The Zen of Travel Handouts - Rancho La Puerta

The Zen of Travel
A Special Programs Presentation for Rancho La Puerta, October 24, 2010
Barbara Gilmore and Peg Harvey-Sweeney, Presenters
The Zen of Travel
Learn how to enrich mind, body and spirit through the transformative power of
travel. Using discussions, demonstrations and handouts, presenters will share
practical tips and relevant insights—as well as answer your travel questions.
Navigating the constantly changing travel landscape can be frustrating. Yet, travel
has never been as important or urgent as it is today. It opens our minds and hearts
and helps us put a face and voice to "those people over there"—stepping beyond our
second hand images to discover more about the world—and ourselves. Let us help
you find the zen of traveling smart, traveling safe and traveling mindfully.
Speaker Biographical Information
Peg Harvey-Sweeney and Barbara Gilmore are world travelers and educators
whose professional commitment is to help people discover the world and
themselves through the transformative power of travel. Together, they've visited or
led trips to over 120 countries and designed more than 200 trips for others while
previously employed as travel directors for the San Diego Zoo and Wisconsin's
Riveredge Nature Center, respectively. Their shared philosophy of travel and desire
to continue to celebrate cultures around the world led them to form a business
partnership in 2005, Many Hats Travel, which provides travel coaching and
consulting for international travelers.
Peg Harvey-Sweeney is the president of Travel Alchemy, an eco-tourism consulting
company based in San Diego, CA. Her clients include tour operators, non-profits and
individuals who are involved in international travel. For over 25 years, she was employed as
the director of education for the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park, where she
directed education programs (including the Zoo's WorldWild Tours Program) for over
350,000 students and five million visitors annually. She graduated with high distinction
from Arizona State University and holds a Certificate of Studies in Education from Oxford
University in England. Ms. Harvey has given professional presentations on travel and
responsible tourism to groups around the country. Her personal travel motto is "a good trip
changes your disposition; a great trip changes your life".
Barbara Gilmore is currently a teacher/naturalist at Riveredge, and a docent at the
Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI. She sits on the boards of Wisconsin Public
Radio, the Task Force on Family Violence in Milwaukee and the International Social
Services of America. Barbara is a Certified Laughter Leader and holds a bachelor's
degree from the University of Wisconsin. In the 1980's and 1990's she was an outside
agent for two travel agencies. As the educational travel specialist at Riveredge for
over 20 years, she hiked, biked, skied, rafted, sailed, bird watched and paddled her
way around the world.

Brief Outline:
• Planning and Anticipating Your Adventure
What to pack and what to leave behind
Six "must have" qualities to look for in a suitcase
Top ten packing "essentials"
Using checklists to stay organized and simplify your packing process
The three most important things you'll take with you on any trip
Insurance, health, and safety concerns : "Trust in Allah, but tie up your
camel."
How to give your brain a "bear hug"
• Enriching Your Adventure
The best guide books and travel reading
Using the "law of Attraction" to connect with local people
Children as the gateway to communication
Gift giving ideas and insights
Top 5 words you need to know in any language
Staying connected
Shopping and dining--your power to make a difference as a consumer
• Reliving and Sharing Your Adventure
Photo sharing possibilities
Journaling your way across the world
"No journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes
an equal distance into the world within.' - Lillian Smith