Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor, Environmental Education & Research Centre, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Outdoor & environmental education is an essential part of the curriculum for progressive International Schools & Universities. Chiang Mai Thailand has established itself as a great value for money study destination allowing safe and easy access to field study opportunities covering a diverse range of subjects.
Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor, Environmental Education & Research Centre,only 1 hour out of Chiang Mai city, and set on the banks of a stream in pristine forest at 1’000 metres above sea level. It offers you the use of its facilities and support for your own programmes, or access to those designed and taught by our own Director of Studies and his staff.
Adrian Palmer, Director of Studies - Has spent many years teaching environmental studies in Thailand’s International schools, and had earlier worked for the Field Studies Council in Slapton UK.
He is a trained IB workshop leader in Biology and Environmental Systems and Societies and will be offering workshops at the lodge in the near future aimed at training teachers in fieldwork techniques relevant to their teaching of IB courses and their assessment.
Courses for Environmental Systems and Societies and IB Biology, and A level are already run at Pang Soong Lodge and we offer IB schools ToK camps, Group 4 projects, CAS programmes (conservation management/monitoring, reforestation, helping in the village schools and development projects). Fieldwork related to estimating carbon storage in existing forests and in planted areas has been successfully carried out over the last two years and we are planning to expand and develop a range of fieldwork in this area.
The area is also well set up for Geography, particularly looking at rivers, soils and hydrology, catchment management, conservation, and ecotourism.
Downloads:
- Outdoor & Environmental Education Programmes - brochure/manual 2010-2011 (5MB PDF)
- Our Jump to Thailand Documentary RAHA International School Abu Dhabi (for the Tourism Authority of Thailand’. (RAHA International School, Adu Dhabi.)
- Pang Soong Lodge – Students Workbook Forest Ecology/Biology (4 MB PDF.)
- Eco-English Programmes – Environmental Awareness for ESL/EFL students.( 1.5 MB PDF.)
Research Projects & Workshop Facilities
The Pang Soong Lodge combines (a) Outdoor & environmental education programmes and support facilities, (b) An award winning private sector tourism operated-village community owned ecotourism attraction and its development model, and (c) A dedicated skilled & semi-skilled workforce from
Volunteers Without Borders to the obvious advantage of each.
Together they provide an attractive privately operated resource rich platform on which private sector business, non-profit entities and government agencies may more easily achieve their particular green related research and training objectives, whilst supporting a model initiative that shares their goals and objectives.
Contact us for more detail.
Downloads:
Pang Soong Lodge – Nature Trail Guide ( Birds, Trees, Plants and Insects ) ( 75 MB PDF.)
Volunteers Without Borders
VWB was established in 2004 as the CSR arm of Track of the Tiger T.R.D. (Tourism Resources Development) to channel hands-on volunteer support and funding for the development of the Pang Soong Nature Trails project.
Individual volunteers and school groups worked alongside villagers to construct the main ‘hard surfaced’ nature trail which was seed funded by the PATA Foundation and recognized by receiving the SKAL Ecotourism Award 2006.
Responding to the need to expand its role beyond the Pang Soong Nature Trails project to provide support for others wanting to replicate our private sector tourism – local community development model, we are now in the process of registering Volunteers Without Borders as a non-profit organization, and expect to complete that process by December 2010.
Right now, you the potential volunteer have access to interesting, value for money, transparently priced and well organised programmes in and around Chiang Mai that run from 1 to 4 weeks I duration.
Downloads:
- VWB Teaching Basic & Eco-English, Undertaking Community Service, Immersing yourself in the Culture, and Learning Thai Arts & Crafts. (4 MB PDF)
The Pang Soong Nature Trails Project
If you are a nature lover and interested in sustainable (responsible) tourism development then this project will interest you. The Pang Soong Nature Trails are a unique private sector operated – village community owned ecotourism attraction that provides a model for the two groups to work towards their agreed objectives:
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Protecting the 30 sq. km. Mae Lai forest, and preserving the customs and cultures of the Khon Muang people of Ban Mae Lai, the fermented tea farmers who have been its custodians for 200 years.
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Offering roles in tourism for those villagers that want them without imposing tourism related roles on the community itself.
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Providing education and alternative revenue stream opportunities that are independent of tourism and provide both risk management and reward for both the community and their development partner.
The Pang Soong Nature Trails provide a platform for a range of activities provided by Track of the Tiger T.R.D. beyond environmental education alone to ensure multi-channel revenue generation for the project.
Downloads:
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Roles & Responsibilities – A schematic breakdown of the roles and responsibilities for both Track of the Tiger T.R.D. The development partner, and The Village Committee of Ban Mae Lai, the community partner. (2 MB PDF)
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Accounts – A running record of the revenues accrued to the village community from trail fees, and of the funding and labour provided to the community (schools etc.) by our volunteers, visiting schools & corporate clients.
1 & 2 Day Eco-Adventures – Along the Pang Song Nature Trails
A collection of one and two day nature trail based programmes that use the Pang Song Nature Trails. There are options specifically designed for the (generally younger) ‘Adventurer’ and for the (generally more mature) ‘Explorer’ in keeping with their respective interests and physical abilities.
Downloads:
- Eco-Adventures – Along the Pang Soong Nature Trails (2MB PDF)
1 & 2 Day BIG 7 Multi-Activity Adventures
Until now adventure activity seekers visiting Chiang Mai have had to settle for day excursions that restrict them to a ‘single activity’. Much of their time was spent transferring back and forth between the city and the activity area. Our multi activity adventures combine 2-3 activities in each day.
They are designed to meet the requirements of those in 3 different ability levels: easy, intermediate & advanced.
Now you can enjoy well any or all of the big 7: (1) Zip wire & canopy walks. (2) Jungle treks. (3) Waterfall abseiling. (4) Rock climbing. (5) Mountain biking. (6) Kayaking. (7) Elephant treks over one or two days – at value for money prices.
Downloads:
1 & 2 Day BIG 7 Multi-Activity Adventures (0MB PDF)
Media Centre
Contact Us
THE PANG SOONG LODGE, OUTDOOR & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Track of the Tiger Education Services.
Volunteers Without Borders.
Track of the Tiger T.R.D. (Tourism Resources Development.) Co., Ltd.
Email:info@pang-soong-lodge.com
Phone: + 66 (0) 53 801 674, + 66(0)53 801 257, + 66 (0) 53 334938
Fax: + 66 (0) 53 801 674
Physical Address: 2/8 Moo 4, Tambon Nong Hoy, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 5000, Thailand.
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