Travel
GO GLOBAL WITH PCC! Learn about the world in a whole new way through first-hand experience. PCC offers authentic cultural opportunities as a way to expand knowledge and understanding. Global experience is no longer a luxury. It's a pre-requisite for effective understanding of the world in which we live. There is no substitute for first-hand encounters. PCC offers educational travel programs all over the world, designed for adults who want more than a tourist vacation. Meet with local experts, attend lectures and field experiences, and engage in people-to-people visits that promote cultural understanding. What country have you always wanted to learn about? Here's your opportunity to experience diverse cultures and touch the world through travel. (Prices are approximate and based on double occupancy.)
Language Study Abroad
Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced speaker, cultural immersion is the fastest and most rewarding way to learn a language. Every new phrase learned can be put to instant use. Our partner schools have been carefully selected and are assured to be well established institutes, staffed by highly qualified teachers, in culturally rich locations. Each program offers a variety of cultural activities to enhance your language study. In order to assure your placement with a homestay, we request you register at least six weeks prior to your desired start date.
Study Spanish in Mexico
Study Spanish each morning and live with a Mexican family, sharing meals, conversation and culture. Travel to Guanajuato, a charming colonial city north of Mexico City near San Miguel de Allende. Classes start every Monday - choose your own dates! The school can accommodate all levels of language ability, from beginners to advanced.
Prices vary according to length of stay and type of accommodation selected. Airfare is not included.
Study Italian in Italy
Travel to the Tuscan Sun to study Italian where it is spoken and the culture is alive! Immerse yourself in the language, art, and culture of Italy! Attend a language school in Florence or the charming Tuscan towns of Cortona and Lucca. You will become more than a tourist...a true cultural traveler! The experience will be unforgettable. Participants will enjoy comfortable accommodations with local host families or dormitory/apartment style lodgings to maximize local interaction. Pick the dates that are right for you! The school can accommodate all levels of language ability, from beginners to advanced.
Prices vary according to length of stay and type of accommodation selected. Airfare is not included.
Cultural Tours
Travel with us and experience the stunning natural beauty, great historical sites, and architectural wonders of the world. PCC offers educational travel tours designed for adults who want more than a sightseeing vacation. Each trip is a learning experience that truly engages the traveler. Each travel package includes lectures to provide insights and information regarding the trip's unique destination and of course free time to pursue the experiences that matter most to you. Our guides are local and give you a thorough and fascinating inside look at each destination while giving you personal insights into their culture and way of life.
Oberammergau Passion Play
May 28 - June 5, 2010. During the Thirty Year War the deadly Black Plague broke out in Europe. There was no chance to escape, but the townspeople of Oberammergau, Germany swore an oath that if they were spared, they would perform a passion play every ten years. The first passion play took place in 1634 and the tradition remains to this day. We invite you to take part in this once in a lifetime event by joining us for a tour of Munich, a drive into the enchanting countryside of Bavaria to visit the most famous castle in the world - Neuschwanstein (below), and then on to Salzburg, Austria. The highlight of the trip will take place when you attend the world famous Oberammergau Passion Play. Before your return to Munich visit the Ettal monastery and Nazi concentration camp Dachau.
$5,175 (approximate) to LTT and $212 PCC Fee, includes airfare from Portland, accommodations, meals, guides, entrance fees, and more.
Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands
November 5 - 16, 2010. Join us for a trip of a life time to the Galapagos Archipelago. The unique combination of natural history, unique geology, the rich flora and fauna, the pleasant weather, and this extraordinary education experience makes for the perfect vacation. Snorkel and swim with a small colony of sea lions; visit the nesting site of the waved albatrosses; hike the trail that leads to the land iguanas and lava lizards; and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where scientists conduct biological research to observe the giant tortoises and learn about the captive-breeding program. You won't leave the Galapagos Archipelago untouched. You will quickly understand why Spanish pirates named them "The Enchanted Islands."
$5,895 (approximate) to LTT and $222 PCC Fee, includes airfare from Portland, accommodations, meals, guides, entrance fees, and more.
Explore Ancient Egypt
April 21 - May 2, 2010. History comes to life on site, from Cairo to Alexandria. View breathtaking ruins and the art of ancient Egypt. Visit the pyramids and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, attend a lecture on history and culture with a local Egyptologist and cruise the Nile from Aswan to Luxor to view the many sites. Optional The Sinai and Petra extension available.
$4,675 (approximate) to LTT and $222 PCC Fee, includes airfare from Portland, accommodations, many meals, guides, entrance fees, and more.
The Archaeology of Hawaii
February 7 - 12, 2010. The real history of old Hawaii awaits. Come and experience many different types of archaeological sites from ancient villages to sanctuaries and ceremonial sites and discover what we have learned from recent archaeological work. Take a walk along the ocean, moving from one village to another and hike a route that was used 200 years ago. Afternoons will be free to explore as you wish, although suggestions of places to visit will be happily shared. Options include: birding, botanical gardens, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing (or learning to do this), relaxing by the pool, and napping. However, be warned that discussions of the cultures of other lands (including the Americas) will be unavoidable during this trip. Dr. Alison Stenger of the Institute for Archaeological Studies will be the trip leader. Each trip is custom designed for your special interests.
$1,600 (approximate) to World Travel and $212 PCC Fee, includes: airfare from Portland, 5 nights lodging (double occupancy), car, park fees, archaeological packet, and more.
The Archaeology and Elegance of Hawaii
March 7 - 12, 2010. Experience the archaeology of old Hawaii. Visit places that commercial groups don't go! Walk the King's trail from an ancient site of both royalty and a neighboring worker's village, to a bay with fish ponds and fish traps. Watch for undisturbed petroglyphs and humpback whales along the way and then cool off with a relaxing snorkel. Learn the true history of Hawaii based on recent archaeological findings. Then hear the version the tourists are told. Walk the battlefield where the fate of Hawaii's religion was settled and where stone coffins still give mute testimony to the pain of this clash. Experience a 600 year old village where Kahunas still come to train. Dr. Alison Stenger of the Institute for Archaeological Studies will be the trip leader. Each trip is custom designed for your special interests.
$2,300 (approximate) to World Travel and $212 PCC Fee, includes: airfare from Portland, 5 nights lodging, car, park fees, archaeological packet, spa visit, and dolphin encounter.
Paris for Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Friends
March 20 - 27, 2010. Create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime on this Mother-Daughter, Sisters, and Friends spring break trip to Paris. Visit museums, cruise the Seine, stroll the avenues, enjoy the cafes and shops, and experience the ambience of this most fascinating city. An extension to the South of France is available from March 27 to April 3.
$2,699 (approximate) to Chalante Travels and $212 PCC Fee, includes airfare from Portland, hotel with daily breakfast, museum visits, and more.
Travel Fair
Join PCC travel operators and trip leaders at our annual Travel Fair for a morning of information sessions detailing the travel opportunities we will present in the coming year. If you want to learn about a specific culture, study a language while living with a local host family, or use your skills to participate in community service projects, PCC/CED Travel offers the perfect opportunity. Come travel the world with us!
Art and Architecture of Paris
March 20 - 27, 2010. This is your chance to look, think, and learn about the arts of Paris. Artist and art teacher Kris Martens will help you weave a mental tapestry uniting the threads of historical perspective into a personal understanding of painting, sculpture, and architectural history. You will experience the joy of wrapping yourself in the mystery and nuance of one of the most Art-Full cities in the world. An extension to the South of France is available from March 27 to April 3.
$2,699 (approximate) to Chalante Travels and $212 PCC Fee, includes airfare from Portland, hotel with daily breakfast, museum visits, and more.
Voluntourism
Discover the power of voluntourism! You can make a real difference while exploring the world with a real sense of adventure. Whether it is helping to save leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica, building a school in Belize, a coastal research project in The Bahamas, or a community service project in Mexico or Thailand, experience a vacation with a purpose. Don't miss a life changing opportunity to realize your role as a global citizen. PCC offers programs designed for adults who are committed to giving back when they travel, to contribute rather than take. Make a positive difference while you see the world, enriching yourself in the process! (A portion of the fees paid to some of these organizations may be tax deductible. Consult your personal tax advisor on all issues concerning tax deductibility of expenses associated with these trips.)
Build a School in Belize
December 27 - January 3, 2010. Join PCC and ProWorld to build a simple elementary school in rural Belize. The people are amazing, the country is beautiful, and the need is great! Participants will work alongside villagers in all phases of construction, from walls to painting. Become part of the community! No experience necessary. Belize is an English speaking country.
$1,395 (approximate) to ProWorld and $119 PCC Fee, includes full room and board, local transportation, and more. Does not include airfare and airport taxes.
Human Rights and Service: ProWorld in Peru
March 20-27, 2010. Understand the complexity of human service issues in a developing country, by being of service yourself! Travel to
the sacred valley of Peru and the Andean hill towns near Cusco to provide service in a center for children. Learn about literacy development; the key to economic self sufficiency and improved health and welfare for families.
$1,395 (approximate) to ProWorld and $119 PCC fee, includes full room and board, local transportation, and more. Does not include airfare and airport taxes. Optional extensions include a 2-day trip to Machu Picchu, a 3-day trip to Lake Titicaca, and a 5-day trip to the Amazon Rainforest.
Thailand Service Work
December 12-19, 2009. PCC/ProWorld's social and economic development projects focus on providing services to marginalized communities in northern Thailand. These populations often have less access to government services, fewer resources for basic human needs, and quite often face discrimination throughout their lives. PCC participants will collaborate with ProWorld and our community hosts for a team building service work program to include a school or child care construction project.
$1,395 (approximate) to ProWorld and $119 PCC Fee, includes full room and board, local transportation, and more. Does not include airfare, airport taxes or visa fees.
Oaxaca Mexico Water Project
March 20 - 28, 2010. Travel to charming Oaxaca, Mexico to join a group from PCC to work alongside villagers to build either a water system or work on a school project as a way to promote health and quality of life. The trip members become part of the community - a true cultural experience! No experience necessary, just a strong back and spirit of service and adventure. Extend your stay to experience the fantastic culture of Oaxaca or take an extra week to travel to Guanajuato to study Spanish at our partner school.
$680 project fee (approximate) and $131 PCC fee. Does not include airfare.
Sea Turtle Service Project in Costa Rica
May 8 - 16, 2010. Join sea turtle expert Brad Nahill for a volunteer service trip to protect endangered giant leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica. Spend four nights patrolling a nesting beach and working with local researchers to collect data and protect the nests while interacting with members of the small community of Parismina along the Caribbean coast. Visit one of the country's nicest beaches, a remote indigenous community, a butterfly farm, and an iguana conservation project. No Spanish or science background necessary. Brad Nahill is Director of SEE Turtles, a locally-based turtle conservation project.
$1,475 (approximate) per person to EcoTeach and $131 PCC fee, includes: most meals and all hotels, activities, guides, and in-country transportation. Does not include airfare.
Coastal Ecology of The Bahamas
February 20 - 28, 2010. Join the race to provide data to protect the reefs and other natural resources of this unique island chain before they're gone forever. You'll gain a unique understanding of the natural communities of The Bahamas, both above and below the waterline, as you gather the data that will guide their conservation. You can help provide information for sustainable development before it's too late. In your recreational time, you can learn to bone-fish, take a guided boat excursion through the islands, visit historical settlements, do some spectacular snorkeling, and enjoy the world's best beaches - knowing you're doing something to help save them.
$2,550 (approximate) to Earthwatch and $119 PCC Fee, includes room and board, local transportation, and more. Does not include airfare and airport taxes.