This document provides information about a proposed cultural immersion trip through Central America for Lauder students. The trip would involve teams of 4-6 students competing in a scavenger hunt-style "amazing race" format to experience local cultures and ways of life. The trip would take place from December 27th to January 9th, visiting Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. The goals are to develop teamwork skills, learn history and participate in cultural activities in an unfamiliar environment. A planning committee is proposed to organize the teams, schedule, rules, and main events like New Years Eve. Costs are estimated to be $1,800-$2,300 per student

2. Summary
Self-guided cultural immersion experience allowing a group
of Lauder students to split into individual competing teams
and travel through a region.
With the goal of experiencing the local ways of life through a
scavenger-hunt style contest.

3. Executive Summary
What? Amazing Race from Panama to Guatemala
When? Dec. 27-29th to Jan. 9th (10-12 days)
Who? Teams of 4-6
Why?
• Refine teamwork skills in an unknown environment
• Learn about regional history
• Participate in local cultural activities
• Stretch experience
• Build relationships with fellow Lauder students
How?
Through an adventure-race format where you try to
score as many points as possible

4. Reasons to join us!
1. Region is extremely diverse
2. Trips permit a lot of autonomy
3. Logistically simple
4. Cost Effective
5. Safe
6. It will be Amazing!
Most Importantly: 74% of your Lauder
family is already planning to attend!

5. A bit about Central America …
Culture
English and Spanish colonial history
Mayan Ruins
Great food, drinks & local dances
Nature & Adventure
Volcanos Trails
Rainforests (Costa Rica, Nicaragua,...)
Hiking, diving, rafting
Beaches & Nightlife
Caribbean and Pacific Beaches
Cities & Nightlife
Central America is packed with…

6. Overview
Flag
Panama
27-28/Dec
Costa Rica
29/Dec-1/Jan
Nicaragua
El Salvador
Honduras
Guatemala
8-9/Jan
Dates
Belize
StartingPointsEndCustomizeit!
1 2
3
Personalize
your
team travel!
4

7. Potential Routes
Personalize
your travel!
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1 2 3 4
D03
D04
D05
D06
D07
D08
D09
D10
D11
D12
D02
San José/La Fortuna
Monteverde
Costa Rica – New Years Eve Party!!!
Granada
Granada/Poneloya
Suchitoto
Ataco
Copán
Arrival in Antigua, Guatemala
Antigua, GTM
Panama
La Fortuna
Monteverde
Granada
Managua
Roatan
Roatan
Copán
Antigua, GTM
Panama
Arenal
Monteverde
Isla Ometepe
Granada
San Salvador
Leon
Copán
Antigua, GTM
San José/La Fortuna
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Antigua, GTM
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Beginning of Lauder Venture in Panama CityD01

8. Examples of Potential Rewarded Activities
Cultural: Business: Educational:
• Try a local beverage
• Play a local instrument
• Learn a local dance
• Play a local sports game
• Go to a museum
• Visit a historic monument
• See a movie in native
language
• Crash a wedding
• Interview three generations
of one family
• Interview a local business
owner or work side by side
with them
• Negotiate to purchase
something at the market for
50% of original price
• Buy a gift for a significant
other or Marcy
• Buy a local book
• Sell an item that is not
available in the local
markets
• Visit a school and offer gifts
/ give a presentation on
language skills and learning
• Visit a university and
interview students or
professors
• Visit a library
• Give classes to locals
Adventure: Political: Religious:
• Climb a peak of 400 ft
• Take a zipline tour of the
forest
• Climb a Volcano
• Hike to a natural site
• Scuba diving
• Surf
• Interview a local
government official or the
mayor of a town
• Interview a police officer or
member of the military
• Meet with an NGO, PAC or
community group
• View a religious ceremony
• Interview a priest or
member of the clergy
•Crash a wedding

9. Panama City, Panama

10. Arenal, Costa Rica

11. Tenorio Waterfall, Costa Rica

12. New Years Eve!

13. Small village in Costa Rica

14. Managua, Nicaragua

15. San Salvador, El Salvador

16. Honduras

17. Xunantunich, Belize

18. Tikal, Guatemala

19. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

20. Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala

21. Antigua, Guatemala

22. Costs/Budget
Airfare
Hotels
Food & Fun
$533 - $730 RT
(JFK, 12/27 – 1/7)
12 nights at
~$50/night = $600
12 days x $801
USD/day = $960
Cost effective trip:
• All these cost estimates are
overestimates
• Lauder covers first and last
night’s hotels
1 https://www.google.com/flights/#search;iti=PHL,ZFV_BZE_2016-12-29*GUA_PHL,ZFV_2017-01-06;tt=m
2 https://www.google.com/flights/#search;iti=JFK_BZE_2016-12-29*GUA_JFK_2017-01-06;tt=m
3 looked at Belize City average hotel (due to it being the highest cost city we’d be in) rate/4 people per room and rounded up for budget padding;
https://www.hipmunk.com/hotels#w=Belize+City,+Belize;i=2016-12-29;o=2017-01-06;hp=4; first and last nights are covered by Lauder
4 = 50% of average USG Per Diem rate across both countries (Guatemala avg. = $86/day for Meals & Incidentals, Belize avg. = $95/day for Meals &
Incidentals); https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp
5 http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=BZD at 12:43 PM EST on Tuesday 9/20/2016
6 http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=GTQ at 12:44 PM EST on Tuesday 9/20/2016
$ 1.800 – $ 2.300
(w/o Lauder fund)
~ 650 - 700

23. Visa and Health Requirements
• No Tourist Visa required - US, Canada,
Australia, European Union, Latin American
citizens just need a passport and may stay
for up to 90 days with UNRESTRICTED
movement between Belize, Guatemala and
El Salvador
• No vaccinations required, except if you are
coming from a country Yellow Fever risk

24. Questions?

25. 2nd Years, Alumni & Partners
Points to discuss and vote (by ovation):
• 2nd Years, Alumni & Partner’s will be allowed to fully participate in
the “race” and can compete to win
• They may join the race midway through, if this allows them to
participate
• Will the points count for late comers?

26. Planning Committee
Co-Chairs
(2 pax)
Committee Members
(6 pax)
1. Communication with the Lauder
administration
2. Communication to Lauder students
(emails/presentations)
3. Organizing teams and ensuring
participants complete necessary steps
4. Scheduling planning committee
meetings
5. Supporting planning committee
members
The key roles of committee members are:
• Travel/Safety/Health
• Rules (creating rules and keeping count)
• Technology (communication and blog)
• Media Relations & Sponsorship
• Finance
• Main Events (Organizing 1st, Last & NYE)