This challenge is going to be an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity : A 5-day multisport adventure!

Day 1 6 -8 hours hardcore jungle hiking with a Huaorani guide from the Napo River, near our base camp, to Huaorani territory We´ll spend the night in jungle hammocks in Huaorani community of Wentaro.

Day 2 MORE hardcore jungle hiking to the Huaorani community of Kewediono.

Day 3 We'll spend a full day in the community of Kewediono, where GVI interns teach at the high school.  We'll learn about the high school project, participate in a work day in the community, and join in for some cultural activities as well.

Day 4 From there, we'll spend a full day kayaking down the Shiripuno River to a tent camp near the community of Nenkepare, where we'll camp out and hike to the area's largest waterfall for a well-deserved dip. 

Day 5 On our last day, we'll travel by motor canoe down the Shiripuno, then by vehicle back to the city, seeing firsthand along the way the negative effects of oil on the region.  

It'll be tough, it'll be eye-opening, and it will be fun!

More about the Community

The Huaorani communities have been heavily affected and threatened by oil and its various influences in the Amazon for decades.  The communities we are visiting stood up and fought back, and have chosen ecotourism over oil.  They set up an ecolodge (Huaorani Lodge) and have worked hard to bring education to their communities.  A unique conservation-focused high school was opened by volunteers in the community, and GVI works with them through our internship program.  We will also be supporting them through the Charitable Trust, and we`ll get to see firsthand where the money will be spent!

GVI volunteers in 2011 competed in 2 different mini-challenges, involving 24 hours of surveys and competitions in our reserve, and raised over US$3000 for our fund.  With that money, we've begun to purchase environmental education resources to use in our local schools, and support education initiatives in the Amazon.

However, we think we can do even better in 2012!

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