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Three-week itinerary for
Special Program #0103
The
Reef & Rainforest Experience of Tropical North Queensland
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All academic portfolios and
course content to be delivered and agreed upon prior to departure.
Session assessments to be developed in accordance with the relevant
University / College standards and expectations.
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1: Arrival
Cairns with Program Coordinator. Meet facilitator at Customs for easy
arrival. |
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Group
travels to Palm Cove (Northern Beach 20 minutes from Cairns)
for group introductions/ orientations and overnight. Welcome
Beach Bar-B-Q and Australian song. |
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DAY
2: Pick-up
from Palm Cove for day of orientation to the unique features
of the Australian Tropics.
A pleasant
introduction to the two adjoining World Heritage sites of
the Great Barrier Reef and Gondwanan Rainforests. Students
will have opportunity for an enjoyable day of rest prior to
beginning of academic programming. Evening excursion to ‘Night
Animal Habitat’ for insight into Australian Fauna. Overnight
Palm Cove.
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DAY 3 - 8:
Open
Water Diving Certificate 
with our exclusive diving school (recognised by PADI & SSI) including
on board lectures. |
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Two days of classes and
exercises at the Diver Training Facility (The Largest in the
Southern Hemisphere) then 3 days and nights on board SV
Atlantic Clipper. The
140ft. tall sailing vessel is permanently based on the outer
edge of the Great Barrier Reef as we sail daily to a new reef
destination to gain greater insight into varied Marine Ecosystems.
Our sites are carefully selected by our academic staff for
abundance and diversity of marine life. Diving commences at
6.30 am right through to a night dive.
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Lectures:
- Introduction to Marine
Biology
- Reef Conservation
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DAY
9: After breakfast we disembark
to take a SkyRail Trip up the Kuranda Range.
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Lunch in Kuranda. Upon
completion of Guest Lecturer, travel to Crater Lakes and introduction
to study site in nearby Gadgarra rainforest. Overnight at
Chamber’s Rainforest Lodge at Lake Eacham. Night Fauna Spotlighting
and Campfire.
(Students will spend
four nights at Lodge while completing intensive rainforest
studies section of program.)
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Lecture: - Aboriginal
History and the Rainforest
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DAY 10: Class
Lecture and Introduction to the Ancient Tropical Rainforests of Australia.
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Morning session followed
by Botanical Walk and botanical collection to be followed
by field lecture at the Red Cedar tree (Toona ciliata).
Lunch - a feast of Rainforest Foods followed by classroom
lecture on Rainforest Goods and Services (to include
description of lunchtime Bush Foods). Late afternoon
session to include BushTucker, Herbal Remedies and other
rainforest botanicals. Dinner at Chamber’s Rainforest
Lodge.
Lectures:
- Introduction to Tropical Rainforest
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Open Access Resources and Natural Resource Management
(at the Giant Red Cedar)
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Rainforest Goods and Services (BushTucker, Botanicals
and Bounty)
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DAY 11: Morning
Session: Geology of the Tablelands with trip to Mt. Hypipamie
Lunch at the oldest wooden hotel
in the Southern Hemisphere: Malanda Hotel
After lunch visit to Malanda
Environmental Centre. Field visit to an old dairy farm to witness:
profits with nature & Farming and Rainforest Restoration. Afternoon
tour through Malanda Dairy, the world’s longest milk run. Visit
to Millaa Millaa Falls. Feast of the Forest Dinner at our GIS ‘Gadgarra’
Headquarters.
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Lectures:
- Geology of the Tablelands
- History of the Tablelands:
Malanda Environmental Centre
- Field Lectures: Dairy Farming
& Restoation
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DAY 12: Tree-planting
and vegetation surveying at Lakes Corridor. Riparian restoration
and management. Lunch at Lake Barrine, followed by rainforest cruise
and fauna identification. Afternoon walk at Curtain Fig (Ficus virens)
tree. Tree Kangaroo spotting on evening canoe trip on Lake Tinaroo.
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DAY 13: Morning
visit to rainforest plant nursery.
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Lecture
on seed collection and propagation methods. Community groups
and restoration explored. Lunch Bar-B-Q at Tolga Scrub followed
by visit to Tolga
Bat Hospital
with Jenny McLean.
Transfer
to Woodland, Wetland and Savanna Unit with overnight in Mareeba.
Joint evening Bar-B-Q with Host Family Introductions at GSI-Mareeba
Environmental College. Students will retire to residences
of Host Families (in pairs).
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Lectures:
- Seed Collection and Propagation
- The role of Community
groups in restoration
- Edge Effects at Tolga
Scrub
- Field Excursion: BATS
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DAY
14: Morning session at GSI-Mareeba
Environmental College. Field Excursion to Barron River Landcare
group followed by afternoon Platypus viewing. Return overnight to
Host Families.
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Lectures:
- Snake Identification at Environmental College
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LandCare: Community, Farming and Land Management
- Integrated
Catchment Management
DAY
15 Agro-forestry session
on natural resource management practices. Lunch and Afternoon
sessions at Mareeba Wetlands. (Overnight)
Lecture:
- Agro-Forestry; "Farming with a Twist"
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DAY
16: Bird Identification Walk
at Mareeba Wetlands. Late-morning departure for Cape Tribulation.
Afternoon at Daintree Environmental Centre and Canopy Tower Walk.
Movie: Rainforest Warriors. Overnight at PK’s Jungle Village/Cape
Tribulation.
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Lectures:
- BIRDS: The Seed Dispersers
- World
Heritage: What does it Mean?
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DAY
17: Morning Lecture: How World
Heritage began - the history behind Daintree.
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Visit to Cassowary
Nursery and Daintree Ice Creamery
Afternoon tasting at Tropical Fruit
Farm. Overnight at PK’s.
Lectures:
- The history behind Daintree
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Cassowary: The Dinosaur Bird
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DAYS
18-19:
Travel to Port Douglas. Visit and Feeding at Hartley's Crocodile
Farm followed by optional shopping and/ or beach. Final Awards Presentation
and Certificate Handout for session completion. Gala Dinner. Overnight
at Deluxe Hotel (OutRigger) in Port Douglas.
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DAY 20: Departure
from Port Douglas to Cairns for shopping and airport drop-off/departure.
Farewells.
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| TOTAL
COST includes: |
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all in-country travel upon Cairns arrival
all accommodation
all meals- unless otherwise specified
academic training and certificates
host family placement
International Open Water Diving Certificate
3 day exclusive Yacht Cruise & Reef instruction tour
special events and entry fees as specified
pre-departure visit/orientation of program representative
to the USA for induction and cultural prep.
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Costings as specified include everything related to program
other than any/ all visa issues/ constraints and personal incidentals
including any alcohol. All Students are required to have travel
insurance prior to program commencement.
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PROGRAM
PARTICULARS
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2003
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Program
Dates (to be determined)
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20
Days
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Cost:
US Dollars
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$2730.
US Dollars*
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*based on minimum participation
of 12 students with maximum participation at 40.
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Additional
video of program lectures and field excursions can be priced and arranged
prior to arrival.
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| Itinerary is subject to change in accordance to needs of group and
academic specifications as requested. |
