By Dian Hasan | September 20, 2009
Departing from the adage “teach them young and they shall remember”, one Singapore-based organization – Eco Field Trips (EFT) – brings school kids closer top nature for a most rewarding “out-of-classroom” learning experience. Their programs span the Asia Pacific region, and all the way to South Africa. Ranging from studying Marine Bio-Diversity, Turtle Conservation to understanding Agricultural Societies and their Organic way of life, and Indigenous People. Here’s a look at their program in Phuket, Thailand.
Phuket is a relatively large island in Southern Thailand, and is a very popular spot for tourists and backpackers. However, many of Phuket’s visitors are oblivious to the large areas of unspoilt rainforest and mangrove, situated only a short drive from Phuket Town. The National Park, Khao Phra Thaeo, is designated as a Non-Hunting Zone, and the result is an incredibly biodiverse rainforest in pristine condition. This rainforest was once habitat to CITES protected white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar), although due to the demand for gibbons to be used as tourist attractions and in the illegal wildlife trade, no wild gibbons remain. The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (GRP), based on the edge of the National Park, is slowly repopulating this fantastic area of forest with gibbons rescued from life in captivity. In this trip students will have the opportunity to help the project to collect data on the released gibbon families. Some highlights include an overnight stay in the forest, learning about Thai culture and cuisine, and exploring and kayaking around Phang Nga Bay.
6 day trip
Trip can include ‘Marine Biology for Divers’
Eco Field Trips promotes EDUCATIONAL OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, for students ages 11 and 18 with a choice of different programs:
- In-depth GCSE Biology and Geography fieldwork
- Focus on Environmental Education, Conservation, Biology & Marine Ecology
- A Level coursework
- International Baccalaureate standard trips
- Undergraduate research programmes
- SCUBA Diving courses
- Marine Biology for divers
- GAP Year placements
Source: Eco Field Trips