Planetary Stewards Cultivating Planetary Health:
An 8-day, In-person Training Program
Hosted at the RAICES Education Center in the Dominican Republic, this eight-day study tour provides a space to immerse yourself in Dominican culture and directly experience the impacts of agriculture on the environment while working on tangible solutions. Twelve three-hour workshops provide opportunities to explore the interconnectedness and global reach of the food system and strategies to address existential environmental challenges on personal and communal levels. Workshops cover topics such as the power of storytelling and community mapping, nutrition and personal health, and regenerative land use projects while providing immersive experiences rare to the general traveler.
While agriculture is responsible for many of the most pressing threats facing humanity today—including biodiversity loss, resource depletion, climate change, and chronic disease epidemics—we can radically transform this system. What is currently unsustainable can become regenerative and supportive of health on all levels. What might seem like insurmountable global challenges can be directly experienced and addressed during our Planetary Stewards Study Tour. The ultimate goal of this program is to focus on solutions and provide resources and tools you can use in your communities.
What's Included:
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Lodging for 7 nights
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Breakfast, lunch, and dinner - plant-based meals with locally grown ingredients
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Transportation to and from the airport (set times)
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In-country transportation
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12 (three-hour) workshops
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Food and Sustainability Certificate - Online program with 36 hours of content valued at $499 with over 15 top experts in the food and sustainability area discussing environmental impacts of food production, food justice and accessibility, international food systems, and positive changes individuals and groups can make every day through food choices.
Location:
Located in the mountains of La Cumbre, Dominican Republic, surrounded by small farms of cacao, avocados, and livestock, the RAICES Education Center is built for regenerative health and land use. Sitting atop a mountain overlooking the fertile Cibao Valley with mountains in the distance, the center is where el cielo y la tierra se junta, “where the earth and sky join” — allowing one to touch and feel the clouds as they quietly pass through the center.
Objectives:
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Increase awareness of how food systems impact our communities' environment and health.
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Develop projects that nourish, enhance, and revitalize the land and all those living there.
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Immerse in the culture of the Dominican Republic and experience firsthand the environmental impacts of agriculture.
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Engage with the work of leading experts.
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Create a resource manual with projects and community initiatives that raise awareness, educate, and allow you to take direct action in your community.
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Enjoy delicious whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) meals with foods grown locally, and learn how to prepare delicious Caribbean food, including chocolate grown from cacao trees at the center.
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Forge long-term friendships—share, learn, and network with others working towards planetary health.
Program Agenda
Arrival and Welcome Orientation
Welcome Orientation
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As folks arrive at the center, we will provide short tours of the facilities, allowing everyone to get acquainted with the education center and the sleeping cabañas. You will also have a chance to rest after traveling.
6-7 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening Activity
Goals and Objectives of Planetary Stewards Program and Introduction
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Overview of the workshops, daily schedules, activities, and an opportunity for the group to get acquainted through a meet-and-greet game.
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LeAnne Campbell
Lead Facilitator
Lorenzo Rodriguez
General Manager
Steven Disla
Lead Facilitator
Dinorah Buena
Presenter
Altagracia Roriguez
Presenter
Pedrito Rodriguez
Assistant Manager
Program Facilitators
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Where will I stay?Study tours are hosted at the RAICES education center in the mountains of La Cumbre. Participants are accommodated in the cabanas on-site. Each room has access to a bathroom shared between two rooms, a double sized bed with a mosquito net, and desk. The center hosts several communal areas including a communal kitchen, dining area, and salon for workshops and events. To see more of the center visually, check out the images in our gallery.
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Do I need to speak Spanish?No, it’s not necessary to speak Spanish. We have translators available for all organized dialogues and workshops but if you want to practice your Spanish, you will have many opportunities to do so.
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Who can participate in the Nutrition and the Environment Program?Anyone and everyone. This program is open to the general public. We encourage people interested in improving personal, community and planetary health through a wholistic lens. Participants will have multiple opportunities for cross cultural experiences and to develop strategies to improve nutritional and environmental outcomes within one’s own community.
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What airport should I fly into?Santiago (STI), Dominican Republic.
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What time should I arrive and will someone be at the airport to meet me?On day 1, please arrive between 12 – 5 PM and on the last day, plan on departing between 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM. During these hours, we will cover transportation services. Our driver will be at the airport with signs welcoming you as you arrive. However, if you arrive and/or depart outside these hours, please let us know and we will arrange separate transportation to pick you up. During the day, the fee for this service is $40 per car and between 11:00 PM – 6:00 AM, the fee is $80 per car. If there’s more than one person arriving at this time, we will coordinate the taxi so that you can share these expenses. When you purchase your plane ticket, please send it to us so that we can coordinate the drivers. The drivers will bring you directly to the education center.
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Should I purchase travel insurance?Yes. We encourage you to purchase a travel insurance plan. Most plans average between $35-$48 and this can be purchased upon buying your airplane ticket.
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Is there internet at the education center and if need be, how can I communicate with family and friends?Yes, there is internet service at the center so it’s possible to communicate with family and friends. For phone calls, we use the messaging service, “Whats App”, a free internet app that can be downloaded on your phone. To use this service, it’s necessary that you and the one that you call have the app on your phone. We recommend getting this application before arriving while you still have wireless service.
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What should I bring?We encourage you to pack lightly, bringing comfortable walking shoes, mosquito repellent, a rain jacket, and shoes you are comfortable using in water. We also recommend bringing clothes for cooler weather as the temperature drops during the evenings.
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Do I need to bring additional funds and how can I exchange money?You should bring additional funds only if you plan to purchase gifts and/snacks/drinks. In addition, we will have someone available on day one to assist in exchanging dollars into the local currency (Dominican pesos).
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What is the main form of transportation?During our programs we provide in-country transportation in our pickup truck or rented vans to all of our events, dialogues, and excursions.
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What will I eat and can food allergies and dietary preferences be accomodated?You will be served three delicious whole plant-based meals a day using local Dominican ingredients. Please let us know of any allergies or further dietary restrictions prior to arrival.
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Can I get a refund on payments made for educational programs?Cancellations received in writing up to two weeks prior to the education tour will be refunded the full registration fee, less a 10% administrative fee. No refunds will be issued thereafter. Substitute participants will be accepted up to the start date of the event.
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How will income be used that is gained from the educational tours?As a non-profit organization, all proceeds from the programs are used to further the organization’s mission. The mission statement of Global Roots is “Global Roots promotes regenerative, equitable, and nutritious plant-based food systems around the world by modeling agricultural conservation projects, partnering with organizations around the world to implement whole systems change, and providing on the ground education programs.” Proceeds for programs in the Dominican Republic will be used to establish and model a plant-based community food hub.
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How are Global Roots, The Center for Nutrition Studies, and RAICES Global connected?The RAÍCES Education center is the physical manifestation of a collaborative effort between three non-profit organizations – the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, RAÍCES Global de La Cumbre, and Global Roots. RAÍCES Global de La Cumbre is responsible for the hosting, overseeing, and administration of all education programs. As such, they are the ones liable for the education programs. Global Roots provides educational content at the center as well as material and technical support for projects by program participants. The center for Nutrition Studies provides nutritional expertise for programs and additional funding.
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Why host programs in the Dominican Republic?Global Roots has long established ties to the Dominican Republic. The founding Board President, LeAnne Campbell, was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1988-1990 and has over 20 years running and developing education programs in the country. The country provides a unique opportunity for cross-cultural exchange as well as the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of our global food system and the consequent impacts of this system on our communities, both locally and internationally.
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Is the Dominican Republic safe to visit?The Dominican Republic is a safe country to visit, especially outside large city centers. The Dominican Republic is currently labeled by the US government as a travel advisory level 2, which is the same as many other preeminent countries including Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Costa Rica, Italy, and many more.
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Do you have group rates?We negotiate group rates on a case by case basis. Please contact us and we can set up a meeting to discuss further options.