Venture East // Sumatra
Schools Conservation Project, Sumatra
Organgutan Conservation
The Venture Force team have been lucky enough to travel to many destinations around the globe. However, during our travels we have become very aware that if we don’t actively work to save the planet and educate future generations on the importance of preserving nature, then there will be little left. The Sumatran orangutan, and indeed, all species native to Indonesia require protection. We are proud to have partnered with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP). Teams will work with SOCP to assist them in their important work to save this remarkable primate. We feel it is important to show the good, the bad and the ugly. We use the educational opportunity this expedition allows, to highlight to students where humans are causing damage to the orangutan’s habitat through deforestation, particularly in relation to palm oil production. We aim to enable students to think about the impact of their own lifestyle and to empower them to make informed choices in the future.
Student teams will be supported by our experienced expedition leaders and our in-country team as they travel thorough Northern Sumatra by mini-bus, motor canoe and on foot. They will experience the culture, traditions and practices of this fascinating country, as well as the beautiful and geographically interesting Sumatran landscape.
Photos: David Higgs
Our conservation projects allow students to get hands-on experience working on a wildlife project. We work with selected charity partners who are speciailists in their conservation field. Their expert guidance enables our teams to take part in impactful conservation projects.
Teams will join with the SOCP’s international scientists and experienced local trackers, to find out about the important work they do. The SOCP have created Haven, a sancturary for rescued orangutans who are unable to be released into the wild and survive. Haven provides these organutans with a home as close to their natural habitat as possible. This requires ongoing work and maintenance and teams will assit the SOCP with this challenging project.
If you want to see Sumatra’s wildlife and the mighty orangutan in the wild, then you’ll have to be prepared to rough it! Motorised canoe boat journeys, camps in jungle clearings, sleeping under mosquito nets in the research centres canopy, drop toilets, bucket showers and trekking through the sweaty rainforest will all be part of your adventure. Thankfully though you won’t see many tourists in the Leuser Ecosystem National Park.
The park is the workplace for many international scientists looking to preserve this stunning and threatened habitat. Teams will receive a unique insight from these specialists into their research and the lives of wild orangutans. Learning about this ecosystem students will find out how they can do their part to help in the future.
The rainforest is an exciting place for students to learn about themselves and to push their comfort zones a little more!
- River tubing – a fun and exciting way to exit the Jungle. Dropping through many rapids, through beautiful pools surrounded by the jungle and small rural hamlets, teams will navigate their way back to the basecamp (whitewater level 1)
- Bat caves – The limestone jungle hills are scattered with caves, that are not only refreshingly cooler than the jungle, but also offer the chance to witness the subterranean homes of many creatures including bats, asleep high up in the caves vaulted ceilings
- Jungle camp – A night under the jungle’s canopy. A chance for students to wonder at the nightlife of the jungle from within their own hammock and protective basha. Bear Grylls eat your heart out!
Expedition Project
Our conservation projects allow students to get hands-on experience working on a wildlife project. We work with selected charity partners who are speciailists in their conservation field. Their expert guidance enables our teams to take part in impactful conservation projects.
Teams will join with the SOCP’s international scientists and experienced local trackers, to find out about the important work they do. The SOCP have created Haven, a sancturary for rescued orangutans who are unable to be released into the wild and survive. Haven provides these organutans with a home as close to their natural habitat as possible. This requires ongoing work and maintenance and teams will assit the SOCP with this challenging project.
Roughing it!
If you want to see Sumatra’s wildlife and the mighty orangutan in the wild, then you’ll have to be prepared to rough it! Motorised canoe boat journeys, camps in jungle clearings, sleeping under mosquito nets in the research centres canopy, drop toilets, bucket showers and trekking through the sweaty rainforest will all be part of your adventure. Thankfully though you won’t see many tourists in the Leuser Ecosystem National Park.
The park is the workplace for many international scientists looking to preserve this stunning and threatened habitat. Teams will receive a unique insight from these specialists into their research and the lives of wild orangutans. Learning about this ecosystem students will find out how they can do their part to help in the future.
Jungle Adventures
The rainforest is an exciting place for students to learn about themselves and to push their comfort zones a little more!
- River tubing – a fun and exciting way to exit the Jungle. Dropping through many rapids, through beautiful pools surrounded by the jungle and small rural hamlets, teams will navigate their way back to the basecamp (whitewater level 1)
- Bat caves – The limestone jungle hills are scattered with caves, that are not only refreshingly cooler than the jungle, but also offer the chance to witness the subterranean homes of many creatures including bats, asleep high up in the caves vaulted ceilings
- Jungle camp – A night under the jungle’s canopy. A chance for students to wonder at the nightlife of the jungle from within their own hammock and protective basha. Bear Grylls eat your heart out!
Embrace the challenge and remember the unique experience!
Expect an experience that is going to have a positive effect! This an expedition, not a holiday and is taking place in a country far removed from the UK, both in distance and cultural norms.
Accommodation and food are likely to be different to what students are used to. Team members are encouraged to embrace this, it’s part of what expeditions are about! At times students will be completely out of their comfort zone and that is an integral element of developmental expeditions.
KEY INFORMATION
All our expeditions are bespoke and tailored to your team's needs
Conservation Project
Hammock Camp Out
River Tubing
Bat Cave
Duration
12 Days (UK to UK)
- International Flights
- Two Venture Force expedition leaders
- Two funded teacher places
- 24/7 Operations Room support
- Comprehensive travel insurance (see our COVID info page)
- International communications package
- All in-country travel
- In-country agent support
- All in-country activities, food and accommodation
- Team t-shirts
- Heavy duty travel bag
- Group kit and equipment
- Online expedition portal
- Carbon off-setting
- Project donation (expedition dependent)
- Training weekend (only for 14 day & above)
- Personal vaccinations
- Personal equipment (a kit list will be provided)
- Visa costs and passport renewal (if applicable)
- Spending money for gifts and additional drinks/food
