Tuesday, September 25, 2012

FAQ's About Kids Play International's Volunteer Trips

Athlete Ambassador Emily Cook (left) and Founder Tracy Evans (right)

Traveling to a new country can be both exhilarating and intimidating at the same time. Not knowing exactly what to expect is exciting yet can leave us feeling hesitant and overflowing with questions.

But guess what? We love questions! We want YOU to get involved and let us know what questions you might have about traveling to Rwanda or Malawi, volunteering with Kids Play International, going gorilla trekking, or anything in between. 

If you're curious about it. Most likely someone else is, too. Below are some common questions we've been hearing. If you have one of your own, please post a comment! 

Any special fitness requirements for this trip?
Our KPI Volunteer Trips are very active and do require a general level of healthy physical fitness. We will be walking, wandering, playing, and vinyasa flowing (for the yoga trip in July), the days away! If you have any injuries or special requirements, please consult your physician first. Also, please let us know at the time of inquiry. 


Why is gorilla trekking $750 buckaroos?
The Rwandan Silverback Gorillas are an endangered species (we recommend checking out the film “Gorillas in the Mist”, which was filmed and took place here). The permit fee goes towards protecting the National Park, supporting the Rangers and Trackers who stay with the gorillas throughout the day, and protecting the gorillas against poachers. Only a certain number of permit passes are given out each day.

What if I don’t want to go gorilla trekking?
The gorillas will definitely be sad to hear you won’t be stopping by to say hi. This is a very unique and awe-inspiring experience that we encourage you not to miss. However, if you choose to not go trekking, you will be able to get some extra down time at the Mountain View Gorilla Lodge.



What is the food like?
One of the best ways to experience a culture is to experience the food. We recommend checking out a blog that Jaime Komer, an Athlete Ambassador of KPI, posted about her experience with Rwandan cuisine after her trip in May of 2012: "There's no compare to local fare."

For the Yoga Volunteer Trip in July 2013:

Do I need to have yoga experience?
Absolutely not! Whether you’ve been practicing for years or never stepped on a yoga mat in your life, we’d love for you to join in on the fun. 

*If you have any injuries, please let the Instructor, Jaime Komer, know ahead of time.

Do I have to attend each yoga session?
Don’t you fret, the yoga sessions are completely optional. So if you’re craving a few extra zzz’s one day, go for it!

Where will we get our yoga on?
We are going to get the most out of the scenic beauty of Rwanda by holding most yoga sessions outdoors. This includes outdoor lawn locations at hotels, the Let’s Play! Sports Field, and even alongside the calm waters of Lake Kivu.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Where Are We Going?


Isn't that the question of the day! But let's get a little more specific, shall we? Kids Play International will be leading two volunteer trips to Rwanda in 2013 and we'd like to tell you a little more about this wonderful country. 

Country. Culture. Experience.

Known as the “land of a thousand hills”, Rwanda is an awe-inspiring country known for its vibrant culture and it’s welcoming, resilient people. Located in Central East Africa, this small country is surrounded by four others; Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Rwanda experienced a horrific, nationwide genocide in 1994, leaving almost one million people slaughtered, and countless others affected. There are several genocide monuments throughout the country, recognizing these events. On each KPI Volunteer Trip, we always visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial within the first few days of arrival, so that we may better understand the story, history, and culture of this special country. 

Being just south of the equator and higher in elevation, Rwanda offers a fairly mild climate with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons (don’t worry, we like to visit during the dry seasons). 

This unique landscape is also quite the happening place for….gorillas! There are very few places in the world where you can experience a Silverback Gorilla in its natural habitat, and Rwanda is one of them! 

As we dish out more about our Volunteer Trips, we'd love for you to join in on the fun with Facebook and Twitter!




Tuesday, September 18, 2012

2013 Volunteer Trips

When you decide to travel with a purpose with KPI, you're in for a trip of a lifetime...Get ready to be inspired!

As we're master planning away to create the coolest Volunteer Trips with Kids Play International possible, we figure it's only fair that we give you a sneak peek. With overwhelming response for ways to get involved, we are now offering three opportunities to experience KPI in Africa. 

Mark your calendars, here are the dates for the upcoming 2013 Volunteer Trips:
Rwanda: May 28th - June 10th (led by 4-time Olympian, Cameron Myler) 
Price: $1799 per person (plus airfare) *add $750 for Gorilla Trekking Permit
*Optional add-on Safari to Tanzania

Malawi: May 13th - 26th (led by Founder of KPI and 3-time Olympian, Tracy Evans)
Price: $1899 per person (plus airfare)
*Includes Safari to Zambia!    

Rwanda: July 14th - 28th (led by Olympic Silver Medalist & Yoga Instructor, Jaime Komer) 
Price: $1799 per person (plus airfare) *add $750 for Gorilla Trekking Permit
*Optional add-on Safari to Tanzania!







Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Wait, There's a Life Beyond Sports? That's Silly Talk!


We've all heard the stories about the high school athlete getting signed to a professional team, forgoing the college route, and then somehow injuring themselves so severely that they can no longer play. This is a heart wrenching moment in someone's life, when their dream of continuing their athletic journey comes to sudden stop. 

Though this unfortunate story is not too common, the choice (forced or optional) to finally stop playing a sport is one that most of us have experienced at some point in our lives. We're talking all levels, high school, college, pro, Olympic. Heck, let's even go back to AYSO.

Some of us crazy kids are so athletically driven that once we reach the point of hanging up our jersey (or goggles, suits, caps, you get the drift), we might be completely dumbfounded at the direction to take our lives. What's next?

Wait, did I just hear my parent's voice? "Education is more important than playing sports. You can't play sports for your entire life, can you?" Well, I suppose they've got a point, even Kobe Bryant will retire one day. And very few of us will be retiring with his benefits! 

What I love about Kids Play International is the simple yet ideal purpose to the program. We give children the opportunity to play sports. To learn all the life lessons we will inherently pick up when training, working with others, and competing. The clever bit (like my parent's voice in the back of my head) is that these kids who are involved with KPI are given opportunities for scholarships, to continue their education. So that they may continue to grow, beyond their love for playing sports. 

Because no matter how good we are or how much we love it, at some point in our lives it will be time to change directions and create new opportunities for ourselves. Where the heck will we go? That's for you to decide. The world is yours my friend, go get it! 



Save the Date: On September 24th, join us for Cocktails for a Cause in New York City at the 48 Lounge


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