Study Abroad Program Handbook Botswana July 22-August 11 NS2044 Field Studies in Wildlife Conservation Table of Contents A NOTE OF WELCOME ................................................................................................................ 1 TRAVEL DETAILS ....................................................................................................................... 2 Travel-Day Questions ............................................................................................. 2 CONTACT & EMERGENCY INFORMATION ................................................................................. 3 At Landmark College .............................................................................................. 3 Landmark College Vice President for Student Affairs ............................................. 3 Landmark College Security & Security Office ........................................................ 3 Landmark College Director of International Education ........................................... 3 Program Director ................................................................................................ 3 Academic Director .............................................................................................. 3 In-country ............................................................................................................. 3 ITINERARY ................................................................................................................................ 4 COURSE SYLLABUS .................................................................................................................... 5 USEFUL WEBSITES & BOOKS .................................................................................................. 12 PACKING TIPS ......................................................................................................................... 13 Clothes ............................................................................................................... 13 Valuables & Electronics ........................................................................................ 13 Baggage ............................................................................................................. 13 PACKING LIST ......................................................................................................................... 14 Essential gear: ..................................................................................................... 14 Course Supplies: .................................................................................................. 14 Clothing: ............................................................................................................. 14 Optional: ............................................................................................................. 14 TIPS FOR THE TRAVELER ........................................................................................................ 15 Passports and Visas ............................................................................................. 15 Money Matters and Suggested Budget .................................................................. 15 Water and Food ................................................................................................... 15 Housing .............................................................................................................. 15 In-country Transportation .................................................................................... 16 Weather .............................................................................................................. 16 Electricity ............................................................................................................ 16 Health and Immunizations .................................................................................... 16 LANDMARK COLLEGE CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION ....................................................... 18 Health and Safety ................................................................................................ 18 Services .............................................................................................................. 19 Independent travel .............................................................................................. 19 Non-sanctioned activities ...................................................................................... 19 Leaving the program ............................................................................................ 19 Air transportation................................................................................................. 20 Travel delays and unexpected layovers ................................................................. 20 Identification ....................................................................................................... 20 Lost passports ..................................................................................................... 21 Fee amounts ....................................................................................................... 21 Intervention Procedures ....................................................................................... 21 LANDMARK COLLEGE SAFETY STATEMENT ............................................................................. 24 Insurance ............................................................................................................ 24 Staffing ............................................................................................................... 24 Communication ................................................................................................... 25 Important Information ......................................................................................... 25 Program Handbook .............................................................................................. 25 Orientation .......................................................................................................... 26 A Note of Welcome You have an amazng opportunity to engage in field study in Botswana with your professor this summer while you work to earn three credits for the Natural Sciences course, Field Studies in Wildlife Conservation. Botswana tops Lonely Planet's list of best places to visit in 2016! So you are not only traveling to the country, but studying wildlife conservation. The official name of the country is The Republic of Botswana, with the capital city in Gaborone. Botswana is a landlocked country in the center of Southern Africa. One of Southern Africa's longest rivers, the Okavango, flows into the north- western part of the country, forming the UNESCO World Heritage Site Okavango Delta which is one of the locations where the program will take place. Botswana shares borders with South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It’s a country of roughly two million people with one of the official languages being English. We look forward to the program and suggest that you are ready for adventure and heightened curiousity and learning. 1 Travel Details A shuttle will be leaving Landmark College on July 21st at 3:00 pm for JFK (overnight near airport, in order to meet group at 8:15 am next day. (Reservations/payment for accommodation, on your own) A shuttle will return to Landmark College mid-day on August 11th Sign up for shuttles is required and details will be provided by Director of International Education, Peg Alden Travel-Day Questions Program Director Contact Information: Debbie Gassaway-Hayward Cell phone: 802 380-0409 Landmark Security: 802-387-6899, for emergency Please see for any questions regarding airline travel: • Transportation Security Administration travel information: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information • US State Department travel information: http://travel.state.gov 2 Contact & Emergency Information At Landmark College Landmark College Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Luciani Office: 802-387-6713 Cell: 603-398-7781 Email: [email protected] Landmark College Security & Security Office 802-387-6899 (24 hours) Landmark College Director of International Education Peg Alden Office: 802-387-6821 Cell: 802-490-4515 Email: [email protected] Program Director Debbie Gassaway-Hayward Office: 802-387-6817 (thru mid-May) Email: [email protected] Cell: 802 380-0409 Academic Director Andrew Stein Office: 802-387-1607 (thru mid-May) Email: [email protected] In-country Emergency Information See “Housing” section of this handbook for details of where the program will be staying and contact information for each site Emergencies/Fire/Ambulance: will receive during in-country orientation upon arrival Tourist police: will receive during in-country orientation upon arrival Medical assistance (emergency & non-emergency) for each location: Contact Program Director on trip S.T.E.P. (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) Landmark College registers all study abroad programs with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs S.T.E.P. program. If you are interested in monitoring safety conditions for your particular study abroad location, you can register for updates at https://step.state.gov/STEP/Pages/Common/Subscribe.aspx . 3 Itinerary Study Abroad programs are dynamic, flexible, adaptable, CHANGEABLE. Plan for adjustments as we travel and learn, together! Week 1: We are planning to fly direct from