China: Giant Panda Conservation Project

Arrive into Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the panda conservation center and settle in, relaxing after your long flight, and join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Partner with specific pandas and researchers for the duration of your service. Divide your time between working with the pandas, assisting researches, and discussing topics related to conservation with your group. Care for your panda’s living area and plan and prepare food while learning about their habitat and threats to their environment. Help your researcher perform behavioral observations and other tasks related to their work. Explore the city, tour the local temple, and visit surrounding towns after service. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work.

Return to Chengdu for a bit of sightseeing. Stroll through the People’s Park where you can join traditional and modern group dancing. No visit to Sichuan would be complete without a trip to the opera! It’s part acrobatic show, part comic relief with modern and traditional dance performances and Chinese music all blended together in a wonderful artistic performance.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

After breakfast it’s time to pack and get ready for the journey onward. Your Program Leaders will take you to Lijiang Sanyi Airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.