THE EXPERIMENT

Join us for a little fun in the sun in paradise

The Philippines is a gorgeous tropical country in Southeast Asia of more than 7,000 islands. The beaches are white, the palm trees are always swaying and the amazing underwater world awaits you. This little heard about destination also has some of the friendliest people in the world. The Philippines lies within the marine biodiversity center of the world and like many countries in Southeast Asia, its people rely heavily on the ocean for their livelihood and sustenance. This study tour will take the time to explore the coastal area of the country, the people that live here and what is being done to protect their important marine resources.


You will have the opportunity to learn about some of the most bio-diverse tropical marine ecosystems in the world and experience them firsthand. Expect to jump into astonishing coral reefs, hike through dense mangroves and admire lazy white beaches. You will also have a chance to experience Filipino culture and join these friendly islanders on community-based tours which have been developed by the sustainable eco-tourism model. We will meet with local, non-governmental and international organizations to get an idea of what all sectors are doing to help this country and its people salvage the amazing marine resources that lay along their extensive coastline.

Specific activities will include:

- Dolphin and whale watching led by an community-based group
- Mangrove tour in one of the most ecologically diverse wetlands in the country
- Snorkeling or diving in some of the best coral reefs in the world
- River boat tours to explore important watershed areas and a chance to see the smallest primate in the world (the tarsier)
- Question and answer sessions with representatives from non-governmental, international and community groups regarding coastal conservation in the Philippines
- Some relaxation time in paradise and a chance for some sun in the middle of winter

Specific Topics of Lectures and Discussions Will Include

- General history and politics of the Philippines and its effect on the environment
- Current state of the Philippine coastal environment
- Tropical coastal ecosystem overview (mangrove, seagrass and coral reefs)
- Basic tropical fish and coral identification
- Basics of Ecotourism and Its Application in the Philippines
- Marine conservation techniques and applications (marine protected areas, habitat rehabilitation, fishery management)

Change Your Life

While this course is geared towards environmental and conservation issues, it is also meant to broaden the world perspective of the participants. We will examine the Philippines comprehensively and look at political, social, cultural and economic aspects of the country and the way that they affect the life of the people and the environment.

You will have the opportunity to experience a new culture and see how people outside of the United States live. We think that this is extremely valuable and for these reasons, this course is open to all students and non-students in the McDaniel community. There is no requirement of expertise or past coursework for joining this experimental study tour. The only requirement is an open mind and a willingness to learn about and experience a different way of life.

Come and join us for the time of your life!!! You might be surprised by how much it changes the way you think.

Toto, we're definitely not in Kansas anymore.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

A majority of our trip will be conducted in the Central Visayas, a group of islands lying in the center of the country. The Visayas are known for their beautiful beaches, world class coral reefs, delicious seafood and of course friendly faces. We will spend most of our time on the peaceful and gorgeous island of Bohol, one of the leading tourist destinations in the country and home to some of its most hospitable people. This is the island where Casey Gustowarow, one of your trip leaders, spent over two years as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer.

Jan 3 Arrive at McDaniel
Jan 4-6 Orientation Lectures and Pool Time (Snorkeling) at McDaniel
Jan 7 Flight from BWI to Philippines
Jan 8 Arrive in Manila, Philippines and Rest
Jan 9 Philippine National Museum and Filipino Cultural Sensitivity Training
Jan 10 Plane to Bohol
Jan 11 Loboc River Cruise (Watershed Exploration) and visit Chocolate Hills
Jan 12 Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour (Pamilacan Island)
Jan 13 Diving and Snorkeling at Balicasag Island and Discussion with Tour Operator
Jan 14 Cambuhat River Tour and Livelihood Showcase (Oyster Farming, Handicrafts)
Jan 15 Organic Farming and Raffia Weaving Demo and Application
Jan 16 Snorkeling and Diving at Cabilao Island
Jan 17 Travel to Talibon and Meeting with FISH Project and Project Seahorse about marine and fishery conservation initiatives in the region
Jan 18 Visit Danajon Double Barrier Reef and Experience Fisherfolk Life
Jan 19 Mangrove Adventure Tour (Candijay) and travel to Maribojoc for Homestay
Jan20 Maribojoc Community Life Demonstrations and Homestay
Jan 21 Flight from Tagbilaran to Manila (tour Manila)
Jan 22 Flight to BWI

OTHER CONCERNS

FOR WORRIED PARENTS AND PARTICIPANTS
Our study tour will be conducted primarily on the main islands of Bohol and Negros in the Central Visayas. This area of the Philippines is entirely safe, as is a large majority of the country. There are thousands of tourists that visit this area every year without any problems or safety issues. Two of the leaders of the study tour will be Returned U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers who lived in the Philippines for two years from 2004 until 2006. They speak the local language and understand local customs and will lead the students on a safe, fun and eye-opening adventure in this amazing country.

COSTS
The costs for the trip will be approximately $2700 per student. This cost however depends on a number of factors including the number of students who sign up for the course and the exchange rates. The course costs should be paid directly to the Bursar's Office with checks made out to "McDaniel College" with the name of the course in the subject line.

A $500 deposit is due by October 8 in the Bursar's Office.
A second payment of $1500 is due on October 22 in the Bursar's Office.
The final payment of $700 is due on November 5 in the Bursar's Office.

PASSPORTS
This is very important. If you do not have one, you will need to apply for a passport as soon as possible. This takes 10 weeks to secure so it is imperative that you do apply now. If you do not have a passport by the time of our Jan Term, you will be unable to join. For more information on how to apply visit the US Passport Home Page. You can apply for your passport at your post office. While you do need a passport, you will get a visa on arrival in the Philippines so you do not need to worry about this.

REGISTRATION
For information on how to register for Jan term courses go here.
For more general information about Jan Terms offered by McDaniel College go here.

You must register in person by October 8 (not online) for this course by filling out an ADD FORM at the Registrar's Office. This form should be signed by Dr. Esther Iglich who can be found in the IT Office. Please also email Casey Gustowarow at caseygusto@gmail.com and Esther Iglich at eiglich@mcdaniel.edu if you plan on taking this Jan term.

When you register for the course, all students are required to submit a Student Record Review Form directly to the Office of Student Affairs. Before the end of the first semester on December 15, all participants on the trip are required to submit three additional forms to the Office of Student Affairs. These forms are a Contact Information Form, Health Information Form and a Liability Release Form for Jan Term courses. Hard or electronic copies of these forms can be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs or the International Programs Office. These forms can also be downloaded here.

This course will be open to McDaniel alumni and other non-students who are seriously interested in this course. The same fees will need to be paid by these participants. Interested individuals should contact the Registrar's Office at McDaniel College to request to audit the course.

PRE-DEPARTURE MEETINGS
We will have two or three meetings during the first semester. During this time we will review all of the necessary concerns and have some paperwork for you to fill out. We will also review expectations and rules of the trip as well as our planned itinerary. A few lectures will be given at this time to give the participants important background information on the Philippines. These meetings are a requirement of all participants.

COURSE REQUIRMENTS
1. Attendance at all pre-departure meetings and participation in all study tour activities
2. Daily journal during trip
3. Group presentation to larger McDaniel community upon return

IN CHARGE
Your leaders for the trip will be two environmental biologists and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers from the Philippines, J. Casey Gustowarow ('02 McDaniel) and Laura Galati ('03 Northern Arizona University) and the fun-loving Environmental Policy and Science coordinator and CIO at McDaniel, Dr. Esther Iglich. If you have further concerns or any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at caseygusto@gmail.com or eiglich@mcdaniel.edu. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

HEALTH AND INSURNACE INFORMATION
If your health insurance does not cover international travel, I would suggest purchasing a cheap short term policy. One which I have heard good things about is World Nomads. You can also use this policy to cover valuables such as cameras and i-Pods.

According to the Center for Disease Control, there are no necessary vaccines for the Philippines. Malaria is not an issue in the area of the Philippines where we will be visiting.

WHAT TO BRING
Please do not bring too much as we will be traveling quite a bit and a lot of luggage is not necessary and will make traveling difficult. It is good practice to travel light. You are going to a tropical country so you should not need heavy clothes. There is also no need to dress to impress. We will be able to do laundry along the way so there is no need to bring 14 pairs of clothes. Here are my suggestions:

1 swimsuit (it is a conservative country so please nothing provocative)
5 shirts (t-shirts are fine)
5-7 pairs of underwear
1 pair sandals or Chaco/Teva type shoes
1-2 pairs shorts
1 pair lightweight pants
1 nicer top
1 long sleeve for air-conditioned plane and transportation
1 lightweight rain jacket (optional as it might not rain)
1 book for the plane and other travel
snorkeling gear (optional but highly recommended as the coral reefs are amazing)
sunblock
insect repellent
hat
sunglasses
personal medication and toiletries