Izi joined the gap year and life team last month and helping gappers and families organise their trips for 2012/2013. She comes with a great camps history having stayed for 3 months in Camp Kenya in 2005 so has a lot of insider knowledge. Great pic here the one with only one eye is Izi!

My Name is Izi Dragonetti

The best thing about working for Camps is the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere that greets you everyday, oh, and also being a part of something worthwhile!

Ideally I’d like for Camps to send me to all of our destinations. Then I will truly be able to speak with authority about the projects we run and the uniqueness of each destination. But if I had to pick…Borneo or Cambodia!

I think probably the best and most memorable place I have been is Kerala, India and in particular the backwaters of Cochin.

I think my favorite  camps project is probably Camp Kenya, simply because I have been a gapper there in the past, and I feel quite protective of the project work I was involved in.

My best advice for someone considering taking a gap year would be to JFDI. Also go on your own and travel light! follow the gap team on twitter @campsgapyear

We thought it was about time that we started introducing some of the UK office staff to you. Our operations team in Asia, Africa and South America all feature on our project blogs and newsletter so how about a change. We’re going to start with Sarah one of our Gap Year expedition co-ordinators. Sarah joined us in November 2011 and has taken a firm grip on our family life and Gap products. If you’ve called the office in the past few months most likely you have been cheered by her friendly tone.

Expedition Co-ordinator

Sarah has travelled extensively in the middle East and is pictured here at a spring in the Egyptian desert. We asked her a few questions about Camps International to get to know her better.

Q: What do you like best about working for Camps?

A: How passionate everyone in the company is about what we do. And of course, the people and animals!

Q: Where would you most like to go with Camps?

 A: All of them!! But if i HAD to choose i think Ecuador has the edge…

 Q: Favorite place you’ve ever been?

A: Egypt

Q: Your favourite camps project:

Helping to improve a community run aquarium that takes in injured marine wildlife such as sea lions, marine turtles, sea birds and even penguins on the coast in Ecuador.

Q: Best piece of advice for anyone considering a gap or life trip:

A: MAKE LIKE NIKE AND JUST DO IT!!!

Thanks Sarah.

If you’re looking to book your expedition with Camps International this month we have a fantastic prize draw on offer for anyone who confirms their place by the end of the month.

As seasoned travellers we have scoured the globe for the best prize and have chosen the Haglöf  OXO 60 trekking pack - worth a whopping £200! This pack is perfectly suited for all of our various adventures and expeditions. All you have to do is choose your Gap or Life destination and book before the end of April 2012 (5pm GMT on 30th April 2012) to be included in the draw. If you’re considering a Camps International expedition then now’s your chance to save yourself an essential travel purchase.

As usual with these offers we will choose the winner from a hat and post the video on our Facebook page so that you can see the draw. The prize draw will be held on the 1st May 2012.

Check out all the bag’s fancy features:

1. Quick and easy adjustable shoulder harness system.
2. Gender specific back-panel, shoulder harness and hipbelt (we will supply the winner with the correct bag for them)
3. Load-distributing framework with contoured head space.
4. HDPE frame-sheet with single 6061 aluminium stay.
5. High loft lumbar-pad with ventilating dual density foams.
6. Haglöfs unique side panel Flex-Pocket™ with water resistant zippers.
7. Large front panel zip-opening for easy access to main compartment.
8. Double wand pockets.
9. Angled water bottle holders.
10. Divider in main compartment.
11. Sleeping bag compartment.
12. Double pockets and water resistant zipper.
13. Fully seam taped rain-cover in separate bottom compartment.
14. Lashing points for sleeping pad on front panel.

So what are you waiting for? Enquire now to find out more about the trips available to you, or book online now! You can also give us a call on 0844 800 1127 to have a chat with one of the team. This prize draw only applies to new Gap and Life bookings made during April 2012.

What’s Hot in April?

April is our biggest month for Family life sales and so far this year we have been filling up Kenya and Tanzania with excited families wanting to do something different. The Healthcare Outreach programmes in Cambodia and Kenya are producing a lot of interest with repeat bookings from last year and new ones who have heard how successful the last one  to Kenya was.

2012 has seen the level of spending by gap year clients rise as our gappers look to stay longer with us at each camp. The best thing about staying longer is not just the impact but you get to see more wildlife, more communities, more environments and of course much more fun. If you book 2 months in Borneo it includes a stay on the tropical island of Mantanani where the Arkitrek guys have just finished their latest project. There are also some incredible projects taking place in Camp Kenya this year including the Sanitary Pads initiative at Muhaka Village and the Wildlife monitoring in Camp Tsavo. If you book to go to Kenya on your gap year you have a great chance of taking part on these and many more ground breaking projects.

If you’re interested just drop us a line via email: gap@campsinternational.com or call +44 (0)8448001127.