OUR WORK
Students will volunteer in local schools in rural and urban Bhutan. Some of these classrooms will be run by Canadian teachers (who have been recruited through the Bhutan Canada Foundation). Blyth students will help in the classrooms, pair up with Bhutanese students for a reading buddies program, and facilitate school-wide outdoor recreational activities. As well, students will participate in a litter clean-up project in the community. Environmental sustainability projects will also be on our agenda as we work to preserve a green future for Bhutan. Students taking the Challenge and Change in Society course will focus on the theories and methodologies used in anthropology, psychology, and sociology to investigate and explain shifts in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour and their impact on society, first in the Western world and then in the Himalaya region. Students will have the unique opportunity to meet with a high government official to discuss how Bhutan’s strict closed-door policy has allowed the country to remain unchanged for hundreds of years.

OUR PLAY
Passing Mount Everest on the way (it can be viewed from the plane), this trip will reveal the hidden ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ that is rarely seen by outsiders. Students will visit the cities and towns of Paro, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang, and the capital city of Thimphu. During the trip, students will trek to various sites like the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery and visit a number of dzongs in which monks are trained. As well, they will learn about the national sport of archery, be fitted in national dress for volunteer work, visit craft museums, learn about and visit the office of the Bhutan Canada Foundation, do some shopping, and learn about the politics, food and culture in Bhutan. Then they will get a very rare opportunity to meet and stay with a Bhutanese family and meet Canadian teachers working in remote villages.

COURSES • Grade 12 Challenge and Change in Society (HSB4M) • Grade 12 Philosophy: Questions and Theories (HZT4U) Note: Students can choose to participate in this program as a community-service volunteer only or choose to take the Change and Challenge in Society course. Students on the March Break program who are enrolled in the credit course will complete some school work before and after March Break in order to receive credit.		TENTATIVE DATES July 2 to 31, 2010
ACCOMMODATIONS Students will stay in twin, triple or quad rooms with private bathrooms. Laundry and telephone facilities will be available for a small charge. Breakfast and dinner will be provided, with vegetarian meals available upon request.
PROGRAM FEE $7,995 CAD. Taxes and registration are additional. Program fees are GST and PST exempt.
YOUR PROGRAM INCLUDES • Airfare and accommodation • Breakfast and dinner daily • Travel Journal • Maplewood, our online academic reporting system • Use of computer labs and Internet as available • Pre-loaded USB flash drive • Program handbook • Tours of Paro, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang and the capital city of Thimphu • Visit to a craft museum • Hiking • Roundtable discussion with Bhutan Politicians • Visit to an active dzong in which monks are trained • Trip to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery • Access to coordinated Duke of Edinburgh Activities • Final banquet and awards night