Program Directed by
Portia Watson
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Thailand
Teaching & Service in the Thai Highlands
Travel to the mountainous northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in Thailand, home to lush forests, endless mountain ranges, and tremendous ethnic and cultural diversity. Foster connections with local youth as you teach conversational English lessons and contribute to ongoing construction projects at elementary schools in Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai District, and assist with other service projects in the community as needed. Experience northern Thailand’s distinct highland cultures and traditions while staying in a small community on the Kok River near the border with Myanmar, home to the Thai, Shan, Ahka, Karen, Lahu, and many other ethnic groups. Learn about Buddhism through offering morning alms to monks and visiting temples, make delicious dishes in a Thai cooking class, participate in a day exchange program with local high school students, and cap your program by exploring the dynamic cities of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, northern Thai cultural hubs.
- Highlights
• Experience Chiang Mai’s bustling evening markets and epic street food scene
• Bike admidst ruins of the ancient Lanna Kingdom
• Learn how to make delicious Thai dishes such as pad thai and khao soi
• Visit Chiang Rai’s Wat Rong Khun and other magnificent Buddhist temples
• Bike admidst ruins of the ancient Lanna Kingdom
• Learn how to make delicious Thai dishes such as pad thai and khao soi
• Visit Chiang Rai’s Wat Rong Khun and other magnificent Buddhist temples
“We hoped for Matt to learn about a new culture, become more independent, meet new people, have fun, and get a different perspective of the world. This program exceeded our expectations.”
—Debra & Frank G., Branchburg, NJ
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in Los Angeles, and fly together to Chiang Mai, Thailand. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Chiang Mai — 3 days
Begin your program in Chiang Mai, where you will stay in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by ancient Lanna structures and picturesque temples while becoming acquainted with your surroundings and getting to know your peers. Enjoy panoramic views of the city from Chiang Mai’s beloved mountain, Doi Suthep, and visit evening markets and walking streets to sample delicious street food and try out your Thai language skills with local vendors.
Mae Ai District — 7 days
Travel north into the mountains to a local community nestled near the border with Myanmar. With guidance from your leaders and local facilitators, prepare English learning games and basic conversation lessons to teach local elementary school students in small groups. When not teaching, get your hands dirty by helping with ongoing construction projects at the schools such as laying the foundation for a new canteen, making bricks for future projects, or giving the walls a fresh coat of paint. In the afternoons, trek through the lush landscape with your group, visit a local handicrafts market, go for a dip in the swimming pool, or participate in activities such as archery, volleyball, or team-building games with your leaders and local facilitators. Share your experiences through photographs, writing, or video, and develop a narrative about your time in the community.
Chiang Rai — 5 days
Travel to Chiang Rai via riverboat to explore this diverse, charming city in Thailand’s northernmost province known for its rugged natural beauty and remote highland communities. Learn how to make your own eco prints alongside a local artist, hike to a beautiful waterfall in the jungle, and participate in an enriching cultural exchange day program with local students at a high school in the city center. Visit the exquisite Wat Rong Khun, or White Temple, and explore Chiang Rai’s bustling Night Bazaar and evening market streets.
Chiang Mai — 1 day
Wrap up your time with a final evening in Chiang Mai presenting your independent projects and reflecting on your adventures as a group.
Return — Travel Day
Fly from Chiang Mai to Los Angeles with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in Los Angeles, and fly together to Chiang Mai, Thailand. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Chiang Mai — 3 days
Begin your program in Chiang Mai, where you will stay in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by ancient Lanna structures and picturesque temples while becoming acquainted with your surroundings and getting to know your peers. Enjoy panoramic views of the city from Chiang Mai’s beloved mountain, Doi Suthep, and visit evening markets and walking streets to sample delicious street food and try out your Thai language skills with local vendors.
Mae Ai District — 7 days
Travel north into the mountains to a local community nestled near the border with Myanmar. With guidance from your leaders and local facilitators, prepare English learning games and basic conversation lessons to teach local elementary school students in small groups. When not teaching, get your hands dirty by helping with ongoing construction projects at the schools such as laying the foundation for a new canteen, making bricks for future projects, or giving the walls a fresh coat of paint. In the afternoons, trek through the lush landscape with your group, visit a local handicrafts market, go for a dip in the swimming pool, or participate in activities such as archery, volleyball, or team-building games with your leaders and local facilitators. Share your experiences through photographs, writing, or video, and develop a narrative about your time in the community.
Chiang Rai — 5 days
Travel to Chiang Rai via riverboat to explore this diverse, charming city in Thailand’s northernmost province known for its rugged natural beauty and remote highland communities. Learn how to make your own eco prints alongside a local artist, hike to a beautiful waterfall in the jungle, and participate in an enriching cultural exchange day program with local students at a high school in the city center. Visit the exquisite Wat Rong Khun, or White Temple, and explore Chiang Rai’s bustling Night Bazaar and evening market streets.
Chiang Mai — 1 day
Wrap up your time with a final evening in Chiang Mai presenting your independent projects and reflecting on your adventures as a group.
Return — Travel Day
Fly from Chiang Mai to Los Angeles with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.Â
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.Â
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Community Service
During your time in Thailand, you can expect to work on a couple main service projects including teaching English to local schoolchildren, and assisting with construction-based projects at local schools as needed. The focus of this summer program is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared service experience together. You should come into the summer with an open-mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. Everyone participates in the groups’ project, and lends a hand in creating a positive and supportive group environment. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
Independent Project
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—learn how food is an integral part of Thai family life, create a photo album that documents a Thai classroom, or learn a traditional dance or song.
Technology
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to the program, and keep their devices throughout. During in-country orientation, leaders will lock phones with a code, unlocking them for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active summer travel program. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities. You can expect to ride bicycles, trek in the jungle to waterfalls, temples and stupas, participate in games and sports with local students, and traverse the towns of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai on foot.
Accommodations
During the program, students stay 2-3 to a room at locally owned guest houses with hot showers, air conditioning, and electricity. In Mae Ai District we stay in simple, dormitory style rooms in a comfortable bunk house with a wealth of common spaces including a lounge room and swimming pool on site.
Meals
We eat breakfast together as a group at the guesthouse, which includes traditional Thai breakfast fare like rice congee or khao tom, with some supplemental Western food. We eat Thai style lunches and dinners at our accommodations or at local restaurants.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Community Service
During your time in Thailand, you can expect to work on a couple main service projects including teaching English to local schoolchildren, and assisting with construction-based projects at local schools as needed. The focus of this summer program is learning about another culture by forming meaningful relationships with local people and undertaking a shared service experience together. You should come into the summer with an open-mind, eager to participate in new experiences and interested in exploring another culture and way of life. Everyone participates in the groups’ project, and lends a hand in creating a positive and supportive group environment. To learn more about our Service programs click here.
Independent Project
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—learn how food is an integral part of Thai family life, create a photo album that documents a Thai classroom, or learn a traditional dance or song.
Technology
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to the program, and keep their devices throughout. During in-country orientation, leaders will lock phones with a code, unlocking them for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active summer travel program. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities. You can expect to ride bicycles, trek in the jungle to waterfalls, temples and stupas, participate in games and sports with local students, and traverse the towns of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai on foot.
Accommodations
During the program, students stay 2-3 to a room at locally owned guest houses with hot showers, air conditioning, and electricity. In Mae Ai District we stay in simple, dormitory style rooms in a comfortable bunk house with a wealth of common spaces including a lounge room and swimming pool on site.
Meals
We eat breakfast together as a group at the guesthouse, which includes traditional Thai breakfast fare like rice congee or khao tom, with some supplemental Western food. We eat Thai style lunches and dinners at our accommodations or at local restaurants.
A Day in the Life: Maekok River Village​
Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in our host community.
- Morning
7:00am
Enjoy a Thai-style breakfast with your group
8:00am
Head to service sites in groups
9:00am
Teach English lessons and engage in learning activities with local students, or start working on your construction project
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Take a lunch break and play games or relax
1:00pm
Continue your service projects
4:00pm
Go for a trek, journal, or take a dip in the swimming pool
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy dinner together as a group
7:30pm
Enjoy nightly games and activities with your group
9:00pm
Have nightly meeting with your group to discuss the day’s activities and upcoming schedule
A Day in the Life:
Maekok River Village​
Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in our host community.
- Morning
7:00am
Enjoy a Thai-style breakfast with your group
8:00am
Head to service sites in groups
9:00am
Teach English lessons and engage in learning activities with local students, or start working on your construction project
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Take a lunch break and play games or relax
1:00pm
Continue your service projects
4:00pm
Go for a trek, journal, or take a dip in the swimming pool
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy dinner together as a group
7:30pm
Enjoy nightly games and activities with your group
9:00pm
Have nightly meeting with your group to discuss the day’s activities and upcoming schedule
“While many things are different about the way kids my age live across the world, many things are similar as well. I learned a new way of life.”
—Hannah S., Edgemont High School, Scarsdale, NY
Program Directed by
Portia Watson
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
