We are excited to welcome students and faculty from The Pingree School to work with SHI's sustainable farming projects in Panama. This year's program will include a hands-on look at SHI's work with families growing trees and crops in Panama's Cocle District. Students will work alongside SHI participant families and staff on a variety of volunteer projects related to sustainable food production while learning about the impact of farming practices on local families and ecosystems.
This trip includes orientation with local staff, homestays, volunteer projects, farm tours and excursions to Central Panama's beautiful beaches, waterfalls and rainforest. There will also be opportunities to visit artisan markets and tour the Panama Canal. The group will be staying with host families during their time in the village and have many opportunities to put their Spanish skills to work. Accommodations while the group is in 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 and adventure!
TRIP FEE: $1,500 per person
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?
• Register online now.
• Make a Deposit, Balance or Full payment for your trip.
• Download this trip's Info Packet.
• Contact us for more information.
DRAFT ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival
- Arrival by 2pm at the Panama City Airport (PTY)
- SHI Trip Leader meets group at airport and travel by private minibus to Penonome
- Stop en route at Miraflores visitor center, Panama Canal tour
- Orientation activities en route
- Check-in at hotel in Penonme
- Dinner in Penonome
Day 2: Travel to Cocle Work Site
- Group breakfast in Penonome
- Spanish Crash Course
- Discussion of trip schedule
- Group departs for rural village working with SHI in the area
- Lunch with SHI field staff and SHI participant families, introductions
- Meet your host families (2+ volunteers per family)
- Afternoon tour family farms
- Dinner with host families
Day 3: Community Projects
- Breakfast with host families
- Morning service project: school garden and tree nursery
- Lunch in the community
- Afternoon family visits, trip to swimming hole
- Dinner in the community
- Reflection and discussion
- Group will stay with host families
Day 4: Community Projects
- Breakfast with host families
- Morning service project: wood-conserving stoves
- Lunch in the community
- Afternoon continuation of work projects
- Dinner in the community
- Reflection and discussion
- Group will stay with host families
Day 5: Community Projects
- Breakfast with host families
- Morning service project: family gardens and erosion control
- Lunch in the community
- Afternoon continuation of work projects, visits with host families, trip to swimming hole
- Dinner in the community
- Reflection and discussion
- Group will stay with host families
Day 6: Community Projects/Depart for Santa Clara Beach
- Breakfast with host families
- Morning service project: rice paddy and fish pond system
- Lunch in the community
- Recognition of participants, afternoon farewell ceremony
- Depart for Penonome
- Group dinner at restaurant in Penonome
- Group will stay at hotel in Penonome
Day 7: Beach Day!
- Breakfast at restaurant in Penonome
- R&R Day at the beach
- Afternoon departure to El Valle de Anton
- Group will stay at B&B
Day 8: El Valle de Anton
- Visit local artisan market
- Waterfall hike
- Group dinner and reflection
- Group will stay at B&B in el Valle de Anton, or if early morning departure, return to Panama City
Day 9: Departure
- Departs from Panama City airport, or continue traveling independently
READY TO TRAVEL? 
"I just returned from a 10-day trip to Honduras with Sustainable Harvest International. That small organization with a relatively small staff ... is doing a fantastic job helping the rural areas of Honduras diversify crops and re-forest the denuded mountains of the country. [They] demonstrated a dedication and grasp of both the problems and possible solutions that I found worthy of Nobel prize recognition. The leadership of our Smaller World Tour by an employee of SHI was first-rate. We worked, we learned, we contributed. If there is truly a way to help the impoverished developing world, SHI holds the key."
Sustainable Harvest International
