Population, Health, and Environment Study Tour
The Philippines, March 1-10, 2008*

We want to let you know about an exciting opportunity: Audubon has been invited to participate in an international conference on population, health, and environment linkages in Tagaytay City, Philippines in March 2008, and we are extending the invitation to dedicated activists and chapter leaders to APPLY to join the trip. Space is extremely limited for this expenses-paid opportunity.

The Opportunity
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands in southeastern Asia, is known for its unique terrestrial and marine biodiversity. However, the country faces many health and development challenges, including high rates of poverty, lack of access to health care, rapid population growth and urbanization, and depletion of natural resources like forests and fisheries. This trip will be organized as a "study tour" in which Audubon members will join a small group of advocates from the Sierra Club and the Izaak Walton League of America to learn about the Philippines' complex conservation and development challenges, interact with Filipino population and environment professionals, and visit community-based development projects that integrate health and family planning activities with natural resource management programs.

As Audubon Population & Habitat activists, many of you have communicated with your Congressional representatives about the importance of international family planning programs for healthy families and a healthy global environment. This study tour represents a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of how international family planning programs work and how they fit into broader sustainable development initiatives.

In addition to offering activists a remarkable learning experience, Audubon views the study tour as an opportunity to cultivate a strong core of dedicated and committed activists who will expand Audubon's conservation impact by serving as "ambassadors for international conservation" to their chapters, communities, and elected officials. Audubon hopes to offer additional international study tours in the future.

Study Tour Details
The cornerstone of the study tour will be the 3rd National Conference on Population, Health and Environment (PHE), held in Tagaytay City March 5-7, 2008. Conference organizers include the Population Reference Bureau, Conservation International-Philippines, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and a network of Philippine national non-profit groups. Before and after the conference, the Audubon/Sierra Club/Izaak Walton League delegation will meet with staff of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), visit USAID-supported development projects, and meet with other organizations engaged in conservation and development work in the Philippines.

What We Expect from You
Audubon will cover airfare, modest hotel lodging (which you will share with a roommate), and in-country travel. Activists will need to cover the costs of required travel immunizations (costs vary), travel insurance (costs vary), a moderate contribution to offset the costs of meals, and incidentals. In addition, selected activists must develop and commit to an individual workplan of activities before, during and after the study tour, including:

• Participating in 2 one-hour teleconference briefings with other study tour participants in the weeks leading up to the study tour.
• Conducting research and reporting on a specific population or environment issue related to the Philippines during the second teleconference.
• Sharing information about your local/regional Audubon activities with others at the conference in the Philippines .
• Sharing your study tour experiences through a variety of organized outreach activities upon your return to the US (communicating with your representatives in Congress, making presentations to local Audubon chapters, and writing newsletter/web articles, etc).
• Participating in a 3-day "DC Population workshop" in Washington, DC in May 2008 (date tentative), in which you will share responsibility with Audubon staff as trainers on issues of international family planning and international conservation policy, as well as lead small teams of activists to visit your representatives on Capitol Hill.

Selection Process
Our limited budget for this study tour means that we have only 2-3 slots for activists, and we expect the selection process to be competitive. Activists will be selected based on a set of criteria, including:

• Demonstrated commitment to Audubon's mission
• Active involvement in local Audubon chapter
• Demonstrated interest in international issues
• Experience with outreach/advocacy activities at the local and/or federal level
• Ability to remain flexible and open-minded
• Political importance of your home state/district in Congressional debates over international family planning

Please note: The study tour will involve a fairly rigorous schedule including early mornings, evening working sessions, and extended travel (traveling to and from the Philippines is likely to involve overnight flights and more than one transfer, for example). In-country travel may involve bus/van transport on unpaved roads as well as in small boats/ferries. While we plan to build in time for acclimation, rest, and cultural exploration, please take these challenging conditions into consideration before submitting your application.

Please complete the application and feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. Completed applications are due no later than Wednesday, January 9, 2008. Decisions about participation in the study tour will be made the week of January 14.

We hope you will consider joining us for this exciting opportunity to deepen your commitment and effectiveness as an Audubon Population & Habitat activist. We look forward to hearing from you.

*Dates are subject to change but by no more than a day or two earlier or later.

Kathleen Mogelgaard
Assistant Director of Government Relations
National Audubon Society
1150 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036