Caribbean Green study/volunteer student program

A once in a lifetime student travel opportunity

Be part of the change as one of the Caribbean’s most popular beach destinations goes green

PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC— After a 30-year boom-to-bust cycle one of the Caribbean’s most famous tourist destinations is undergoing a major transformation as millions of dollars of international development funding are being invested to:

  • develop and re-brand Puerto Plata as a unique travel experience, not simply a commercial, fun’n’sun beach holiday
  • create sustainable tourism opportunities out of some 500 natural and cultural attractions that exist in the region
  • engrain/ensure sustainable and eco-sensitive best practices
  • stimulate tourism into rural villages to help those poor communities
As a teacher, you will have full planning and logistical support

All of our programs are custom-designed to your needs and expected outcomes. The first thing we do is find out as much as you can tell us about the course you are teaching, and what you would like to accomplish as outcomes of the trip, both experiential and educational. We then propose an itinerary that suits the course you are teaching. We provide a budget, pre-trip planning support, and then, throughout your visit, we look after all the details so that you can concentrate on tying the field experiences into your teaching program.

The Dominican Republic is the ideal destination for student travel. While being a developing country, where all aspects of organization and society provide impactful contrasts to what students live at home. Meanwhile, its tourism industry has advanced to where services and security are optimal. Five international airports provide access for the short flight times from the eastern seaboard. And Dominican people, famous for their congeniality, are fantastic hosts and worthy partners for service projects. Drop us a line via the Contact Form on this page, and let’s start the conversation!

As a student, you can be part of this exciting regional project:

  • visit and study the traditional tourism models (resorts, attractions, excursions) and learn the history of a tourist destination, how and why things went from boom to bust
  • visit NGO’s and rural villages, see how local people are working on projects to create their own opportunity, and how international cooperation is helping them
  • study the processes, methodologies, and challenges of community and economic development and how they fit together
  • volunteer and learn Spanish as you immerse and work shoulder to shoulder with young Dominicans in their village to help blaze a trail, build a lookout or create a campsite
  • meet and talk with tourism business owners, community development experts and tourism authorities
  • study the impact of the Dominican Republic’s social programs and policies regarding education, health, and human development
  • submit a team report prepared to local authorities outlining your observations and suggestions

But – it’s not all work!

Along the way, you’ll be “testing” beaches and boat trips, “inspecting” trails and hidden waterfalls, “surveying” tony beach resorts and remote mountain hamlets, “researching” tropical Dominican dishes and “studying” how locals dance bachata.

And you’ll be doing it all, not like just any tourist but as a behind-the-scenes participant, like a journalist with a press pass, as you are received and hosted by dozens of key stakeholders who are working real-time in the re-launching of this major Caribbean destination.

Visit, learn, write your own story…

This program is appropriate for college and university students studying:

  • Tourism
  • Anthropology
  • Sociology
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Enterprise
  • Economics
  • International Studies
  • Community Development
  • Journalism
  • Education
  • Environmental Studies
  • Marketing

All of these disciplines come into play in a once-in-a-lifetime project that is having a historical impact on the most important economic activity (tourism) of the entire province of Puerto Plata. One of the greatest insights will be seeing how all of these disciplines interact, and in discovering that the “answers” aren’t always easy. Your assignment will be to plan with your professor, do the research, and write the story as it applies to your area of study.

Typical 2-week program (14 nights, 15 days):

  • School Groups: Itineraries are customized for school groups of 10+, for 1 or 2 weeks
  • 2 travel days (first and last)
  • 4 days / visit, study the traditional tourism model; resorts, locations, attractions
  • 4 days / visit, study sustainable, eco-tourism and community development tourism model
  • 4 days / work on a community service project / help build a campsite, blaze a trail, etc
  • 1 day / de-briefing workshop followed by a community social event

The program can include several Spanish language workshops, relevant documentaries, Q&A with local experts

Filed Under: Vacation SuggestionsSocial Impact

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