"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
| Southern India |
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It's time to head back to India, this time to explore peninsular South India, the steamy Hindu heartland where we will explore the urban jungles of Mumbai and Bangalore, the palm-fringed backwaters of Kerala and the sun soaked beaches of Goa. India is an invigorating assault on all the senses with a smorgasbord of landscapes, tribal cultures, wildlife and mystical temples. We will trek in the phenomenal wildlife sanctuaries of the hills, ride on the backs of elephants, raft through jungles, study Yoga and Ayurvedic practices designed to heal the body and mind, scuba dive in the Arabian Sea and live in an ashram. This five 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. So get ready for personal change and whole new way of seeing the world. The first trip meeting will be October 6th at 7:00pm in the OP office.
Contact: Chad Thatcher, OP Director at 248-1670 Cost: TBD Group Size: 12 |
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Yucatan and Belize
Come explore the world class dive sites along the Mayan Riviera. We will fly into Cancun and spend nine days diving off the coast of Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Belize while exploring the inland caves and cenotes. Cenotes are fresh water pools connecting to submerged caverns and other cenotes. The Yucatan is noted for its famous formations and the spectacular clarity of the water. If you are not a certified diver, no problem, you can get certified with one of the numerous dive operations in the region. So get ready to spend your Spring Break in the warm waters of the Carribean and submerge yourself in an underwater paradise. You will need a passport for this trip, so get that out of the way right now. First trip meeting is February 4th in the OP office.
Contact: Chad Thatcher, OP Director
Cost: TBD
Borneo, Bali and Sulawesi
July 15 - August 6
Join the OP for another trip of a lifetime! This summer's adventure will take us from the rainforest of Borneo and the world-class dive sites of Sulawesi to the white sand beaches of Bali to the serenity of a hillside temple. Come explore a tantalizing mixture of dramatic scenery, timeless traditions, diverse cultures and zoological wonders. We will spend seven weeks exploring this exotic land, traveling backpacker style by using public transportation, hiring local guides, staying in small bungalows on remote beaches, trekking to the highest peaks, hanging out with orangutans and carrying everything we need on our backs. This adventure will teach you how to travel in a responsible and independent manner, helping to contribute to local economies, instill personal confidence and make world travel a reality and not some distant dream. These trips will help you gain a much needed world perspective that will pay dividends for years to come, from great conversations with your professors to standing out amongst the crowd while pursuing a career in a globalized world. You will learn about the simple things in life, the micromoments, the impromptu encounters with local school children, bargaining in village markets, instant friendships and tasting the spicy cuisine of Southeast Asia. This will not be a "take you buy the hand" guided trip, rather it's an adventure that will push you outside your personal comfort zones and leave you feeling transformed. So if you are ready to get back to exploration and simply following your bliss, come with the OP for an unforgettable experience. Contact me by February 20th if you are interested in the trip. The first trip meeting will be March 4th in the OP office at 5:30 PM.
Students can earn upper division International Studies College credit for this trip and finacial aid is available. Scuba Diving, Hiking and Orienteering credits also available.
Contact: Chad Thatcher, OP Director
Group Size: 12
Approx. Cost: Plane ticket $1500-$2000; Living and land transportation expenses $2000; Mesa State College Fee $350; $100 for passport; $80-$100 travel insurance; Diving, climbing and other excursions $500; and Tuition Fees depend on how many credits taken
Backpacking through Southern India
Tour the 'mystical' Middle East without leaving GJ
Mesa State College group has Jamaican adventure
Travel the jungles of Central America
Mesa State Outdoor Program offers unique trips, life experiences
Vamos a Baja Kayak the Sea of Cortez with the Mesa State College Outdoor Program
MSC South American Climbing Adventure
