Peru June 17 July 1, 2017 Team Leaders: Mark and Shelly Burningham shelly@youthlinc.org 801-540-4022 Kallie Bunnell: kallie@youthlinc.org 801-368-2993 Team Meetings: December 10 th 10:00 12:30 pm @ The Family Place 1525 North 200 West, Logan, UT 84341. January Team Retreat: Jan. 20th 6:30 pm January 21 st 12:00 noon, Location TBA February Health Clinic February 25 th 12:00 (noon)- 2:00pm @ University Hospital March Committee Workshop March 18 th 10:00 12:30 pm @ The Family Place 1525 North 200 West, Logan, UT 84341. April 8 th 10:00 12:30 pm @ The Family Place 1525 North 200 West, Logan, UT 84341. May 13 th 10:00-12:30 pm @ The Family Place 1525 North 200 West, Logan, UT 84341. June 10 th Packing Meeting, 10:00 am -12:30 pm @ The Burningham s home- 133 East 1000 South, Kaysville, Utah 84037. Youthlinc Reunion, TBA
Travel Itinerary: June 17: 3:07pm depart SLC - arrive LAX 4:04pm. Delta 2170 9:30pm: depart LAX - arrive Lima 7:50am (June 18). LAN 0601. June 18: 10:14am: depart Lima - arrive Iquitos 12:14pm. LAN 2240. June 19: Opening ceremonies/work Day June 20-24: Work days June 25: Excursion/Rest Day June 26-27: Work Days June 28: Fun Fair/Closing Ceremonies June 29: Visit nearby villages/travel to Iquitos June 30: Travel Day/Day in Lima 8:10am: depart Iquitos - arrive Lima 9:55am. LAN 2235. Tour the Catacombs and shopping in Lima July 1: 1:58am: depart Lima arrive -LAX 8:50am. LAN 2476 11:40am: depart LAX - arrive SLC 2:33pm. Delta 6 Peru Packing Checklist: Things to pack for the plane in your backpack or carry-on (1 carry-on and 1 personal bag or purse): It is smart to have a light jacket in case you get cold on the airplane. You want to be comfortable for overnight flights on the plane. Passport, Cash, ATM card (best to have these on your person) Camera, extra batteries (packed in Ziploc bags to keep out dust/humidity) Toiletries Prescription medicine that you must take Blow-up neck pillow for napping Sleep aid (please be sure this is not your first time taking a sleeping aid!) Socks to keep your feet comfy, or compression socks to keep your feet from swelling Books, music listening device, games to entertain yourself Water bottle (though be prepared to empty it every time we go through security) Snacks for plane and boat ride to village
A change of underwear and something to sleep in just in case your luggage is temporarily misplaced! Money belt to keep passport/money/and debit or credit cards in Items to pack in your suitcase: 50 lb. limit -- Remember: This is not a fashion show! Also, you can do your own laundry at the lodge. As such, I would I pack the bare minimum and then just plan to do some laundry. Clothes & Shoes It s hot, so you ll want something that is cool but also modest. You ll be working hard and getting dirty so pack things that aren t ratty but won t matter if they are ruined. If you can, buy breathable parachute or Dry Wick material long pants/capris/shorts and shirts. Cotton absorbs moisture and will keep you constantly wet. o 3-5 shirts One of them being your Youthlinc t-shirt. Try to bring a couple shirts that are Dri-Wick, if they get wet, they will dry quickly. Also, have a couple lightweight long sleeved t-shirts to prevent sunburn. o 2-3 light weight long pants/pairs of shorts (keep modesty in mind). Knee length shorts will be your best friend- you want light weight, quick drying ones. They MUST be knee length. o 1 professional outfit: Teachers usually come dressed professionally (not in shorts and a t-shirt). If you are teaching, you will want to look professional too, while accommodating the heat and humidity. You don t have to wear something different everyday. o Plenty of socks and underwear, and light clothes to sleep in o Sunglasses and a hat o RAINGEAR lightweight hooded rain windbreaker o Sturdy old sneakers for outdoor work. (Keens are great or strap on sturdy sandals like Chaco s). o Flip flops for showering o Rain boots- THESE ARE AN ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE! o Multiple pairs of work gloves! Keeping clean & healthy in-country: o Small sample sizes of toiletries you will need (shampoo, soap, etc.). The hotel does not provide these. o Sunscreen THIS IS A MUST. Bring plenty! And, sunburn medication of your choice (just in case). o Chapstick with sunscreen o Your own personal first aid kit with: Benadryl, Cipro, aspirin or Motrin, Neosporin, band-aids, alcohol swabs in packets and cortisone cream (for bug bites), Pepto Bismol, Imodium, pain reliever, etc. o Mosquito repellent with DEET (Sawyer s Timed Release is very good at REI). You can also spray your clothing with Permethrin, which will keep the bugs away too. o Toilet paper (in a Ziploc bag), hand sanitizer, baby wipes and Kleenex packets o Wash cloth or two if you use one Staying hydrated and fed: o Reusable water bottle, or Camelback. Do not share water with anyone in the village! Soap to clean your bottle with.
o Bring packets of electrolytes. It is very hot and you will be working extremely hard. Though I will be all over you reminding you to drink water, you may not be able to drink enough to keep up with the sweat! o Non-crushable things that won t melt like: granola bars, fruit roll ups, nuts and trail mix, beef jerky, small cereal boxes, jar of peanut butter, Nutella. o Protein bars: vegetarian or not, these bars will also be a great asset to you on the trip because many team members eat considerably less meat than they are used to when they are in the U.S. Your body still needs the protein you are used to and these bars are a great supplement. o If you have any other food allergies or special diet restrictions (gluten intolerance, etc ) be sure to bring the snacks and supplements you will need. Miscellaneous: o Small flashlight and extra batteries (sometimes there are power outages) o A journal and pens (extra pens) You will want to remember details from your trip. o Several gallon sized zip-lock bags o Watch o Travel alarm clock (battery powered) o Electrical Converter- get the universal one o Any stuff you need for your committee assignments that didn't go into duffel bags at the packing meeting o If you intend to do some major shopping, bring your own empty duffel bag, bubble wrap, scissors and tape in your personal luggage. o You may want to bring some photos of you and your family to give away as gifts. You will probably have buddies that latch onto you every day in the village. o Swim suit: The Heliconia has a pool! Peru FAQs: Q: When will we be going? The dates are June 17 July 1, 2017 Q: How much money will I need? You may want extra money for extra treats, drinks other than water, and food in airports. All other meals are paid for, as is all drinking water. We will be shopping for souvenirs. You can get a lot of great stuff for friends and family for $100- $200. Plan to bring money for tipping, as you ll want to tip good service. $30 is sufficient. Q: In what form should I bring my money? The exchange rate is approximately 2.7 Soles to 1 U.S. Dollar. Peruvian Soles are the official currency in Peru, however, the US Dollar is accepted almost everywhere in country (including in the bar/recreation room at the lodge).
Creased or torn bills are not accepted, so if you do bring dollars, make certain they are new and crisp. You can purchase a book of a hundred one dollar bills from Zion s Bank. The bills easily peel off and have the benefit of being brand new. If bringing cash, be sure not to store it all in one place. To get the best exchange rate you should bring an ATM card to use at many ATMs around the city. This is safe because if it is lost, no one can access your money. It is highly recommended that you BRING AN ATM CARD! You will get the best bargains if you use soles to purchase items. We will make arrangements at the hotel in Iquitos to exchange US money or to get small soles. I would suggest that you get 1, 2 or 10 sole coins since most Peruvians cannot make change for anything over 10 or 20 soles. You will not have access to pull money from ATMs or exchange money at the Heliconia. It all must be done in Iquitos. Q: Do I need a passport? Do I need a Visa? YES, you need passport, US citizens do not need visas. If you are not a US citizen it is your responsibility to find out what documents you will need to enter and leave Peru. If you do not have a passport, apply for one immediately! It takes several weeks to arrive, but is good for 10 years. If you do have a passport, double check the expiration dates NOW. You may need to have it renewed. Visit www.travel.state.gov/passport to learn everything you need to know about applying for a passport. If you have a passport, double check the expiration dates NOW. You may need to have it renewed. If it expires within 6 months of our trip, you may be denied entry into Peru, so renew early if this applies to you. Q: Is a Youthlinc service trip tax deductible? Yes, Youthlinc is a 501(c)3 organization. Donations, including program payments, to Youthlinc are usually tax deductible. Check with your tax advisor about making charitable donations. Q: Do I need shots? Shots are strongly recommended for your safety. You should be current on your MMR. Hepatitis A and B and tetanus can reduce some of the worries about traveling out of the country. Typhoid and polio are also recommended. These shots are also beneficial to have in the States. The Hepatitis shots come in sets of 2 to be given 6 months apart, so get the first one now. Anti-malaria pills are strongly recommended and are taken before, during and after the trip, as well as the Yellow Fever vaccination. You are responsible for any shots or medications, but you should check with your insurance company see if some are covered. We will have a medical travel clinic in February to go over all of this critical information and you are able to get needed vaccinations at that time. Minors MUST bring a parent to the vaccination clinic. Q: What will the weather be like? Peru s climate is hot and humid in June and July. The sun shines very bright so be sure to bring sunscreen lotion (that is waterproof). Expect tropical rainstorms. With the rains come the mosquitoes so bring repellent. Because of the mix of really hot days and wet evenings, it is extremely humid.
Q: What should I pack? Pack as lightly as possible. A complete packing list is included in the manual. Clothes should be modest (no short shorts, no low riding jeans for men or women, no halter tops or low cut tops, etc.) and should be professional especially if you are involved in presenting to parents and teachers. Bring clothes to play sports. Q: How much can my luggage weigh? Each suitcase or duffel bag is limited to 50 lbs. You will carry your personal suitcase plus one Youthlinc duffel bag with supplies (also 50 lbs). On the way home you cannot use Youthlinc duffel bags for personal items. You should also bring packing supplies (e.g., bubble wrap, etc.). Q: How can I bring donated items? We would love to bring donated items, but some things are unrealistic. For instance, the children may need shoes and we have lots of old shoes at our homes, right? But these are often bulky and heavy. Also, consider that these shoes might put a local shoe maker out of business. Sometimes it is better accepting cash and purchasing items when we get there. Although, large bulky items sometimes are needed, in general, money is always a better donation in terms of weight, usability and promoting the local economy of the village we are visiting. Q: What kind of food will I be eating? All our meals will be eaten in hotels, restaurants and the lodge near the village. Most meals include chicken, fish, beans, rice, vegetables, salads, fruit, etc. There are also vegetarian options. The food is wonderful and very organic. Q: Will there be a lot of bugs? Yes. Because of the rain and humidity there are a lot of mosquitoes and chiggers. Be sure to bring bug repellant with Deet or some other strong repellant. Long sleeve cotton shirts and long pants are a great way to avoid bugs. We would recommend that you purchase Permethrin and spray all of the clothes you plan to wear in the jungle. Permethrin is a strong bug repellant that will stay in your clothing for 6 weeks or up to 10 washings. Q: Can I call home? Though there is some internet/phone access in Iquitos, I recommend that you try to leave your family at home and completely immerse yourself in another world! Once we are in the village, you will not have access to a phone or to the Internet. The team leader will have access to a satellite phone in case of a medical emergency. Q: What about local service hours? You will need to complete 80 documented hours of local service. We require that you perform at least 40 of these hours at the same site so that you truly build a bond with the people you are helping. All hours must be approved by a service supervisor. This is done online so it s a snap. You just need to be sure you stay current with updating your hours.
Q: What if I can t do all 80 hours, can I still go on the international service trip? No. If you don t do all 80 hours, you will not go on the trip. We are an organization that puts equal emphasis on both LOCAL and INTERNATIONAL service. Q: Can I go out on my own while we re there? No. It is important for safety reasons that we stay together in groups of no fewer than five. Although, we are all adults, there will be a Youthlinc Mentor with groups that go out. Our policy is to watch out for each other. Q: How are the bathrooms? At the school there are squatters (pit latrines). In the bungalows, there are flushing toilets and toilet paper-- the only difference is that toilet paper does not go in the toilet. The pipes in most developing countries are not as large as they are in the United States. So unless you want to clog your toilet, put all toilet paper and feminine products in the trash receptacles. You ll want to bring a plastic bag of toilet paper and hand sanitizer for when you work in the village. Q: Can I drink the water? We drink bottled water. Never drink water from the tap. Be careful not to even rinse your toothbrush in the tap water a habit that is hard to break! Write your name on each of your water bottles in a sharpie, so we know whose is whose.