Learning Tours

Register for any of these Learning Tours by printing off and mailing in this form

Honduras: July 14-23, 2009

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Leaders: Soila Matute, David Radcliff, Jim Dodd
Cost: $675 ($600 - student) plus roundtrip airfare to Tegucigalpa

Live and work in a community in the poor southern area of one of the world's poorest countries. Hosted by the Christian Commission for Development, the delegation will learn about the causes and consequences of poverty, help with a construction project of benefit to the community, and build relationships by working, playing, and sharing together--and maybe getting whipped in a soccer match! The trip closes with a visit to La Tigra National Park outside Tegucigalpa.

Denali / Kenai Fjords: July 30 - August 7, 2009

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Leaders: David Radcliff, Daniel Radcliff
Cost - from Anchorage: $750 ($650 - student)

Read Wolves by Merle Crouse, 2006 participant

Denali National Park is one of the natural wonders of the world. Human impact is kept to a minimum in this vast wilderness area, with animals ranging freely and often in plain view. Among those frequently sighted are moose, caribou, grizzly, sheep, foxes, and a variety of birds. Not quite as frequently sighted is Mt. McKinley - at over 20,000 feet, it is the hightest mountain in North America. When it emerges from its self-generated cloud cover, it presents an awe-inspiring sight. The Denali portion of the trip includes hiking (not backpacking), camping, spiritual reflection, and a day-long bus tour of the park. The final leg of this Learning Tour takes the group on foray down the southeastern coast to Seward for exploration of glaciers and sea life, including a boat trip into the Kenai Fjords National Park. Also visit a native cultural center and learn about current issues affecting indigenous people. Lodging in Seward is at the Moby Dick hostel.

Arctic Village, Alaska: August 7-14, 2009

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Leaders: Charlie Swaney, David Radcliff
Cost: $875 (from Fairbanks)

Visit this north-of-the-Arctic Circle village flanked by the Brooks range and bordered by the Chandalar River. This Gwich'in community of 150 people depends on the Porcupine Caribou Herd for food and for the cultural grounding of their people. Learn about native life and Gwich'in concerns about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, hike and camp in ANWR south of the Brooks Range (no backpacking), experience the untamed beauty of one of the most spectacular areas in North America. Trip begins in Fairbanks with background meetings, heads to Arctic Village, then returns to Fairbanks for wrap-up.

West Virginia : October 2-5, 2009

Leaders: Tom Beneveto
Cost: $250 (tentative) from Bluefield, WV

This first-time trip for NCP explores the impacts of the destructive practice of mountaintop coal removal—taking off the tops of mountains to mine coal, at enormous cost to the environment. Visit affected communities and natural areas; learn about our dependence on coal and the many ecological impacts of this practice; explore alternatives to fossil fuels.

Looking Ahead :

Burma: January 12-23, 2010

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Leaders: David Radcliff, Nyan Min Din
Cost: $1050 ($950 student) plus RT airfare

Join a delegation to the fascinating and troubled country of Burma (Myanmar). Learn about Asian culture, Buddhist religion, and economic, political and social realities in one of the poorest nations in the region. Visit out-of-the-way villages as well as typical cultural sites; drive by the house of Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner held under house arrest by the Burmese government. Visit Christian groups working with grassroots development projects; experience the natural beauty and gracious people of this southeast Asian country. Spend 2 nights/1 day trekking to a Pa Loung hilltribe village to experience their culture; visit a silk garment factory and learn about worker conditions; visit communities that have received NCP grants for women's development and post-cyclone school assistance. 

Don't take our word for it--see what Jim Carrey has to say about the situation in Burma: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NySuaJ2B20E

Ecuadorian Amazon: May 11-22, 2010

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Co-leaders: David Radcliff and Mariana Almieda, Siona shaman Delio
Cost: $1150 per person plus roundtrip airfare ($1075 - student)

Explore the incredible beauty and biodiversity of the Ecuadorian Amazon! See monkeys, pink dolphins, loads of birds, caiman (crocodiles), leaf-cutter ants, sloths--and perhaps the elusive jaguar (yes, we saw one on one of our trips!) and anaconda (one of these days!).This trip is hosted by Selva Foundation: Life Without Frontiers, an organization committed to indigenous rights, sustainable development, and preservation of the rainforest. The trip will begin with an overnight in Quito, then proceed to the Cuyabeno National Park. The group will camp and hike in the rainforest, learning about the plants and animals of one of the most biodiverse places on earth. We will also see first-hand the impacts of oil drilling, poverty and ranching on the rainforest ecosystem. Plenty of good discussion with seasoned analyst Pieter Jan Brouwer. Our on-site guide will be Delio, a shaman and leader of the Siona indigenous community. Summary discussions and a stop at a renowned artisan community will close the trip. Learn more about our host organization at: http://www.selvaco.org

Learn more about the rainforest! http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

Sudan January 10-24, 2011 (tentative dates)
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Leaders: Liliace Araba, David Radcliff
Cost: $1400 (plus airfare)

The East African nation of Sudan is working to rebuild after a devastating 35-year long civil war that left millions dead or displaced. Experience the resilience, culture and hospitality of this people; visit local communities; meet with church and civic leaders; experience the magnificence of the African landscape; see elephants and hippos along the Nile River.

Host and guide for the visit will be Liliace Araba of the Youth/Women's desk of the New Sudan Council of Churches. Group limited to 9 participants.