

SOUTHEAST ASIA
GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES
A 24-Day Service Learning Program






Southeast Asia

Program Details
Dates: | Temporarily Paused |
Duration: | 24 days |
Tuition: | $5,750* |
Arrive: | Los Angeles, CA |
Depart: | Los Angeles, CA |
Grade | 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th (Students Grouped According to Age) |
*Airfare for group flight from Los Angeles additional
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Program Highlights
- Explore Ancient Temples and Chat With Buddhist Monks About Thailand’s National Religion
- Lead a 3-Day Camp for Children in an Ethnic Minority and Help Safeguard their Hill Tribe from Landslides
- Maintain a Reserve for Wild Elephants and Catch a Glimpse of These Creatures From Your Jungle Treehouse
- Get Blessed by a Saffron-Robed Monk at Famed Angkor Wat at Sunrise
- Build and Install Life-Saving Water Filters in a Cambodian Village
- Overnight on the Stunning Waters of Vietnam’s Halong Bay
- Speak with Veterans and Three Generations of Children Affected by Agent Orange, Used During the Vietnam War
- 50 Hours of Community Service
Spotlight Community Service Project
Agent Orange Recovery
Agent Orange was an Herbicide that was used by the U.S. military to clear vegetation during the Vietnam War. The after-effects of its use have impacted up to 3 million Vietnamese people, many of them children suffering birth defects. On the Southeast Asia program, our students tutor and volunteer with an incredibly inspiring organization that supports a village comprised solely of those impacted by Agent Orange. The work done by our students during this section, so appreciated by all involved, is equally rewarding to those volunteering and those getting the much needed special attention from ARCC students. Some consider this unique project to be one of the most rewarding experiences of any ARCC program.
Program Overview
Travel into the heart of Southeast Asia where you learn about the region’s rich history, beautiful cultures and breathtaking natural beauty. Step back in time in Phnom Penh as you take in relics from the Khmer Rouge era and journey to Angkor Wat where you wander through ruins built civilizations ago. Volunteer in Cambodia and build and install clean water filters to bring a much-needed resource to Cambodian villagers, some of the nicest people in the world. Teach English to eager students. Sail a junk for two days atop the emerald waters of Halong Bay, then kayak into hidden caves. Navigate the winding streets of the Old Quarter in Hanoi and the bustling metropolis of Bangkok. Haggle in Thailands famous night markets. Befriend, care and bathe the stately Thai elephant while working with conservationists and exploring efforts to protect these gentle giants. Try your hand at cooking Thai curries and Pad Thai. Explore ancient Buddhist temples across Southeast Asia and learn to meditate with Buddhist monks. Volunteer in a hill-tribe village while sharing in traditional daily routines and practices. Your trip concludes over a final feast in Bangkok, where you reflect on the cultures, history, and experiences you have lived in the past four weeks.
Photo Gallery
Program Details
Phnom Penh
Rife with history, Phnom Penh was all but demolished in the Khmer Rouge rule of the 1970s. In the aftermath of genocide and then a civil war, Phnom Penh became Cambodia’s new capital and still leads the way in re-establishing Cambodia as a modern contender in the world market. Once the “Pearl of Asia,” Phnom Penh holds memories of both ancient and recent histories and lofty plans for the future in balance. Here on the Mekong, we’ll learn about these histories at the beautiful Royal Palace and the appalling killing fields, meanwhile falling in love with the resilience and graciousness of Cambodia’s lovely people.
Siem Reap
From the 9th through the 12th centuries, the Khmer kingdom erected over 1000 intricate stone temples spanning 400 square kilometers just outside of modern-day Siem Reap. This complex housed the most populated ancient city and is now the most visited UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southeast Asia. See Angkor Wat at sunrise, then explore myriad other temples while enjoying the international city of Siem Reap.
Village Service: Clean Water Project
In Cambodia’s countryside, we discover a whole new side of this wonderful country. In the rural villages of Siem Reap province, families come together in outdoor livingrooms after their evening baths, and children, who make up the majority of this post-war nation, send glorious sounds of laughter through the plains of rice paddies. Life here is simple but also threatened by the symptoms of poverty. Clean water is hard to come by, so for several days here we aide construction on the grassroots clean water project taking place. We use cement to mold bio-sand water filters, then install the filters in homes. Rewarded with smiles and delicious home-cooked meals, our time here always feels too short.
Hanoi and Ha Long Bay
Maintaining it’s Vietnamese essence throughout the occupation of France, Japan, China, and America, it’s the perfect place to eat delicious phở soup from the balcony of a colonial building. We get our fill of banh mi and spring rolls, then head out of the city full of buzzing motorbikes to the quieter side of Vietnam on its northern coast. Ha Long bay, another UNESCO world heritage site, is home to floating villages, towering karst peaks, hidden lagoons, and emerald waters. We stay a night on a boat, with nothing between us and the billions of stars that fill the sky. This is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the friendships we make on the program.
Friendship Village
Built by Vietnamese, French, and American veterans, The Friendship Village was established on the notion that past enemies can unite for healing and reconciliation in the future. In cooperation, they provide rehabilitation services for veterans and a residential facility for children who are affected by agent orange three generations after the herbicide was used during the war. In this facility, these children are treated for a range of birth defects unintentionally passed down from war times. We get a chance to make friends here, sharing stories and conversation with veterans, and lending a hand in classrooms and physical education classes for the children. We learn more about war here through friendship than we do in volumes of history books.
Chiang Mai
Not just another ancient city, Chiang Mai is surrounded by a moat and filled with hundreds of unique, golden-clad, Buddhist temples, traditional and modern markets, and Thai curries found only in the north. Here, you’ll speak directly with monks to understand Thailand’s main religion, Buddhism. We prepare our own versions of these curries, along with spring rolls and mango with sticky rice in a cooking class, then let monks in saffron robes lead us in afternoon meditation. Getting out of the bustling city, we also head to a remote village in the hills of Doi Suthep to meet with a Karen tribe we’ve called family for the past 7 years. We continue ARCC’s work renovated a Kindergarten classroom once destroyed by a landslide, and provide a day-camp for the children in the community.
Elephant Jungles
The Elephant is the national symbol of Thailand, and it’s no wonder why. Standing in their presence, craning our necks to look them in the eye, we can’t help but feel a connection to these gentle giants. Unfortunately, these big animals need big spaces, and as population and agriculture increase in Thailand, Elephant habitat and elephants decrease. Tourism hasn’t helped either, as thousands of elephants have been mistreated in trekking camps where they perform for and are ridden by paying customers. In the past 100 years, elephant numbers are down by over 250,000, leaving just 4000 in all of Thailand. Thais are taking note of this atrocity, though, and we join a grassroots organization working hard to mitigate the dwindling numbers. We plant trees and build salt licks to provide safe places for wild elephants and spend a day up-close and personal with elephants in a sanctuary. Retired and rescued from trekking camps, the elephants in the sanctuary are unchained and unridden, living out their lives in their natural habitat.
Truly immersed in the Thai jungle, we spend our time here in the outdoors. We visit Erawan falls, a national park of cascading waterfalls and emerald pools, we explore caves hidden in thick greenery, and we tell stories around a campfire, or atop treehouses at our home in the eco-reserve.
Bangkok
Thailand boasts that it is the only Southeast Asian country that has never been colonized by another country. The result is a deeply rooted country that gives visitors an unincumbered window into the long history of all of Southeast Asia. In Bangkok, longboats with local passengers and barges with worldly goods move up and down the Chao Phraya River just as they have for hundreds of years, and modern buildings tower above traditional neighborhoods, keeping Bangkok an ever-modern city. We see it all from the river on a dinner cruise complete with views of the Grand Palace lit up at night, and Thai “ladyboys” singing Karaoke for entertainment. We complete our exploration with a tour of Wat Pho’s huge reclining Buddha, and some final souvenir shopping.
Program Reviews
“She had a wonderful experience and really broadend her perspectives of our world. Fabulous time, and a strong program”
— Parent of Olivia P., Nevada City, CA“A challenging adventure that is a chance of a lifetime! Amazing service projects! I was so beyond happy to help all the places we visited, it was an amazing experience.”
— Lacey S., ARCC Student“Jared had an amazing time and really learned a lot. He hasn’t stopped talking about his trip since he got back. [It was a] great trip!”
— Parent of Jared S., Brookline, MA
Group Journal Excerpts
Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their summer program with ARCC:
Angkor Wat
We started off the day waking up to a beautiful sunrise at Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Even though we were all sleepy, it was one of the most magical parts of the trip. After a delightful breakfast, we headed over to Angkor Tom to see some more beautiful temples.…Read more
Halong Bay
Waking up to the scent of a salty ocean for the first time this trip, we rolled out of bed and saw the paradise we had enveloped ourselves in. After some fun and games, we began our voyage on a rustic Vietnamese boat called a junk. As we came to a stop in the middle…Read more
Teaching!
Today was such an amazing day. We visited the Elma School, which offers free English, sports, and arts education for poor rural families. The kids were unbelievable. They were all so nice, and their English skills were so much more advanced than I ever would have imagined them to be. But oh my Lord, the…Read more
Welcome to Vietnam
Today we visited the Village, which is a learning facility for children and adults affected by Agent Orange, the toxic chemical substance which the US sprayed during the Vietnam War. It was used as an herbicide to kill off the thick jungles, but it has had lasting effects on the population and has left many…Read more
Common Questions
What is the packing list for this program?
Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the trip’s activities, length, climate and cultural differences. Please click here to view the Southeast Asia Service Packing list.
What is the weather like in Southeast Asia?
Most of Southeast Asia can be described as hot and humid during this time. Day-time temperatures in the summer months usually fall in the mid-80’s, with an average humidity of 66% to 82%. In Cambodia you will arrive in the midst of the green season, where rice paddies glisten and afternoon downpours bring relief from the humidity. In Vietnam you can expect balmy temperatures, cooled off by quick rain showers.
Most of Thailand, with the exception of the mountainous regions in the north, can be described as hot and humid. Day-time temperatures in the summer months usually fall in the mid-80’s, with an average humidity of 66% to 82%. In the northern hill-country, where we will be trekking and rafting, temperatures can fall into the 50s, and it can get quite chilly in the evenings. Also, while it is not quite the rainy season in Thailand when you will be there in July, it has been known to rain frequently in the areas that we will travel. Please pack according to the ARCC packing list; we have taken these climate variations into consideration.
What are the time zones of Southeast Asia?
Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand fall within a single time zone. While on your trip, the time will be 11 hours behind New York (Eastern Time), 12 hours behind Chicago (Central Time), and 14 hours behind San Francisco (Pacific Time).
Do I really need to bring a backpack, or can I bring a rolling suitcase on this trip?
Although you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this trip, it is important that you bring a backpack as your main piece of luggage. During the trip you will be navigating through airports, on and off buses and trains, up and down stairways and walking to various locations. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if all group members are carrying their belongings on their backs.
What is the transportation like once we are in Southeast Asia?
We use a variety of transportation on the Southeast Asia Service program. We travel by train in overnight sleeper coaches, private busses, boats, and local buses.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, you will need a valid passport for travel to Southeast Asia. Your passport MUST be valid for 6 months after the last day of the trip. Passport applications are available at the post office. If you do not already have a passport, you should apply for one as soon as you enroll in this adventure. It normally takes six weeks to process a passport application.
Do I need a visa?
Yes. You will need visas to enter Cambodia and Vietnam. For Cambodia, you don’t need to get it before departure. Upon arrival in country you will buy a visa, which costs $20. For Vietnam you must purchase your visa in advance. There is a visa information section in the forms booklet that you will receive once you enroll in this adventure. You can obtain a Vietnamese visa in person at a Vietnam embassy, or through the mail.
What kind of goods and supplies can we bring to donate for the people we meet?
We have the chance to live amongst some needy people who have the very basics for survival. With education being a tool to better their lives, basic school supplies are welcomed with open arms. Pens, pencils, notepads, calculators and books are widely accepted. Soccer balls are also an incredible way to cross the cultural border and share smiles. Because of limited space on our vehicles ARCC would ask that every person to bring no more than a gym of bag of goods to donate.
I am vegetarian will this be a problem?
No. Vegetarians and medical dietary requirements (i.e. allergies) are catered for. It does help if we are informed of this prior to departure date.
What kind of health precautions should I take before traveling to Southeast Asia?
ARCC recommends that you take some health precautions before your trip to Southeast Asia, which are the same as recommended by the CDC. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more complete information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website for Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Our leaders carry a full first aid kit, and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).
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19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, OR 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC
Contact Us
19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, Oregon 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC