Lewa Wildlife Conservancy s Wild Side Youth Safari. Lewa Downs, Kenya

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1 Lewa Wildlife Conservancy s Wild Side Youth Safari Lewa Downs, Kenya

2 The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya wants to help young, inquiring, innovative minds realize the value of wildlife conservation and find awareness in the wilds of Kenya. In the summer of 2014, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy will be hosting a two week camping adventure for eight high school students.

3 Lewa is a 62,000 acre wildlife conservancy set in the shadow of Mt Kenya. The property was a family-run cattle ranch for nearly 75 years, evolving to become a rhino sanctuary and now headquarters for the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy a not-for-profit organization that has gained international esteem as a progressive model of modern conservation. Today, Lewa is rangeland for abundant wildlife, providing a safe haven for a wide variety of fauna including black and white rhino, cheetah, lion, leopard, elephant, and the rare and endangered Grevy s zebra. Lewa continues to run one of the most successful rhino protection programs in Africa despite the growing problem of poaching, and it is home to the first innovative elephant underpass on the continent. Over the years, the Conservancy has consistently gained worldwide respect for effectively extending the benefits of conservation beyond its borders.

4 The group will spend the two weeks exploring Lewa. The itinerary will include a variety of activities that allow the students to see wildlife conservation in action and that highlight what makes this conservancy work. They will talk to the people who inspired the projects and those who are now running the programs on the ground. The goal of Lewa s Wild Side Youth Safari is to connect the students to the land and its inhabitants, exposing them to the challenges of protecting the rare and raw beauty of real wilderness.

5 They will learn from the rangers about protecting endangered species. They will learn from the Head of Research about collecting data. They will watch elephants having their midday mud bath. They will learn from the Head of Community Development how water projects, clinics, and other types of community engagement are essential to the success of wildlife conservation. They will engage with Kenyan students in local schools.

6 They will visit other cultural and conservation projects that have grown up along Lewa s borders. They will walk along a ridgeline as the sun rises. They will laugh together as people should when they are leaving their comfort zone and experiencing something amazing together. The will see firsthand how the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and other conservation projects can improve the lives of thousands of people.

7 Bringing Home the Message Each student will be required to keep a journal but will be free to write, draw, describe whatever they want each day. Additionally, the students will be responsible for creating a media-based project that they develop during and after the trip. They will design something that they would want the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to use as an outreach tool, utilizing video, photography, writing, etc. to develop an account of their adventures, interactions, and lessons learned. By creatively expressing how their experience affected them, they can convey the messages that they want to family, friends, peers, and society.

8 The group will most likely spend a night in Nairobi upon arrival, and on their second day in Kenya drive up north to Lewa for the rest of the trip. There, everyone will be camping in a protected area within the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The campsite will have sleeping tents, a mess tent, toilets and showers, a gorgeous view of the swamp, and will be surrounded by all the sounds of wildlife. The group will have a camp staff to cook and clean, and two safari vehicles driven by highly knowledgeable driver guides. The drivers will also transfer the group at the end of the trip to Nairobi for the flight back home. Kate Spencer and a local guide will lead the group. Kate lived on Lewa Wildlife Conservancy for over three years running one of the five outstanding safari lodges located on the property. She has a background in hospitality, land conservation and art, and her passion is introducing people to the powerful and vital work that takes place on Lewa. Please her with any questions. [email protected]

9 The cost of the trip is $6000 per student. This fee covers airfare to and from Kenya, accommodation, all meals throughout the trip, all transfers, conservation fees, entry visas, and all activities. Other expenses not covered are airfare within the US, vaccinations, insurance coverage (required AMREF Flying Doctors), extra snacks, and souvenirs. How to Apply Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is seeking curious, adventuresome high school students who are willing to learn and eager to engage. If you are interested in participating in this program, please print out an application, fill it in and send a scanned copy to [email protected]. Shortly after submission, Kate will contact you to schedule a phone/skype/facetime interview.

10 Wild things are facing more challenges for survival. Wild places are getting more difficult to find. Setting out on an adventure to understand the importance of protecting wild things and wild places is a powerful endeavor.