Thank you Klaire Dale…

“Well I’m home and hating it! Can’t adjust to being back in gloomy England. Was great to see you (albeit briefly,) at Camp Imani and when we popped into the Diani office. Just wanted to say a huge thank you really. Genuinely. It was an incredible month…tough, but incredible. I’m an Ethics teacher – I spend every day trying to get students to think inside a stuffy classroom with damp creeping up the walls and an exam agenda to stick too. Never before in my whole career have I seen my students learning so actively and intensely as I did in Kenya. And not just learning the facts by rote, but processing information, feeling it, and forming their own opinions or modifying their worldview.

I teach Buddhism mostly and drone on and on about ‘enlightenment’ … occasionally in the classroom you get that lightbulb moment when a student suddenly gets something…but in Kenya it happened virtually every day. Someone would feel something, spontaneously, and it would be written all over their faces; sometimes a smile, sometimes a whole face sagging in despair, sometimes tears (real unplanned, unforced, ugly tears,) but everyday there was an enlightenment of some kind. I love my students, I want to shelter them from despair if at all possible, but I learnt that occasionally the curtain has to be lifted and they have to suffer through those bittersweet revelations that life is often terrible…and sometimes the terrible is beautiful and empowering too.

Anyway, I’m waffling. I just wanted to honestly state that what you do is life altering and the Camps teams in Kenya have sincerely changed the lives of 19 South Wirral/Devizes/Oaks Parks students and a small Wiltshire based Ethics teacher. It was a privilege to be out there and to spend time with some truly courageous individuals (Mama Mercy being a prime example,) and if you’re ever in need of a UK teacher then for goodness sake please shout. I would join you out there in a heartbeat.

Please pass on my sincerest thanks to all the Camp managers (Gladys, Mama M and Sammy K especially) and all the project managers and staff that were involved. I’m not the same teacher I was before I left, and I have all of you to thank for that, both professionally and personally.”

Klaire.x

Our parang-wielding,  cement-mixing, barmy army of  students from Kennet School took Borneo by storm!! With the help of the legend that is; “Chief” and the amazing Camps International staff at Bongkud we made massive progress on the community centre which will be the hub-bub of the village and provide a place for the community to congregate and hold important ceremonies and gatherings.

From digging, sawing and sweating in the scorching Malaysian heat, to getting covered in thick, orange mud from head to toe, the students from Kennet school “got stuck-in” (literally!) and made a huge impact to each project they attacked!!

The artists of the group put smiles on the faces of the local children by creating a beautiful mural for the kindergarten, whilst a team of  Rambo-like adventurers built signs and benches from scratch and marched them to the top of  Bongkud hill with the stealth of Royal marines!!

Other dedicated students really helped the community  to become self-sufficient by building a permaculture garden (using their trusty parang-skills), spent hours digging a septic tank for the nursery, spent unforgettable time teaching and playing with the local students and helped refurbish the single women’s centre!

Our faction bravely took on the jungle of Borneo with the same vigor, breaking records as they marched through the impenetrable, humid home of the infamous orangutan and blood thirsty leeches!  Each night we set up camp and fell asleep to the surreal orchestra of insects and jungle inhabitants.

Once again our students proved their physical fitness and determination, conquering the challenging terrain and working brilliantly as a team. Some tried new delicacies such as freshly caught frogs and fish and drank from vines and bamboo in true jungle fashion!

Batu Puteh provided our group with a new challenging jungle setting in which to set up camp.  Boating along the Kinabatangan river we spied reams of primates including the loveable, yet unfortunate-looking Proboscis monkey, a huge monitor lizard and for the lucky few a crocodile in action hunting its prey…an unsuspecting snake!

The team took to the reforestation project like no other, clearing a huge area of shrub with parangs and hand-made rakes.  In two days they planted over 1,000 trees, which in time will not only be the home to Orangutans and wildlife currently threatened by deforestation, but also covers the entire group’s carbon footprint…and some!

The expedition concluded with an unforgettable trip to the fantastic Orangutan sanctuary and a well-deserved break in KK on the beach where some of our budding stars performed a Malay/ Western combo of songs to the amusement of their peers and some of the locals!

What an experience!!  On behalf of me and all the camps staff, I can’t thank all at Kennet enough for making such an impact and for making the Borneo Jungle school Expedition an unforgettable experience of a lifetime! Lou.

Upon returning back from an amazing school expedition in Kenya, now seems a great time to look back and reflect- not just on the amazing and worthwhile projects that our great volunteers worked on, but also the fun and games of living as a large group.

Every year the students we take away on expedition work really hard in the lead up to expedition, laying in tubs of baked beans and knocking on doors to fundraise the money to get them out to country for the experience of a lifetime. So when we finally get them out there we are always in awe of how ready they are to continue this hard work. Meeting and more importantly, living alongside local communities is a great way to truly understand the challenges that these people face but to be a part of the solution too.

Being 15-18 years old and many of them preparing or going through A-levels, this acts as a mini gap year and seems the perfect age for them to really take in the experience and use it to its fullest in the future. But put a group of 20 odd teenagers in the middle of Kenya and try telling them that early mornings are the norm and hard work is always the aim of the day- the reaction that we get every time is truly awe inspiring. Making a difference is what we are there for and these guys seem to grasp that as soon as they are faced with the poverty surrounding them. Building, digging (lots of digging!), teaching and integrating into the communities is the daily routine and we all woke with smiles on our faces knowing that today, we are going to make a difference!

So with blisters anew and backs aching, it seem only fair to ensure that laughter and good times are par for the course- and one of the best places for this was on the beautiful coastline of Diani. What an incredible experience to be living on the beach with open top showers to watch the sun rising in the morning and songs around the camp fire in the evening.

Winston Churchill School, Liskeard School, Winsford Academy and Sir John Colfox school all came together to create an expedition team- they are now known as ‘The Kikundi’ which means ‘the pack’ in Swahili. The best part of travelling as a large group is the ability to meet new people and whether you knew the people you are travelling with before or not, there is never any question that you will become like a large family throughout the experience and make real lifelong friendships- unfortunately this also means that there are always tears when saying goodbye. But here’s to a reunion in October- I can’t wait to see you all again and hear how life has changed since you got back!

At Camps International we’ve seen a big surge in bookings and enquiries over the last few days… The Gap team have ringing ear drums at the thought of more calls tomorrow. Yes tomorrow is Saturday and the full team will be in to deal with the extra calls. We are also looking to add an extra departure date to some of our destinations especially Borneo and Cambodia due to their popularity. If you want to hold your place on a trip until 1300 on Monday 22nd August you can do so for £20.

Ngonzeni Kitchen

We know thats not much time to decide but with all the news coverage we’ve had lately tied in with past client references the phones won’t stop ringing. As you know the offer of 70 extra UCAS points from ASDAN is available if you sign up to Cope Level 3  has made a Camps International trip essential for those of you who just failed to make clearing. No you don’t get the points just for turning up or Whale watching you have to put in a lot of work.

Stuart Rees Jones CEO and founder (our lord and master) of Camps International has been quoted all over the national papers recently including the Telegraph, Times and Daily Mail. It hasn’t done much to improve his ego but its nice to know Camps International are the go to company for sensible comment on the Gap Year industry.

Don’t forget if you’ve traveled with Camps International you can recommend a friend and earn £50 cash if they book and travel. We want as many Gap Year volunteers as possible this year to continue our 100+ projects.

Healthcare Outreach

A’Level results are out today… After such a long wait we’d like to congratulate you if it went well and offer the chance to help if they didn’t. If you are thinking of taking some time out this year, even a whole Gap Year  and want to see the world then consider a bit of volunteering. 

What makes Camps International stand out from the rest you ask?

We own and run our own camps and projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Borneo, Cambodia and Ecuador. When you book with Camps International, you travel with Camps International.

Where will your money go?

This should be your first question to any company to ensure your hard earned cash doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. If you take a Gap Year with Camps International, 40% of  your money goes on projects that benefit the local community, wildlife and environment where you will be travelling. You will see first hand your money in action, its very exciting.

How else do your trips benefit the local communities?

Camps International employ over 150 local staff worldwide. The Camps Managers, drivers, cooks and guides are all from the local area and are full time employees. This alone makes a huge impact financially and allows you to immerse yourself in the culture and community the instant you arrive.

What do people have to say about Camps International?

Camps International have won the Responsible Tourism Awards “Best volunteering organistation”. Camps International have also been awarded the eco-warrior award in Kenya for “Best sustainable volunteering organisation” . Have a look at our project blog to see what has been going on for the last few years and check our Facebook page to see  what clients think of us.

Why should I volunteer on my Gap Year?

Camps International are an accredited ASDAN centre and you can sign up to the Cope Level 3 Award giving you the chance to get 70 extra UCAS points. Over 70% of our clients raise most of the money themselves through fund-raising or work. This combined with the type of projects you will be involved in will enhance your university application or job application above any other.

If you want  more information enquire here or call us on 0844 800 1127

There is a lot of media coverage at the moment covering the value and necessity of a gap year. With University fees going up to £9k a year in 2012 its worth a bit of debate on the issue…

Does this spell the end of the Gap Year? Our answer is NO…

If you want to see the world, enjoy yourself and make new friends we’ve got no problem with that. If you want to improve the world you visit, enhance the lives of your new friends and enjoy yourself then you simply must talk to us.

Our camps are uniquely co-located within communities and wildlife areas, away from the main tourist circuit, enabling all our volunteers to become part of the local community and experience complete cultural immersion as a guest, not a tourist!

According to a recent survey two thirds of our  volunteers raised 75% or more of their funds through fundraising. This isn’t about parents writing a cheque, this is about independence, self esteem and most importantly showing initiative. We want our volunteers to travel with us with the same sense of pride that we take to work each day. The average Camps International volunteer will have shed blood sweat and tears to make this opportunity a reality before they even set foot on a plane.

To give you an idea of  what you can achieve over the last 2 months our Gap Year and School volunteers have:

• Planted over 7500 trees worldwide
• Constructed 8 traditional houses for impoverished local people in Kenya
• Made desks and chairs for 400 students in four schools
• Provide 30,000litres of water storage and catchment
• Renovated and rebuilt 7 classrooms in four different schools

Not to mention the collection and recycling of tonnes of marine refuse, micro finance initiatives, anti jigger campaigns, adult literacy classes etc etc.

If you haven’t done as well as you’d hoped in your results or been turned down by your chosen university put yourself in their position.

Would I like to accept or employ someone who has…

• Volunteered to make a difference to others less fortunate
• Volunteered to help the environment
• Volunteered to protect endangered wildlife
• Chosen a company that employs 150+ local staff full time in Africa, Asia and South America

Most importantly, someone who has learnt to raise their own funds for their trip. It doesn’t matter if you sat in a bath tub of baked beans, washed cars, flipped burgers or even set up your own jewellery shop. These are life skills that no-one is going to turn down, what are you waiting for! Camps International are here to help you every step of the way.

Don’t forget you can also do the ASDAN award for 70 UCAS ASDAN points or take the universities award. So go on select an ethical company that will improve your CV, boost your independence and give you the time of your life.

Give us a call now and have a chat about the rest of you life…0844 800 1127 or use the enquiry form provided.

Just back from a fantastic trip round our Camps in Asia and a chance to see our school expeditions in full swing and check on progress with our gap year volunteers.  The Asia team are in epic form and starting to feel my age after 6 flights and a lot of hours on the road, mainly in tuk tuk’s and taxis, getting round to see all our projects.  I luckily arrived in time for cake at the Camp Bongkud birthday bash and Rory pictured here on knees as he is twice the height of anyone else in the Asia team.

We blew out to Mantanani Island to find a group kitting up for the mid morning dive.  So far no complaints about having to walk 10 feet from your tent at Camp Mantanani to the dive store and another 30 feet to the ocean and boat.  If only every day could work like this.  Oh yes and that is Mt Kinabalu in the background, on the mainland 45 minutes away.

Billy and the dive team

50 feet from tent to shore!

Clear warm waters, a brand new dive boat and Mt Kinabalu (with our school expeditions on it) in the background.

The Camp Team are clearly being overworked and good to see them dig out the clean t shirt for the photo.

The school build project at Camp Mantanani is a short stroll through palm trees along the shore, past a large cow (That Mel screamed and ran from when it moved 2 inches…..locals!!) and great to find the chief of the village sporting a health and safety approved Camp Borneo cap busy with classroom construction.

We plan to use every eco trick we can in the book to make this a very special project and to maintain what we have started on the island such as the driftwood and marine refuse community centre.

Collected by teams and recycled for construction

Next stop Cambodia……..and yep thats me on the left……the slightly slimmer one.

With less grey hair.

After a week of heavy coverage in the news about ASDAN’s Cope Level 3 award and furious debate as to its value we asked Lily to tell us about her experience… Lily travelled with Camps International to Camp Kenya on her Gap Year in March 2011. Lily was the first of our volunteers to undertake [...]

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