Day one-
Welcome to the arctic. Today you will arrive to you new Eskimo home for the week. Once you arrive we’ll got you settled in to your accommodation at the schoolhouse and then take you on a tour of the village. Then at night a few games of basketball to get the let lag our of your system.

Day Two-
After some breakfast you will get ready for your first day of service. You will begin your day of service working at the school repairing anything that has been damaged over the long winter or painting. After lunch you will enjoy an afternoon reaching out to the community. This could be playing with hyperactive children or picking berries for a family Or learning how fish, it all depends on what is going on in the village that day. Then after dinner you will enjoy and evening of basketball.
Day Three-
After breakfast you will have the same schedule as the previous day in the morning and afternoon. Then after dinner you will have the option of playing basketball with the or learning some Eskimo games. The Inupiaq love to play all kinds of games and are a very active people, especially during the summer.

Day Four-
After breakfast you will do service at the school and in the afternoon with the village. This evening you can play a game of softball or get back on the courts or both. Softball is a relatively new sport in the arctic and is becoming almost as popular as basketball.

Day Five
The schedule for the morning and afternoon will be the same as the last three days. Then in the evening you will enjoy a game of stick, A game that combines baseball and dodge ball.

Day Six
Last full day in the arctic and you last day of service. After your morning and afternoon service routine you will have a basketball tournament. Competitors from neighboring villages come come to test their skills against you. After the championship game we will have a farewell bonfire on the beach near the river.

Day 7-
This morning you will eat some breakfast, say goodbye to your new friends, then hop on a bush plane out of the arctic to your next destination.

Checked Luggage:
 A medium sized duffel bag or large back pack will be most efficient. Wheeled bags are not recommended due to the rough terrain, but is acceptable if that is what you have. It is important that you try to keep your total luggage to one piece of checked luggage, and do your best to keep it under 40 pounds.  You will be carrying it with throughout the program and you want to keep it movable.

You Should Bring :
small backpack- this can be used as your carry on and will also be used for day hikes
sleeping bag (The nights in Mongolia can get chilly, so a sleeping bag with a rating of 0 degree is reccommended)

Sleeping pad or Thermarest – optional but recommended for extra comfort while sleeping.

hiking shoes or work shoes-  any shoe that will give good support and protect your feet and also waterproof is recommended

towel – a travel towel that is compact, very absorbent, and fast drying is the best kind
waterproof shell/rain jacket or poncho – in most cases a waterproof/windproof shell with a hood is ideal. Ponchos are more practical on a horse trek as they can cover your saddle and prevent your seat from being wet. Jackets or ponchos for horse treks should be of a subdued, darker color, and preferably of a material that does not crackle or rustle much. Some Mongolian horses are spooked by unfamiliar bright/light colors and noises from plastic or nylon rain gear.

waterproof pants – should fit over your other pants, and from May through September need not have a lining or should have a very light, breathable lining.

fleece jacket or warm sweater/jumper –a fleece jacket with a full length zipper in front would be the most practical. Pull over fleece jackets or any kind of synthetic material would be good as well.

cotton t-shirts – two to three T-shirts will usually suffice

long sleeve shirts – one light weight, fast drying, light colored one, preferably with buttons down the front so you can wear it open over a T-shirt for sun protection – and one medium weight for cool evenings.

lightweight pants – two pair, and if you have one with zip-off legs that can double as shorts, this is ideal

shorts – the fast drying kind are ideal

work clothes- pack any clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty or smelly

athletic shoes- a pair of shoes that can worn will playing basketball or other athletic activities.

Athletic clothing- comfortable clothes that can be worn during athletic activities.

warm hat – wool or fleece, which can cover your ears

long underwear – (for treks and horse treks) in summer a lightweight top and bottom will suffice. Your long underwear should be the synthetic kind that wicks away moisture from the skin and keeps you dry

swimsuit- be mindful that Mongolia has a very conservative culture, so be considerate of the type of suit you pack

socks – socks should be of a material that keeps your feet dry

underwear – fast drying. Sports/athletic bras offering good support are best for countryside portions of all trips – roads are bumpy here!

sun hat – should shade your face, ears, and the back of your neck

gloves – lightweight for trekking and riding, warm for spring and autumn trips

sandals – to be worn around camp, in the shower, and wading in streams or lakes. The best kind have adjustable straps around the ankle, and will stay on your feet if you are walking in a slippery stream bed

sun glasses – should be dark and offer UV protection

sunscreen – choose one with stronger protection (SPF 20 or more) if you are light skinned. A sunscreen in stick form that can be applied to lips, nose, cheeks, and the tops of your ears is a very handy item

comfortable shoes – should have sturdy soles and good support

insect repellent – read the label carefully and avoid those that are toxic to fish and amphibians, or wash these off well away from rivers, lakes, and streams

resealing (ziploc) plastic bags – bring enough to protect your documents, money, camera, binoculars, and other items from wetness, sand, and dust. A few extra bags are handy for repacking wet clothing until you reach your next camp and can dry them out

binoculars/camera – carry in a soft padded case if possible

water bottle – for treks and horse treks, should have a wide mouth for refilling easily

wet tissues – choose unscented ones that will not attract insects

chapstick- a stick that has spf would be best

watch/alarm clock – an inexpensive watch with an alarm is a handy item

hand sanitizer- just something to keep your hands clean.

notebook and pen- good to keep track of you adventures through Mongolia.

Optional- gifts for your host families. These can be simple gifts like a tee shirt or some small souvenir from the states.

1 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
Bottled water is available

2 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
Not if you’re an American

3 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
You will be spending your nights inside the school building at the village or at a vacant house if available.

4 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
None.

5 - What costs are not included on this trip?
You should bring your own money to buy souvenirs or for any snacks.

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
Nope, flights are all domestic.

7 - How does this program connect to other programs?
Connects great with our other programs in Alaska.

8 - How long is the flight to this country?
It is about an eight hour flight to the arctic depending on with you depart.

9 - What kind of food will we be eating?
Typical American cuisine. Local delicacies could include an array of organic meats. Like, fresh salmon, caribou, and moose.

10 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
This is the first time this trip is running, but there are usually more girls than boys in other programs.