volunteer for elephant : Elephant island improvement weekend 24 - 25 July 2010, Buriram

A weekend filled with fun, inspiration and hard work to improve the elephant island.

Aim of this project is to create natural and animal friendly alternatives for ex street begging elephants and their families.

During this event we aim to plant some native trees species and elephant food plants, weeding and applying fertilizer for the planted trees and construction work to improve the hanging bridge and the banana raft.

 

Saturday 24/7/2010
1.30 P.M: Arrival of the volunteers. Welcome by BTEH and elephant fund committees with a welcome drink.
2.00 P.M: Start tree and elephant food planting.
4.00 P.M: Cut banana trees to feed the elephants.
4.30 P.M: Visit elephant, feed the elephant and relax at riverside.
5.30 P.M: Check in homestay houses in Baan Pai Yai and Baan Pai Noi villages. Walk around the villages and relax.
7.00 P.M: Dinner at the homestay houses.
8.00 P.M: Welcome and friendship ceremony. Traditional Isarn dance performance by kids of Baan Pai Yai.

Sunday 25/7/2010
7:30 A.M: Breakfast at homestay houses.
8.00 A.M: Meet up at the elephant island.
8.30 A.M: Tree maintenance: weeding and fertilizer.
11.30 A.M: Cut and peel elephant food.
12.00 A.M: Picnic lunch (Isarn food) at the mahout house and feed the elephant.
1.00 P.M: Construction work at the bridge and the banana raft.
3.30 P.M: Check out homestay houses, goodbyes to elephants and the villagers and travel back to Bangkok.
9.30 P.M: Arrive Bangkok

Accommodation & food
You will stay with your Isarn family for the weekend. This means we divide the volunteer group into smaller groups to stay in some houses. In the house you will have a room with your roommate, with fan and mosquito net. We provide all meals (Thai), water, coffee, tea. If you have special requests, please let us know in advance. Snacks and other drinks can be bought in the village.

Cost for volunteer weekend program during 24 – 25 June 2010 (2 days / 1 night) is 1,000 Baht/person (exclude transportation cost). An extra donation for the elephant fund would be appreciated.

Registration  please contact for booking at antoinette@bring-the-elephant-home.nl or call (081) 568 - 0571 by 24 July 2010

Good to bring:
- Sun block
- Cap or hat
- Comfortable shoes that can get dirty
- Gloves
- Water bottle
- Rain coat / umbrella
- Insect repellent
- Gift for the kids or the homestay family

Transport
By own vehicle:
From Bangkok drive up to Mittraphap road to Saraburi and then turn right to Nakon Ratchasima(highway no.226) – Chakkarat – Huai Thalaeng – Lam Plai Mat district. In front of the gate to Lammat water park you will see the big elephants friendly tourism sign.

This is a driving directions from Bangkok to Lam Plai Mat, Buri Ram, Thailand; 336 km – about 5 hours 15 mins click here >> map from Bangkok to Buriram

By public bus: Recommend Nakorn Chai Air bus(www.nca.co.th). Volunteer have to leave from Bangkok to Buriram at 8.30 A.M and will go back to Bangkok at 5.10 P.M in the next day. The ticket cost is about 350 Baht/round. The drive will take about 6 hours from Bangkok. BTEH staff will pick you up and send you to Buriram bus station.