Kenya 

NOTICE: THIS IS AN EXPECTED ITINERARY FOR AN OPEN ENROLLMENT PROGRAM. CUSTOM AND GROUP PROGRAMS CAN VARY ACCORDING TO THE GOALS AND NEEDS OF THE GROUP.

Day 1 : Depart for Kenya from | Overnight on the airplane

We begin our amazing journey!

Day 2: Arrive in Kenya | Overnight at Wildebeest EcoCamp

Wildebeest Eco Camp features beautiful safari tents hidden among tropical gardens. Homemade meals are served family style on a large deck. 24 hour security is provided by the camp.

Day 3: Travel to Lale’enok | Overnight in Lale’enok tents

Morning departure from Nairobi for a journey to Lale’enok Resource Centre near Lake Magadi. Upon arrival a camp safety briefing and introductions.

Day 4: Lale’enok | Overnight in Lale’enok tents

Activities include Ranger training with Game Scouts a wildlife drive in the Shompole Conservancy.

Day 5: Lale’enok | Overnight in Lale’enok tents

| LION, BABOON AND BOMA |

Activities in Lale’enok, Shompole and surrounding areas. Lion monitoring, baboon walk, and a visit to a Maasai village.

Day 6: Lale’enok | RANGER TRAINING & SCHOOL VISIT | Overnight in Lale’enok tents
Lale’enok / Olkirimatian

Train with game scouts and visit a Maasai school.

Day 7: Lale’enok | RANGER PATROL & WOMEN’S MARKET | Overnight in Lale’enok tents
Lale’enok / Shompole

Walk on patrol with game scouts. Interact with Maasai women’s group.

Day 8 | TRAVEL DAY
Lale’enok / Nairobi

Travel from Lale’enok to Nairobi for the night before departing for Maasai Mara.

Day 9 | TRAVEL DAY
Nairobi / Maasai Mara

Journey from Nairobi to set up camp next to the famous Maasai Mara.

Day 10 | MAASAI MARA
Mara Camp

Game drives.

Day 11 | MAASAI MARA
Mara Camp

Game drives.

Day 12 | TRAVEL DAY
Mara Camp / Nairobi Departure

Day 13 | TRAVEL DAY
Arrive in Cleveland

What are Pre-Travel meetings?
For open enrollment programs, there are typically 4 mandatory pre-travel meetings prior to departure.

Dates of these meetings will be announced around January and attendance is expected.

Meeting 1: Parents/Guardians and student travelers

Meeting 2: Student travelers only

Meeting 3: Student travelers only

Meeting 4: Bon Voyage Gathering with parents/guardians and student travelers

***For a private group or school program, Sprout will work directly with the group/school to develop the pre-travel meeting schedule.

How many Sprout Leaders will be on program?
For the Kenya program, we travel with a minimum of two Sprout leaders, but we typically have three.

How many students will there be?
We will accept 12-16 students for this program for an open enrollment program. For a private group or school program, the number of participants can be more or less depending on the agreement between Sprout and the group/school.

Are any vaccinations needed?
All participants must be fully vaccinated from COVID19 and have proof of vaccination to enter Kenya. There are no other vaccinations required for entry into Kenya. However, we understand that there are families that will want their child to have certain vaccinations. We will discuss this concern at the first parent/guardian and student meeting.

Do I need a VISA to enter Kenya?
All participants must have a VISA to enter Kenya. Getting a VISA is a quick and easy process and can be done online with a valid passport. Sprout will share information about the VISA process at one of the pre-travel meetings.

What additional paperwork is needed for minors to travel with The Sprout Experience?

All passengers under the age of 18 and traveling with an adult other than a parent/legal guardian, must provide:

(1) A written notarized consent form from the biological parents or legal guardians. The consent form will be provided to you from SPROUT.

(2) A copy of the passenger's birth certificate.

(3) A copy of their biological parent’s or legal guardian’s ID attached to the consent letter. You will need a copy of BOTH parents if there are two parents who share legal custody of the minor. In the event of the death of a parent, a copy of the death certificate is required as well.

Will Sprout supply a packing list?
At either meeting 2 or 3 a packing list will be shared. Items you may need to purchase that you may not have at home: a buff, a hat with a brim, a travel alarm clock that uses a battery, a COVID test kit. Everyone will need to pack in a soft-sided duffel.

Can you explain the arrangement for travel insurance?
The Sprout Experience partners with Arch Roam Right for our travel insurance and we require all participants (Sprout leaders and student and adult travelers) to purchase insurance with this company. It is critical when traveling with youth that we are all on the same policy.

Julie Milkie will send you information on travel insurance enrollment after meeting #1.

***For a school program, Sprout encourages the school to work with Arch Roam RIght as well, but understand each school may have their own travel insurance policies. A Sprout director and a school leader will meet to discuss how travel insurance will be handled.

Should I bring spending money?
You will need to do a currency exchange for souvenir spending in Kenya. Students typically exchange $100-200 USD for Kenya Shillings. There are many beautiful hand-made souvenirs to purchase in Kenya. When ordering Shillings, it is best to request SMALL BILLS.

Departure Day
For an international departure, we will meet at the airport approximately 3-4 hours prior to our departure time. This allows for ample time to get everyone checked in at the gate, answer last minute questions, etc. Airline information and airport arrival times will be shared at a pre-travel meeting.

Arrival Home
You will be able to track our flights from home and The Sprout Experience will also be in contact with each landing and departure.

What will the accommodations be like?
In Kenya, we will stay at three locations while on program.

Wildebeest Eco Camp
We will stay at Wildebeest on our first night in Kenya, in the middle of the program and for a full day on our day of departure. Wildebeest is a beautifully appointed camp with hot showers, American bathrooms, etc. It is a much needed luxury to refresh and rejuvenate!

Lale’enok Resource Centre
Lale’enok is our home away from home while in Kenya. It is a world leading research facility. While here, we will sleep in roomy tents with sweeping views of the Kenya sky. The tents have a cushy mattress, blankets and pillows. Students will sleep 2 to a tent. We have a company that sets up and takes down tents, so students are not responsible for camp set up/break down. Our camp has hot showers and primitive toilets.

Maasia Mara
Our accommodations vary at the Mara are the same as at Lale’enok except there are American toilets and showers.

What about communication during the program?
Sprout asks that students and families use WhatsApp, which is a free app that you download to your phone. This allows Sprout to create a KENYA FAMILY CONTACT LIST which allows Sprout to send messages to every family at one time.

We also ask that families do not schedule specific check in times with your child during the program. This can lead to unnecessary worry. Cell batteries may die, service may not be possible at that moment because Lale’enok and the Masa Mara Camp do not always have strong WiFi. Connection is easy at Wildebeest. Remember that a Sprout leader can reach home at any time in the event of an emergency.

Remember the key is to unplug and be immersed in the culture, music, food and nature of Kenya!

Sprout understands that every school has their own cell phone policy for international travel, so a Sprout director and a school leader will meet to discuss the cell phone policy for the school.

How will we get around in Kenya?
The Sprout Experience has private on ground transportation for this program.

How can families, students and Sprout staff communicate in the event of an emergency?
Rest assured that a Sprout leader will be able to contact a family in the event of an emergency. If a family member needs to contact Sprout, they will use the cell number provided to them. Families will also be provided with an emergency contact number for a Sprout leader that is in the CLE area.

How are dietary restrictions and unique dietary needs handled?
Specific dietary needs were requested to be listed when the program application was completed and will be reviewed again at the Bon Voyage gathering. Sprout will accommodate dietary needs.

How will medication be handled during the program?
Prescribed and over the counter medication needs were requested to be listed on the program application and will be reviewed at the Bon Voyage gathering. Sprout will check in with the student guardians prior to departure to update medication needs. While on program, a Sprout leader will do medication reminders with students.

***If you have any concerns about medication needs for your child, please speak with a Sprout leader.

Sprout is best seen through the eyes of those who have experienced a Sprout program! These testimonials are from Trinidad & Tobago Alumni and their families.

Robin Menz, parent of Chloe Smith

Words cannot describe how thankful I am that Chloe had the opportunity to travel once again with the Sprout Experience! After the experience she had last year in Kenya, I knew how valuable the trip to Trinidad & Tobago would be. Her adventures in Trinidad & Tobago will be something she will never forget. Chloe enjoyed working with the researchers studying sea turtles in Trinidad and joining right into the Tobago culture, with music and dance. She also loved the bonding that took place among this group of students. I cannot say enough good things about the Sprout Experience and this educational opportunity of a lifetime!

Maddie Curtis, University of Kentucky

My time in Trinidad and Tobago was nothing less than a life changing experience. I would never have even thought of myself as someone that would be able to SCUBA dive, but Sean and his instructors helped me to feel comfortable in a situation that would normally freak me out. I was able to SCUBA dive in the coral gardens and see beautiful aspects of ocean life. Thank you Julie and Daniel for giving me the chance to meet all these spectacular people and see the world in ways I never have.

Macy Brennan

The Sprout Experience trip to Trinidad and Tobago is truly a once in a lifetime experience. This trip was not an easy vacation, but an immersion into Trini culture and the natural world. On this trip we got to interact with seemingly untouched parts of nature that very few get to see, being up close with massive Leatherback sea turtles and hiking through natural rainforests. We also got to dive into Trini culture. Between collaborating with locals on music and dance, and trying traditional foods, our eyes were opened to a new culture, different from our own. This trip was an experience that was so different from our everyday lives. It pushed us out of our comfort zones and made us all more well rounded and aware kids. It forced us to open our eyes to environmental issues and opened us to new cultures and traditions. This trip allows you to work on real projects, with real people, to make a real difference. I grew as a person and am so grateful to have had this opportunity.

Kristen Gould, University of Kentucky Intern

Through Sprout, I met so many incredible people, such as Bernadette Plair. Bernadette is one of the most special people I have ever met and she is truly one of my heroes. I aspire to be as strong, kind, and influential as she is. Leaders Julie, Daniel, and Todd are three of the most amazing people in the world and I am so thankful they put their trust in me on this trip. They have built something so unique and so special that is unlike any other travel program. Julie and Daniel have truly created an environment for students to grow, to learn, and to become part of the Sprout family. Without Sprout, I would be a different person with a different path. I feel so lucky to be a part of the Sprout Experience and I will never forget the adventures we have had and the connections we have made.

Nicole Duvall

The Sprout Experience truly gave me a family forever and memories to last a lifetime. I can now say for certain that my passion for conservation will be leading my educational and career decisions in the future, and I am thrilled. If I had the chance, I would go to Trinidad and Tobago a thousand more times. I am beyond grateful for Julie and Daniel and the discoveries that their organization has led me to find. I can say for 100% certain that what I experienced during my time with the Sprout Experience isn’t something anyone could’ve justified with pictures or even words.