Great Baikal Trail!
I was there in 2005, more people needed this year, amazing experience.See links below.
More info on me blog:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...&MyToken=c9dd857e-0cac-49af-a9f0-bd866691b663
And a speil from the lads themselves:
GBT needs more international volunteers for their 2007 projects. Can you
help?
- Do you know anyone who may want to volunteer this year?
- Do you belong to an organization that could spread the word about GBT
volunteering?
- post on a website
- email to a listserv
- place in a newsletter
Foreign students currently in Russian (or that will be in Russia) are of
special interest.
Below is a description of the GBT volunteer experience. Pass this on to
those that may be interested.
Any suggestions or comments?
Thanks for any help. –Roger
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Great Baikal Trail (GBT) – Overview of Volunteer Experience
Mission: Promote conservation of the Lake Baikal region by focusing on
building a 1,300 mile long trail around the lake using volunteer work crews.
Work crews are usually half Russian and half international; and are
conducted in Russian and English. See www.greatbaikaltrail.org for
descriptions of the 2007 projects.
The Experience:
Work, cook, camp, and live with an international multi-cultural work crew
(usually half Russian and half international).
Work crews are mainly college students and young people but older people do
volunteer and anyone over 18 is welcome.
The Work:
Most projects build trails. Some projects stay in local villages and
concentrate on learning folk skills.
Each project is composed of about 14 volunteers; a Russian project leader;
and a Russian Russian / English translator. The leader and translator are
often students.
Tools and instruction provided.
Where:
The Lake Baikal region, Siberia.
Lake Baikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest, deepest, and
oldest lake in the world.
Projects are on the lake shore, or in the surrounding mountains and steppes
of Siberia.
What to Bring:
Backpacks, sleeping bags; sleeping mats… etc (see www.greatbaikaltrail.org
for a detailed list). Tents are provided.
Cost to the volunteer:
GBT fee: $250 to $300 per person to GBT to cover food for two weeks, local
transportation, lodging (mainly tents), and equipment for trail building.
GBT has no grants to fund volunteer expenses. The cost of each work crew
varies somewhat.
GBT bring a friend discount: Reduce your GBT fee by 10% for every person you
sign up to be a volunteer. Sign up 10 people, and you pay no GBT fee.
Other Costs:
$150 - $250 for a Russian Visa. The process may take up to two months.
Transportation to the Lake Baikal region. Some approximate costs:
Air, Moscow / Irkutsk: $230 one way; $450 round trip
Train, Moscow / Irkutsk $326 one way
Train, Beijing to Irkutsk via Mongolia or Manchuria $350
The Great Baikal Trail (GBT) Association is a relatively new international
volunteer-driven non-profit organization working to protect Lake Baikal.
Organized groups are especially welcome. Customized work projects and
village home stays may be arranged for an organized group. Long-term
volunteers are welcome to help with a variety of functions.
Questions?
Contact Roger Ratcliff or Donna Young (we are from Colorado, USA, and will
be volunteering with GBT in the Lake Baikal area April through October
2007).
GBT References (all have worked in Russia with GBT)
Allan Meyer, from USA <[email protected]> “Being involved with the
GBT was truly a life-changing experience for me--I met so many good friends
there, and my future wife too! So now, in a very literal sense I have family
in Siberia. But without this great project I would never have met these
people or experienced the magic that is Lake Baikal.”
Joshua Hartshorne, from USA. “As a student in St. Petersburg, I had a
wonderful host family. Otherwise, I found it very difficult to meet
Russians, a frustration shared by nearly every other student. Contrast this
with my volunteer experience: When I came to Irkutsk to volunteer at the
Great Baikal Trail Association, my "boss" met me at the train station and
put me up for a week with her friends. Within literally hours, I had a
circle of friends inviting me on hiking trips, advising me on buying skis,
and inviting me to parties. To this day, I have met every one of my friends
through my volunteer job. I have been on numerous ski trips, attended a
wedding, hosted a New Year’s Party (the most important Russian holiday) that
lasted almost 24 hours, and threw a bachelor’s party—in short, I’ve done all
those things I wanted to do as a student.” Additional comments are posted by
Joshua on:
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0409/volunteer_in_russia.shtml
Dave Brann, from Alaska. Dave is sponsored by a Rotary Club and has worked
for the past three summers with GBT. He plans to work there again summer
2006. < [email protected]>
Jon Green, from Washington State, Evergreen College. Jon gives slide shows
on his GBT experience to encourage others to volunteer.
<[email protected]>
Christoph Schmaltz, from Germany, volunteered with GBT in Irkutsk, in March
2005. <[email protected]> "I worked in the GBT office in Irkutsk for
about one month. Although I spent just a short time with the organization I
had the chance to meet very lovely people who were without any exception
highly committed to the work of GBT. Drinking tea, eating cookies and
chatting in Russian with GBT members was a great and utmost positive
experience during my time in Russia."
Brendan Luecke, from USA <[email protected]>
Tobias Hoeck, from Switzerland, currently with GBT in Ulan-Ude, Russia.
<[email protected]>
Alastair Locke, British <[email protected]>
Donna Young & Roger Ratcliff, 2007 Volunteers in Siberia with:
The Great Baikal Trail; www.greatbaikaltrail.org
Earth Island Institute - Baikal Watch; www.earthisland.org
