Thailand: Buddhism & Conservation
| In Thailand: | Cancelled for 2009 |
| At Home or School: | Cancelled for 2009 |
| Credits: | 7 graduate credits from Miami University; $3,000 in-state & $7,000 out-of-state tuition waived; course can be applied to Global Field Program. |
| Course Cost: | $1150 + airfare |
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Travel to Thailand with Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo to investigate this country's astonishing Old World rain forests and diverse cultural environments. This course will address key topics in ecology while exploring emerging models of conservation and education. Possible research projects include Buddhism and the environment; indigenous ecological knowledge; spiritual connections to nature; and community forests. Discover the power of inquiry to generate knowledge and inspire conservation. All students will have the chance to conduct an investigation of the local ecosystem, asking their own questions, collecting data, and presenting conclusions. Prior to and following the field experience in Thailand, students will complete coursework via Dragonfly Workshops Web-based learning community as they apply experiences to their home institutions. |
Course Themes
- Tropical ecology and conservation
- Buddhist philosophy in education
- Western and Eastern modes of understanding nature
- Indigenous ecological knowledge
- Buddhism and conservation activism
- Inquiry-based learning
- Participatory education
- Community-based conservation
A typical Field Expeditions day in Thailand is likely to include:
- Visits to field conservation sites
- Lectures
- Student-led discussions of key course topics
- Engagement with local communities
- Open inquiries
- Journal writing
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Thailand
Thailand is especially renowned for its temples, its mouth-watering cuisine, its hospitality, and its astonishing biotic diversity. Known as Siam until 1939, the Kingdom of Thailand was never colonized by a European power. Thais are proud of their strong culture and their history. Buddhism influences all aspects of Thai life and is practiced by 95% of the population.
Possible Sites in Thailand
Khao Yai National Park
Located approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, Khao Yai is
Thailand's oldest national park. The 2,100 square kilometer park encompasses
a variety of vegetation zones including evergreen rainforest and mixed deciduous
forest. Approximately 200 to 300 wild elephants share the park with tigers,
gibbons, barking deer, civets, and sun bears. Khao Yai's rich forests are
home to a large population of hornbills
including the great hornbill, one of the most conspicuous of the hornbill
clan with its bright yellow "horn" or casque on top of its head.
There are numerous hiking trails and several wildlife observation towers,
including one near a natural salt lick that entices elephants, barking deer,
and gaur into the open.
Various forest wats (temples)
Discuss Buddhist views on nature, ecology, and conservation with scientists, educators, and "ecology monks& active in conservation efforts in Thailand. The group will spend several days at Buddhist monasteries, where students will be instructed in walking and sitting meditation practice and participate in discussions on contemplative education.
Wat Paa Sukhato
Wat Paa Sukhato is a forest monastery in a remote village in northeast Thailand's Chaiyaphum province. The monastery is an outstanding example of the interwoven strands of conservation, Buddhism, and community. The monks designated the forest surrounding their monastery as sacred, prohibiting logging and the killing of wild animals. They fostered a reverence for nature among the local community and recruited the villagers to help prevent forest fires. The monks also helped local children form an environmental education club called Dek Rak Nok (Children Love Birds) with the goal to protect the local bird population. In addition to learning about birds, children create painted wooden pins that are sold in national parks such as Khao Yai, in support of the program. Monks also lead an annual week-long "Green Walk" around the watershed forest to promote conservation awareness.
Wat Paa Mahawan
Wat Paa Mahawan is a forest monastery in the mountains of Chaiyaphum. Monks of Wat Paa Mahawan work with the local community to nurture and conserve the forests surrounding the temple. The forest is an important watershed area and the community conservation efforts help ensure the health of vital river systems upon which the local people, the forests, and the wildlife depend. The monks have also begun a biodiversity monitoring program to collect data on forest recovery and cultural uses of wild species. The monks hope to use the data to create further conservation awareness in the local communities.
(Course locations are subject to change.)
Dragonfly Workshops Web-based Learning Community
Upon acceptance into the program and before departing for Thailand, students will join instructors and classmates in Dragonfly Workshops' collaborative Web community to complete pre-trip assignments. After returning to the United States, students will continue to work in their Web-based community from September through early December to develop projects initiated in the field, discuss assignments, and exchange ideas. All students should expect to spend two to three hours a week contributing to their Web-based learning community from their home or school computer. Navigating the Web platform is easy--it's designed for people with no prior computer experience. To learn more about this unique Web experience, visit dragonflyworkshops.org.
Cost: $1150 + Airfare
All basic expenses in-country are covered in the course costs, including:
- Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
- Lodging
- Field station fees
- Field equipment (as needed)
- Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)
- Park entrance and guide fees
Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as gifts, or some ancillary costs, such as passport fees and course texts.
Airfare: To estimate fares to Thailand, applicants may wish to visit an online fare finder or call a travel agent. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares.
Financial Support
Because of support from Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the course costs listed above are a fraction of actual program costs. Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs. Click here for more Grant Funding Tips.
Tuition costs:
Non-Miami University Participants
To support involvement by a broad range of educators from across the nation, Miami University is currently waiving all tuition for Earth Expedition participants who hold bachelor's degrees and who are not full-time students at Miami University. Upon successful completion of both the field and Web-based components of the Earth Expeditions course, participants will receive seven graduate credit hours. (Approximately $2,500 for in-state and $6,200 for out-of-state tuition is waived).
Miami University Students
Full-time Miami University undergraduate and graduate students pay tuition for five credit hours unless they have summer tuition waivers through a graduate assistantship or scholarship. Miami students receive seven credit hours upon successful completion of both the field and Web-based components of the course.
More Information
For more information on the admissions process, physical requirements, and more, please visit Admissions and/or FAQs.