| |
| GIANT PANDA PROGRAM |
 Volunteers in this program will have the rare opportunity to work at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda located in the Wolong Nature Reserve*; the center is dedicated to preserving animals, specifically the giant panda. To help prevent the panda from going extinct, panda behavior and bamboo ecology is studied. The center then shares their research with other research centers in China and around the world to improve the lives and increase the population of pandas.
Volunteers will be working with giant pandas as well as other animals including China's golden monkey and the red panda.
REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must have an advanced English speaking level
Applicant must be mature and have an interest in the conservation of animals
Applicant must provide up-date immunization and/or physical exam records**
Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by parents or legal guardians
No children under 10 years old are allowed (policy of the Panda Center)
Chinese Language ability is NOT a requirement
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Volunteers will work 6-7 hours per day depending on the time of year. Volunteers will be responsible for preparing food and feeding the pandas, working with experienced veterinarians in Wolong's Panda Hospital, and helping with various research studies, data collection and panda behavior observation. Twice a day volunteers will be asked to clean the panda's living area and the young panda's play area (removing waste and bamboo leaves). In addition to these activities volunteers have the chance to play with panda cubs and hike the beautiful mountains surrounding the Wolong Panda Center. For safety reasons each volunteer will also be shadowed by a local staff member at all times. Due to the nature of the work, volunteers need to be mature, responsible, and have an interest in the conservation of animals.
There are two Panda volunteer programs:
A - Three (3) Day Volunteer Program for persons already residing in China
B – Ten (10) Day Volunteer and Travel Program for persons visiting China from another country
For university or other academic groups, Abroad China will package the program per request. Please contact us for details
PROGRAM A – 3 DAY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Program A is a 3 day program focused entirely on working with the pandas at the Wolong Panda Conservation Center and is designed for people already living in China
| FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE
: |
ITINERARY****
: |
| Airport pick-up and drop-off
Visa Application Assistance (US only)
Round trip transportation between the Wolong Panda Conservation Center and the Chengdu airport
2 nights accommodation at Wolong Panda Conservation Center
Volunteer work placement
Program coordination
Panda Museum tour
Entry to the Wolong Panda Conservation Center
Mandatory donation to the Wolong Panda Conservation Center
Work attire rentals
Picture opportunities while holding the endangered panda
Certification of volunteer hours and donation contributions |
Day 1:
Afternoon: arrive at Chengdu Airport
Go to Wolong Panda Center
Day 2:
Volunteer work at Wolong Panda Center
Day 3:
Morning: volunteer at Wolong Panda Center
Afternoon: return to Chengdu |
PROGRAM B – 10 DAY VOLUNTEER & TRAVEL PROGRAM
Program B is for people visiting from outside of China and wish to visit other sites during their time here in China. This option includes the 3 day Panda Volunteer Program, which is the same as Option A, but also includes 7 days of travel. Participants will arrive in Beijing and spend a few days to enjoy the wonderful sites this city has to offer. After Beijing, participants will fly to Chengdu to volunteer for 3 days at the Wolong Panda Conservation Center. Once the volunteer program is completed, the participant will see the beautiful sights of Chengdu and then see Shanghai.
| FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE : |
|
| What's included: |
ITINERARY****: |
| 3 night hotel accommodation in Beijing
2 nights accommodation at Wolong Panda Conservation Center
1 night accommodation in Chengdu
3 night hotel accommodation in Shanghai
China domestic flight tickets (Beijing to Chengdu and Chengdu to Shanghai)
Airport pick up and/or drop off (Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai)
Round trip transportation between the Wolong Panda Conservation Center and the Chengdu airport
Volunteer work placement
Program coordination
Entry to Wolong Panda Conservation Center
Mandatory donation to Wolong Panda Conservation Center
Work attire rentals
Picture opportunities while holding the endangered panda
Certificates of volunteer hours and donation contribution
Cell Phone
Call center support |
Day 1: Arrive in Beijing; hotel check in
Day 2 & 3: Tour Beijing
Day 4: Morning: Check out of hotel and tour Beijing
Afternoon: Fly to Chengdu; travel from Chengdu airport to Wolong Panda Conservation Center
Day 5: Volunteer work at Wolong Panda Center
Day 6: Morning: volunteer at Wolong Panda Center
Afternoon: Travel back to Chengdu; check in to hotel
Day 7: Morning: tour Chengdu
Afternoon: fly to Shanghai; hotel check in
Day 8 & 9: Tour Shanghai
Day 10: Check out of Hotel; tour Shanghai; program ends
RETURN FLIGHT HOME
|
PROGRAM FEE
| |
Program Option |
| |
(A) 3 Day Volunteer Program |
(B) 10 Day Volunteer & Travel Program |
Non-Refundable Deposit
(Deducted from Total Program Cost) |
(A) $300 USD |
(B) $500 USD |
Total Program Cost (Including Deposit)
(Double Occupancy) |
(A) $790 USD |
(B) $2,280 USD |
| Single Occupancy Supplement |
+$60 USD |
+ $450USD |
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Some trips may NOT be taken at the Wolong reserve but at the Bi Feng Xia nature reserve which is newly built and is in no way a decrease in value from Wolong. At the moment the Bi Feng Xia reserve does NOT have baby Pandas.
- The road to the Wolong Nature Reserve is presently under construction. Please be aware that delays can occur either going to or coming from the Wolong Nature Reserve. You may wish to arrive in Chengdu a day before your program starts and depart a day after. Please contact the Abroad China staff for details regarding this aspect of your trip.
- We recommend bringing your own boots for working in
- The price quotes for both programs A & B DO NOT include airfare to and from China.
 * WOLONG NATURE RESERVE
The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda is located in the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province. The Reserve is located in China's Min and Qionglai Mountains on the border of the Tibetan Plateau. Chengdu is the nearest city and is 3 hours away by car. The center is predominantly a non-profit organization and receives funding from the Chinese Government, wildlife organizations across the world and individuals.
**APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE COPIES OF THEIR IMMUNIZATION RECORDS AND/OR A PHYSICAL EXAM RECORD
The Panda Centers require that all participants in the program provide either their immunization records or a physical exam record that is no more than three (3) months old. The easiest to obtain is likely usually the physical exam record.
Physical Exam Record
A physical exam record is required by the Panda Center as a result of one of the Pandas catching a nearly fatal disease from coming into contact with visitors to the center. The physical exam record ultimately needs to show that you as the volunteer:
Have no communicable skin disease
Are in good health
Be signed by a physician
Be no more than three (3) months old
Please contact Abroad China if you have an questions or are confused about the Physical Exam Record
***CELL PHONE
Participants in Program B will be given a cellular phone to use while in China. The phone allows individuals to utilize Abroad China's Call Center service, which can give peace of mind while traveling in China.
USD$50 will be refunded at the end of the program if the cell phone has not been lost or damaged. There will be 300 minutes on the cell phone, more minutes can be purchased if needed.
****ITINERARY
In some cases Abroad China may be able to adjust the itinerary slightly to accommodate any special needs or requests. However any changes in the itinerary may cause the price to increase.
Application Forms
(The application forms below can ONLY be opened using an INTERNET EXPLORER web browser. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.)
*Application Form for GIANT PANDA PROGRAM |
|
| |
| Contact Us | For Companies | Photo Gallery |
|
|
