We are excited to welcome students and faculty from the Center for Ecological Living and Learning back to work with SHI in Honduras!   This year's program will include a hands-on look at SHI's work with families growing coffee in the northern highlands.  Coffee is an important crop in the region and students will work alongside SHI participant families and staff on a variety of volunteer projects related to sustainable coffee production while learning about the impact of coffee on local families and ecosystems.

This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays, volunteer projects and farm tours. The group will be staying with host families during their visit to Buena Visa and Brisas del Mar and have many opportunities to put their Spanish skills to work.  Accommodations in the rural villages will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know the group is up for the challenges and simplicity of rural living.

Get ready for service learning, meaningful exchanges and plenty of fun, adventure and coffee!

READY TO TRAVEL?

•  Register online now.
•  Contact us for more information.

Sustainable Coffee Workshop - HONDURAS
Center for Ecological Living and Learning

January 27 – February 3, 2012

Friday, January 27:  Arrival

• SHI Trip Leaders meet group in Copan
• Group travels to Quimistan in mini bus, lunch en route
• Group checks into hotel
• Dinner at hotel
• Discussion of trip schedule, expectations
• Group stays at hotel

Saturday, January 28: Travel to Brisas del Mar

• Breakfast at Hotel San Miguel
• Spanish crash course and introduction to SHI-Honduras staff
• Group travels to community Brisas del Mar
• Lunch in Brisas del Mar
• Afternoon family visits and distribution of home stay (at least two trip participants per household)
• Dinner, lodging with host families Brisas del Mar

Sunday, January 29: Community Projects - Brisas del Mar

• Breakfast in Brisas del Mar
• Morning work projects: Natural fertilizers for plantain, bocashi compost and cardamom with Javier Rivera
• Lunch in Tierra Amarilla
• Afternoon reflection/course activities
• Group returns to Brisas del Mar
• Group stays with host families in Brisas del Mar

Monday, January 30: Community Projects- Buena Vista

• Breakfast in Brisas del Mar
• Morning work project: Irrigation systems with Jose Tavola
• Lunch in Brisas del Mar
• Afternoon visit to local waterfall and reflection activities
• Dinner in Brisas del Mar
• Group stays with host families in Brisas del Mar

Tuesday, January 31: Community Projects – Brisas del Mar

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work project: Coffee Harvest with Francisco Garcia
• Lunch in Brisas del Mar
• Coffee depulping demonstration
• Group stays with home stays

Wednesday, February 1: Community Projects – Brisas del Mar

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work project: Wood-conserving stoves
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon coffee roasting and reflection activities
• Group stays with host families

Thursday, February 2: Departing Community

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning termination of group work projects/workshops
• Lunch in the community
• Farewell ceremony, recognition of participants
• Group travels to Quimistan
• Dinner and reflection
• Group stays at Hotel

Friday, February 3: Depart for Tegucigalpa

• Breakfast
• Travel to bus station in San Pedro Sula in private minibus

Special thanks to the Trinidad Conservation Project for their ongoing support of SHI's work in Honduras' Santa Barbara District. The SHI-Honduras team welcomes the Trinidad Conservation Project back to Santa Barbara! During this exciting trip, we will travel to rural communities in the central highlands of Honduras to work side by side with families on sustainable farming and reforestation projects.

SHI families and our local staff are excited to welcome TCP volunteers back to their communities and share the progress that has been made in the past year. Homestays in the villages will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know the group is up for the challenges and simplicity of rural living.  In addition to homestays in the rural communities, we'll also visit the charming town of Trinidad and end the trip with a relaxing visit to beaches, rainforest or historic sites within Honduras (exact location to be determined).

This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays and volunteer projects with SHI participant families as well as an R&R excursion.  Get ready for service learning, meaningful exchanges and plenty of fun and adventure!

For people who would like to take intensive Spanish language classes before the trip, a smaller group will travel to Copan Ruinas for a week before the work trip begins. This group will stay with local families and study at the Ixbalanque Spanish Language School. Classes are one-on-one and go from Monday through Friday, with a relaxation break Wednesday. Participants can visit the Mayan ruins, enjoy the hot springs, or engage in myriad other activities.

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,500 per Adult

These costs include project materials and supplies, liability insurance, rustic dorm accommodations at the work site and double occupancy hotel accommodations when we visit tourist areas, meals, in-country transportation and guide / translation service. In addition, 20% of your program fee supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $500 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date.

READY TO TRAVEL?

•  Register online now.
•  Make a Deposit, Balance or Full payment for your trip.
•  Contact us for more information.

DRAFT ITINERARY

Saturday, March 10:  Arrival

• SHI Trip Leaders meets group at San Pedro Sula (SAP) airport
  • flight arriving before 2pm
• Group travel to Trinidad in private minibus
• Check-in to hotel
• Dinner at Dona Lourdes’
• Introduction to field staff

Sunday, March 11: Orientation

• Breakfast at Dona Lourdes’
• Orientation, discussion of trip schedule and expectations
• Free time
• Lunch at Dona Lourdes’
• Spanish Crash Course/Local Terminology
• Depart for El Tule by 2pm
• Presentation of participant families
• Dinner
• Evening reflection
• Group will stay with host families (at least 2 volunteers per household)

Monday, March 12: Community Projects

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning service projects: Family gardens
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon walking tour of El Tule and La Majada
• Dinner in the community
• Evening reflection

Tuesday, March 13: Community Projects

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning service projects: tree nurseries, erosion control and reforestation
• Lunch
• Afternoon visit with Dona Miriam
• Dinner in the community
• Evening reflection

Wednesday, March 14: Community Projects

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning service projects: wood-conserving stoves
• Lunch in the community
• School Program:  Activity organized at community center or school
• Dinner in the community, evening cultural presentation

Thursday, March 15: Departing El Tule

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning termination of group work projects/workshops
• Lunch in the community
• Farewell ceremony, recognition of participants
• Group departs for Trinidad
• Check-in at hotel
• Optional visit to coffee coop
• Dinner and reflection at Dona Lourdes’

Friday, March 16: Depart for R&R

• Breakfast at Dona Lourdes’
• Group travels to R&R site (TBA)
• Dinner and reflection
• Group stays at Hotel

Saturday, March 17: R&R

• R&R Activities (TBA)
• Farewell dinner, final reflection session
• Evaluations
• Packing for next day’s flight

Sunday, March 18: Departure

• Morning departure for San Pedro Sula airport in microbus
  • Arrive at SAP by 11am for 1pm flight

Coffee Lover?

From the cloud forest to your coffee mug, learn how small scale coffee producers make it happen.

Looking for a meaningful vacation? Are you curious how to build a wood-conserving stove and roast coffee by hand? Harvesting, depulping, drying and roasting - see where coffee comes from, be part of a Honduran family harvest, and learn about small scale coffee production.

Come support SHI-Honduras families in their efforts to establish sustainable farming practices in their communities.  This rewarding trip combines volunteer projects, environmental stewardship and fun in the lush highlands of Central America. 

Volunteers participating in this project will stay with local SHI participant families and work alongside Honduran staff. In addition to volunteer projects, there will also be a weekend excursion to enjoy the ancient Mayan ruins of Copan.

December is the heart of coffee harvesting season, so we invite you to book your spot on our upcoming Honduran Coffee Tour!

READY TO TRAVEL? Download the REGISTRATION FORM, or contact us for more information. Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more. On Facebook? RSVP to this trip.
ALREADY REGISTERED? Click here to make a Deposit, Balance or Full payment for your trip.

Help us promote this trip! Download a PDF poster, print and distribute!

TENTATIVE ITINERARY*

Day 1:  Arrival

• Group arrives at San Pedro Sula airport
• Group travels to Quimistan in mini bus, lunch en route
• Group checks into Hotel San Miguel
• Dinner at hotel
• Discussion of trip schedule, expectations
• Group stays at Hotel San Miguel

Day 2:  Travel to Brisas del Mar

• Breakfast at Hotel San Miguel
• Spanish crash course and introduction to SHI-Honduras staff
• Group travels to community Brisas del Mar
• Lunch in Brisas del Mar
• Afternoon family visits and distribution of home stay (at least two trip participants per household)
• Dinner, lodging with host families Brisas del Mar

Day 3: Community Projects - Brisas del Mar

• Breakfast in Brisas del Mar
• Morning work project: Natural fertilizers for plantain and cardamom with Javier Rivera
• Lunch in Tierra Amarilla
• Afternoon work project: Bocashi compost
• Group returns to Brisas del Mar
• Group stays with host families in Brisas del Mar

Day 4: Community Projects- Buena Vista

• Breakfast in Brisas del Mar
• Morning work project: Irrigation systems with Jose Tavola
• Lunch in Brisas del Mar
• Afternoon visit to local waterfall
• Dinner in Brisas del Mar
• Group stays with host families in Brisas del Mar

Day 5: Community Projects – Brisas del Mar

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work project: Coffee Harvest with Francisco Garcia
• Lunch in Brisas del Mar
• Afternoon coffee depulping demonstration
• Group stays with home stays

Day 6: Community Projects – Brisas del Mar

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work project: Wood-conserving stoves
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon coffee roasting
• Community meal and evening departure ceremony
• Group stays with host families

Day 7: Copan Ruins R&R

• Breakfast in Brisas del Mar
• Group travels to Copan
• Lunch in Route
• Check-in at B&B Casa de Café
• Afternoon R&R
• Dinner in Copan

Day 8: Copan Ruins R&R

• Breakfast at Hotel Casa de Cafe
• Tour ancient Mayan Ruins
• Afternoon free time (explore colonial village, markets, museums)
• Dinner
• Evaluations

Day 9: Departure

• Breakfast at Hotel Casa de Cafe
• Group travels to airport
• Depart for home or continue traveling on your own

* Smaller World Tour itineraries are shaped by the requests of SHI's Central American field trainers and the farming communities we serve.  Trip participants work alongside local staff and families and we do our best to match groups with activities that fit their interests, skills and schedules. Each Smaller World Tour is accompanied by an SHI trip leader who coordinates the group's activities on the ground.  Specific projects and plans may change and we request that volunteers keep an open mind and remain flexible during their trip.

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,500 per Adult

These costs include project materials and supplies, liability insurance, rustic dorm accommodations at the work site and double occupancy hotel accommodations when we visit tourist areas, meals, in-country transportation and guide / translation service. In addition, 20% of your program fee supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $500 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If travel funding is an issue for you, don't hesitate to fundraise for your trip expenses. Visit our fundraising idea page or contact our office for more information.

READY TO TRAVEL? Download the REGISTRATION FORM, or contact us for more information. Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more. Help us promote this trip! Download a PDF poster, print and distribute!
ALREADY REGISTERED? Click here to make a Deposit, Balance or Full payment for your trip.

Visit our Honduras program page to learn much more about this country program.

SHI-Honduras continues to evolve and improve the socio-economic, environmental and health impact of its work.  Most SHI-Honduras families are currently in Phase 2, “Introduction to Nutrition, Organic Farming, and Crop Diversification,” and are building upon lessons previously learned.  Families have planted over 23,000 trees on 74 acres since July 2010.  Trees were either incorporated into pre-existing agroforestry systems as living fences and barriers, or on degraded pastureland. Families have also expanded their level of organic and sustainable production to an additional 90 acres, of which 42 acres were allotted to basic grains and traditional crops like corn, beans, cassava and sweet potatoes.  

During the last four months, SHI-Honduras has been receiving assistance from graduate student, Amanda Zehner, from Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management.  With Amanda’s support, staff has been trained in the use of GPS, conducting successful interviews, and the importance of monitoring & evaluation.  Staff have since conducted evaluations of their work with over 500 participant families.

The tropical pine forests in the mountains of northern Honduras are breathtaking.  They are also a crucial part of our global environment; protecting watersheds, mitigating climate change and providing habitat to threatened species. The key to SHI's success has been empowering the families who live in these fragile ecosystems to become stewards of the land. As local farmers learn to grow marketable crops in harmony with the environment, their quality of life improves and the forests recover. 

Families are excited to show off the new techniques they have learned including bee keeping, organic coffee production, seed saving, drip irrigation projects, worm composting, rural bank programs, vegetable gardens, wood-conserving stoves and more. This trip includes orientation with local staff, volunteer projects with SHI participant families, organic farm tours and a weekend excursion to explore the ancient Mayan Ruins of Copan.

While in the rural villages, the group will stay with host families. Homestay sites will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know you're up for the challenge and simplicity of rural living.  We believe that staying with SHI-participant families is the best way to build relationships with the community and truly understand SHI’s programs in the villages we serve.

We hope you'll join Florence Reed on this special trip.  Be inspired, see change, get your hands dirty...join SHI in Honduras!

READY TO TRAVEL? Download the REGISTRATION FORM, or contact us for more information. Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more. On Facebook? RSVP to this trip.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY*

Friday, March 25:  Arrival
Florence meets group at San Pedro Sula airport
Group travels to Santa Barbara in private minibus, lunch en route
Presentation with local field staff
Dinner
Discussion of trip schedule, expectations

Saturday, March 26:  Orientation
Breakfast at hotel
Spanish Crash Course/Local Terminology
Travel to work site in pickup, introduction to SHI participants
Lunch in the community
Tour family farms
Group reflection
Dinner, lodging with host families (2+ participants in each homestay)

Sunday, March 27: Community Projects
Breakfast in the community
Morning work projects: compost and natural pesticides
Lunch in the community
Afternoon family visits, or group activity
Dinner in the community
Evening reflection
Group stays with host families

Monday, March 28: Community Projects
Breakfast in the community
Morning work projects: tree nurseries
Lunch in the community
Afternoon trip to local waterfall/swimming hole
Dinner in the community
Evening reflection
Group stays with host families

Tuesday, March 29: Community Projects
Breakfast in the community
Morning work projects: wood-conserving stoves
Lunch in the community
Dinner in the community, evening cultural presentation
Group will stay with host families

Wednesday March 30: Community Farewell/Travel to Copan
Breakfast in the community
Wrap-up group work projects
Lunch in the community
Farewell ceremony, recognition of participants
Group travels to Copan
Check in to B&B
Dinner and reflection

Thursday March 31: Copan Ruins R&R
Breakfast at hotel
Tour Ancient Mayan Ruins (~2 hours)
Afternoon free time (explore colonial village, markets, museums)
Dinner
Evaluations

Friday, April 1: R&R
Breakfast at hotel
Free day to explore Copan  
Activities may include a pottery tour, hot springs, horseback riding, bird sanctuary, swimming, shopping, waterfall hike
Group dinner

Saturday, April 2: Departure
Early morning departure for San Pedro Sula airport in microbus
(carry-away breakfast)

* Smaller World Tour itineraries are shaped by the requests of SHI's Central American field trainers and the farming communities we serve.  Trip participants work alongside local staff and families and we do our best to match groups with activities that fit their interests, skills and schedules. Each Smaller World Tour is accompanied by an SHI trip leader who coordinates the group's activities on the ground.  Specific projects and plans may change and we request that volunteers keep an open mind and remain flexible during their trip.

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,350 - Adult
$675 - Youth, under 15 traveling with family member

These costs include project materials and supplies, liability insurance, rustic dorm accommodations at the work site and double occupancy hotel accommodations when we visit tourist areas, meals, in-country transportation and guide / translation service. In addition, 20% of your program fee is supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $350 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If travel funding is an issue for you, don't hesitate to fundraise for your trip expenses. Visit our fundraising idea page or contact our office for more information.

READY TO TRAVEL? Download the REGISTRATION FORM, or contact us for more information. Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more.

Visit our Honduras program page to learn much more about this country program.

This Smaller World Tour is in collaboration with the Hancock United Church of Christ. Special thanks for their ongoing support SHI's programs in Piedras Negras, Honduras.

The SHI-Honduras team welcomes Hancock UCC back to Piedras Negras!  This year’s project will continue to build on sustainable agriculture projects including family gardens, wood-conserving stoves, natural pesticides, fertilizers and tree nurseries.  We can't wait to show you everything the community has accomplished in the past year working alongside local SHI field trainer Jorge Rodriguez.

While in the work area, the group will stay with host families. Homestay sites will be rustic, without indoor plumbing and electricity, but we know you're up for the challenge and simplicity of rural living.  We believe that staying with SHI-participant families is the best way to build relationships with the community and truly understand SHI’s programs in the villages we serve.

This trip includes orientation with local staff, volunteer projects with SHI participant families and a two day retreat in the beautiful mountains of the northern highlands.

READY TO TRAVEL? Download the REGISTRATION FORM (pdf), or contact us for more information. Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY*

Monday, March 28:  Arrival

• Aaron meets group at San Pedro Sula airport
• Group travels in microbus to Trinidad
• Orientation, discussion of trip schedule and expectations
• Dinner at Dona Lourdes’ house
• Group will stay at Hotel Santa Trinidad

Tuesday, March 29: Arriving in Piedras Negras

• Breakfast at Dona Lourdes’ house
• Morning departure for Piedras Negras in pickups
• Presentation of participant families and field staff
• Group will divide into two, visit ongoing family projects
• Evening reflection
• Group will stay with host families (TBD)

Wednesday, March 30: Piedras Negras

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work projects: compost and natural pesticides
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon family visits, or group activity
• Dinner in the community
• Evening reflection
• Group stays with host families

Thursday,  March 31: Piedras Negras

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work projects: tree nurseries
• Lunch in the community
• Afternoon trip to local waterfall
• Dinner in the community
• Evening reflection
• Group stays with host families

Friday, April 1: Piedras Negras

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning work projects: wood-conserving stoves
• Lunch in the community
• Dinner in the community, evening cultural presentation
• Group will stay with host families

Saturday, April 2: Leaving Piedras Negras

• Breakfast in the community
• Morning termination of group work projects
• Lunch in the community
• Farewell ceremony, recognition of participants
• Group travels to La Estancia El Pedregal
• Dinner and reflection
• Group stays at La Estancia El Pedregal

Sunday, April 3: Lago de Yojoa/R&R Around Trinidad

• Breakfast at Dona Lourdes’ house
• Optional morning excursion to Lago de Yojoa (hike and lunch)
• Afternoon free time
• Dinner at La Estancia, final reflection session
• Evaluations
• Group will stay at La Estancia El Pedregal

Monday, April 4: Departure

• Early morning departure for San Pedro Sula airport in microbus

* Smaller World Tour itineraries are shaped by the requests of SHI's Central American field trainers and the farming communities we serve.  Trip participants work alongside local staff and families and we do our best to match groups with activities that fit their interests, skills and schedules. Each Smaller World Tour is accompanied by an SHI trip leader who coordinates the group's activities on the ground.  Specific projects and plans may change and we request that volunteers keep an open mind and remain flexible during their trip.

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,200 - Adult

These costs include project materials and supplies, liability insurance, rustic dorm accommodations at the work site and double occupancy hotel accommodations when we visit tourist areas, meals, in-country transportation and guide / translation service. In addition, 20% of your program fee is supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $200 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If travel funding is an issue for you, don't hesitate to fundraise for your trip expenses. Visit our fundraising idea page or contact our office for more information.

READY TO TRAVEL? Download the REGISTRATION FORM (pdf), or contact us for more information.

Visit our Honduras program page to learn much more about this country program.

SORRY, THIS TRIP IS FULL

Special thanks to the Trinidad Conservation Project for their ongoing support of SHI's work in Honduras' Santa Barbara District.

The SHI-Honduras team welcomes the Trinidad Conservation Project back to Santa Barbara! During this exciting trip, we will travel to rural communities in the central highlands of Honduras to work side by side with local families on sustainable farming and reforestation projects. These local farmers will be our teachers, and together, we’ll work, reflect, relax, and build deep and lasting bonds. Participants will stay with local host families part of the time, and the trip will end with a stay at the beautiful Lake Yojoa.

For people who would like to take intensive Spanish language classes before the trip, a smaller group will travel to Copan Ruinas for a week before the work trip begins (February 6-12). We will stay with local families and study at the Ixbalanque Spanish Language School. Classes are one-on-one and go from Monday through Friday, with a relaxation break Wednesday. Participants can visit the Mayan ruins, go to Bird Mountain, enjoy the hot springs, or engage in myriad other activities.

TRAVEL COSTS
$1,350 - Adult

These costs include project materials and supplies, liability insurance, rustic dorm accommodations at the work site and double occupancy hotel accommodations when we visit tourist areas, meals, in-country transportation and guide / translation service. In addition, 20% of your program fee is supports the local projects you'll be working on in the field. This total DOES NOT INCLUDE airfare, medicine, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

A deposit of $350 should be sent in with your registration form. The balance $1,000 is due to be paid 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If travel funding is an issue for you, don't hesitate to fundraise for your trip expenses. Visit our fundraising idea page or contact our office for more information.

Download an INFORMATION PACKET (pdf) for this trip to learn more.

Visit our Honduras program page to learn much more about this country program.