Jungle Training Week in Pictures

This time last week, here is what the volunteers were up to...

The buddy system in action! The Trekforce Buddy System is all about trust...




River crossings are lots of fun and Trekforce show volunteers how to do it safely...



Josie, a Trekforce medic shows us a perfect example of a fire. Question is, did she light it herself?!



It's ok, they're just pretending! Volunteers learn about First Aid and CPR



Stretcher carrying is hard work, but the group work together to complete a search and rescue exercise...

Project Groups Chosen

Sooner than expected we have had a call from the jungle! Country Manager Greg called us at 4pm UK time on Monday from the Trekforce Satellite phone to tell us that the volunteers had chosen their project groups and everyone was in good spirits after their first few days in the rainforest.

The Northern Project Group are:

Standing (L to R): Ian (AL) Lara, Jim, Tess, Alex McGee, Kat, Laura, Stuart, Dr Josh
Kneeling (L to R): Katie (EL), Eloise, Josie (Nurse) Clare, Sara




The volunteers’ main focus of the project will be to mark out the 13k boundary line for the National Park. This will include clearing jungle across tough terrain- A real challenge! The group will also record any notable flora or fauna they see along the way too. They could be returning in 2 months time having discovered a new plant or spotted a rarely seen frog!

The Southern Project Group are:

Standing (L to R): John “Boo”, Will (Staff Assistant), Alex McNichol, Nick, Kieron, Sully (EL), Simon (AL)
Kneeling (L to R): Lawrence, Sophie, Synoeve, Sam, Kat (Nurse), Vanessa



The group will be in the south of the Chiquibul National Park which is a largely unknown area. Farmers on the Guatemalan side of the border have been cutting jungle for farmland but this cutting is now encroaching onto the Belizean border and the Chiquibul National Park. If they keep going, the jungle will sadly be destroyed. The main aim of the project is to construct an observation post, accommodation and cooking facilities for national park rangers to inhibit these illegal activities effectively.

The groups had a slow and challenging journey onto their project sites, as the roads and jungle tracks were extremely muddy due to the rainfall they had had over the last few days. However, they made it! And apart from a few sore feet, the volunteers can’t wait to get stuck into their rewarding projects!

When we get the next report from the jungle we will let you know, but remember, no news is good news!

Trekforce HQ

First Week In The Jungle For Volunteers

Volunteers headed to Belize on Saturday 2nd February to begin their gap year with Trekforce Worldwide.



The 25 volunteers are currently completing a week of Jungle Training where they have all been assigned a Trekforce Buddy. Their buddy, a fellow volunteer will make sure that their partner is drinking enough water and looking after themselves. They will also have the very special job of checking each other for bites and ticks!

The Trekforce buddy system works well on all of our expeditions whether for 2 weeks or 5 months and reinforces the high levels of safety we strive for. All trekkers can experience life in the jungle safe in the knowledge that they don’t only have expert leaders and medics on hand 24 hours a day but they also have their own personal support from a fellow volunteer.

The group are also spending the next few days in the rainforest learning how to survive in the jungle. This includes lighting fires, navigation, cooking, health and hygiene and first aid. All transferable skills the volunteers can bring back with them to the UK.

As the group are currently out of comms, Trekforce HQ has not received any images yet but we will get them up onto the blog as soon as we get them. In the mean time if you want to send any letters or parcels for them to receive when they get onto project you can send them to *insert volunteers name* Trekforce, PO Box 266, San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize, CA . Please be aware that it will take a while to get post in and out of Belize and you could be waiting at least 2 weeks for parcels and letters to arrive.

Watch this space for more information over the next few weeks.

Trekforce HQ.