Incredible volunteer experience!

I had the time of my life in Huay Pakoot! The staff and other volunteers are so inclusive and are all genuinely good people. The program itself combines animal conservation with community development, which is a really unique opportunity that made it the perfect fit for me. First of all, you get to spend nearly every day outside, which is just incredible. And most days, you're hiking to see elephants that are being reintegrated into the wild. You really feel like you're making a difference by collecting data on each elephant's behaviors and activities. In the future, the data we have collected will be analyzed and used to show the potential benefits of keeping Asian elephants in the wild. In the afternoons and evenings, there are plenty of opportunities to get plugged in at the school and in English classes for the villagers. It's easy to immerse yourself in the Karen culture while there--especially because you live with a host family during your entire time in the village. All of the villagers are incredibly kind and want to make sure you have a good experience there as well. This was a trip of a lifetime, and I hope to return to Huay Pakoot soon!