During the 2012 NAFSA Conference and Expo, the GoAbroad Team was pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Innovation Awards. As part of a continued effort to recognize the hard work and dedication this year’s nominees, GoAbroad will be sharing individual features of the 2012 GoAbroad Innovation Awards finalists over the coming weeks. This week, we are thrilled to bring you the Innovative New Program, Volunteer Abroad Award finalists!
Please join us in congratulating the following Finalist of the Innovative New Program, Volunteer Abroad Award:
Earthwatch Institute
“On The Trail of Giant Pandas”
On the newest Earthwatch Institute expedition, On The Trail of Giant Pandas, volunteers head to in Chengdu, China to work up close with pandas cared for in captivity, and help them adapt to life in the wild, so that they may breed, and live longer and healthier lives.
Volunteers monitor mother pandas and newborn cubs – and even observe the birthing process for cubs, depending on what time of year they join. These volunteers prepare and deliver bamboo to the captive pandas, and help keep their living area clean. Earthwatch team members are granted special access to the breeding area and nursery of the panda base, which remain closed to the general public throughout the year. Collectively, the volunteers contribute toward the long-term goal of reinforcing small and isolated populations of wild panda in the region, through the strategic release of captive pandas. The experience lasts a lifetime, and it could help the giant panda population longer than that.