee for every kilo over the allowed limit. In past years, we have had students incur SIGNIFICANT charges for excess baggage.

Pack the following items with your CARRY-ON Luggage:

* PASSPORT - you can not get on the plane without this!
* AIRLINE TICKETS - you can not get on the plane without these either!
* WALLET - with a bit of US money for the trip over. Your allowance account will be available to you as soon as you arrive in China. Most students bring around $100 on the actual flight in case they need it along the way.
* 2 Photocopies of your passport - you will give these to our staff when you arrive in China. You only need to copy the 2-page spread that has your picture, date of birth, passport number, and personal information.
* 1 Spare T-Shirt - you may want to change shirts somewhere during your flight
* Sunglasses
* Toothbrush
* Toothpaste
* Journal and Pens - start the habit of writing in your journal before you leave
* Books or magazines - something to pass the time.
* Mandarin Chinese phrasebook (optional)
* Water bottle - keep yourself hydrated to avoid jet lag
* Snacks - comfort food that won’t melt - granola, dried fruit, etc. You don’t need much, but just in case you don’t like the airplane food.
* Deck of cards - fun for the plane and with your friends in China too
* Cameras - Don't forget to bring your chargers, batteries and memory cards!! You can also bring your USB cords for downloading pics for emails. (For all ipod photo / video users, try and practice putting pictures onto your ipod at home before coming out here)

(TIP: BRING ALL OF YOUR FILM IN YOUR CARRY-ON, AND ASK THE STAFF AT EVERY X-RAY STATION TO WALK THE FILM AND YOUR CAMERA AROUND THE MACHINE. DO NOT PACK YOUR FILM IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE!)

Pack the following items in your CHECKED Luggage (remember to PACK LIGHT!):

* Silk or Cotton Sleeping Sheet- for hostel beds
* Long Pants (1 or 2 pairs)
* Underwear (between 7-9 pairs)
* Socks (4 pairs)
* Swimsuit
* T-Shirts with sleeves (3-5 t-shirts)
* Tank Tops (2-4 tops)
* Long Sleeve T-shirt (1 or 2) - they help keep off the sun and keep in a little warmth in the evenings
* Rainproof, Lightweight Jacket - a small travel one is best
* Shorts (3 or 4 pairs) - not too short or tight, as this is offensive in Chinese culture.
* Running or tennis shoes - 1 pair (optional)
* Sandals that are strapped (Chaco’s or Teva’s are recommended) and/or flip-flops
* Personal First Aid Kit - optional but recommended - a small kit with basic first aid supplies
* Small day bag - for side trips or hikes.
* Sunscreen - we suggest that you bring two completely different types. Alternate between them to avoid having any allergic reactions
* Sunburn cream or aloe lotion - if you are someone who is prone to sunburn, we suggest that you bring a small tube or bottle of sunburn relief cream just in case you get too much sun.
* Chapstick - make sure that it has sunscreen in it. Lip balm without sun protection actually attracts the sun. Burt’s Bees has some nice products.
* Insect Repellant - bring one that is heavy in DEET (40% or more) and one that is natural Citronella - 2 cans or bottles minimum. Be sure to switch off between insect repellants since DEET-based repellants can cause allergic reactions.
* Hand Sanitizer- one bottle. Always use this before you eat as many germs are passed from your hands to your mouth and keeping your paws clean helps keep you healthy wherever you are traveling!
* Small packs of Kleenex Tissues - public toilets in most of Asia do not supply toilet paper - you are meant to bring your own. It's always handy to have a few packs of Kleenex tissues with you when you travel in Asia.
* Hat or cap for sun - you may want to bring two hats or visors to keep off the sun
* Towel (1 towel - NOT white) - white towels get rather gnarly looking after a while
* Laundry Bag for dirty laundry, or an old pillow case - keeps the clean stuff away from the dirty stuff so you don't have to sniff to find out.
* Medications (must alert staff about these) - bring with you any medications that you will need while you are away. You will need to tell staff what medications you have brought during your orientation period. This is done privately, but it is essential that you disclose to your staff all medications you are carrying.
* Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia - if you use contacts, bring all of your chemicals with you
* Other toiletries - shampoo, soap, etc.