Volunteer in SE Asia's Major Wildlife Region and Help Burmese Karen Refugees

  Thailand

• All Other Areas in Thailand: 
Petchaburi

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Description: This is for the adventurous animal and nature loving volunteer! Go where no tourists can go.

- Help people and nature in Thailand's largest national park.
- Work with national park staff, rangers and officers and the local WWF staff.
- Teach English, make information available in English.
- Put into practice, responsible eco tourism services.
- Teach Burmese Karen refugees in isolated villages.

The Kaeng Krachan National Park is the largest park in Thailand, located on the slope of the Tenasserim Mountain Range on the border to Burma only about 3 hours from Bangkok.

Most is covered by rain forests. Rainfall and undisturbed forests make the waterfalls and rivers of Kaeng Krachan flow all year round. Humidity is high and weather is cool by Thai standards.

A Unique Biodiversity!

Lianas, ferns, and orchids. Oaks and maples coexist with palms, vines and fruit trees.
Wild elephants, Asian bisons (gaurs), deer, banteng (wild cattle), bears, tigers, leopards, tapirs, gibbons, langurs and Asian wild dogs are some of the endangered specie found in the forests.

Some 400 of Thailand's 900 bird species live in the park. Hornbills, black eagles, songbirds, woodpeckers, a bird watcher's paradise!

The park is one of the last stands of the nearly extinct Siamese crocodile.

And plenty of the visitor's best friends - the blood sucking leeches and mosquitoes!

Some of the biggest dangers to fauna and flora comes from commercial poaching and human settlements inside the park.

Highlights: Many tourists visit Kaeng Krachan, a few are foreigners but tourists must stay in specially designated areas, roads.      

OpenmindProjects volunteers go to the remote areas and work in the midst of this most fascinating wildlife on a day-to-day basis, an amazing opportunity to learn about conservation and wildlife management while at the same time contributing to responsible eco tourism and wildlife conservation.

This is the best place in Thailand to actually get a chance to visit the habitats of tigers, tapirs, Siamese crocodiles and wild elephants.

Volunteers work with national park and WWF staff, at some schools, a Karen people village.

Volunteers teach basic English and create information in English about the NP. Volunteers either stay at the national park quarters, the Karen village,or if trekking with rangers, in a tent or at a ranger station inside the park.

Qualifications:
* Fit for trekking in the jungle and willing to live with local people
* English
* Interest in nature

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Curious, dedicated,open minded, adaptable

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Thailand Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 3-5

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Open mind projects's Mission Statement: Open Mind Projects is a bridge to knowledge and cross-cultural understanding, bridging digital and knowledge divides between rich and poor. Open Mind Projects arranges placements for international volunteers to schools, Orphan Homes, other institutions and projects, in Thailand and Laos. Open Mind Projects cooperates with these schools and institutions with learning ideas, technology and international volunteers. Schools and other learning/youth institutions in developing nations are understaffed and under resources. New information technology and international volunteers help offset this advantage. Open Mind Projects wants to facilitate valuable cross-cultural experience, personal development, for volunteers and local childeren and students. An opportunity to learn about other cultures while making local and international friends, within an affordable backpacker budget.

Year Founded: 2001