Program Overview:Hailed as one of the top fifty ecolodges in the world by National Geographic Adventure Magazine, the solar powered Feynan Ecolodge offers the most developed eco-experience in Jordan; an experience made possible by a unique partnership between EcoHotels and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, a Jordanian NGO devoted to the protection of the Kingdom’s finest natural landscapes.
Questions and Answers about this unique project:
Is electricity available to recharge cell phones, cameras or laptops?
Feynan Ecolodge’s electricity is solar-generated. There is limited electricity to light the guest bathrooms, kitchen, phone system, and other crucial functions. There are no electrical outlets in guest rooms. Cell phones, cameras and laptops can be recharged at Reception. Guests wishing to use their laptops are welcome to work in the comfortable Reception Area while charging.
Is internet access available at the lodge?
Due to the remoteness of the lodge internet access is currently unavailable. BlackBerry users on the Zain network will have access to their email and internet through the Zain GPRS network. Orange BlackBerry service has not yet been tested.
What can I do at Feynan when I'm not tutoring the staff?
Relax, star gaze, hike, mountain bike, and discover the magnificent Dana Biosphere Reserve from an elegant lodge perched where the mountains and desert meet. Explore four thousand year old mine shafts and navigate through pristine canyons with a Bedouin guide by your side. Spend quality time in the outdoors with family and friends. Check out the activities section for more details.
How long does each hike take and will I need a guide?
Our hikes can be tailored to your time schedule and interests. Here are the lengths of our hikes if completed in full:
Copper Mines (guided) 3-4 hours
Wadi Ghwayr (guided) 6-8 hours
Wadi Dana (guided or self guided) 5-7 hours from Dana Village and 6-8 hours from Feynan
Archaeological Treasures (guided or self guided) 2-4 hours
Can I smoke at Feynan?
There is no smoking inside the lodge, rooms or room balconies. There are designated smoking areas on some of the outside terraces.
Do the rooms have private showers?
All rooms have their own private shower and bathroom.
What is the weather like in the winter and summer?
Feynan is generally warm during winter days, but can become a bit chilly at night or on rainy days (there are not too many). The only heating at Feynan are two fireplaces in the reception and the lounge. There is no heating in the rooms, but the duvet is very thick and warm.
Kindly note that temperatures during the summer can become quite warm (into the thirties). We do not have air conditioning or fans at the lodge. Guests often open the windows and can leave room doors ajar to create a draft or they are welcome to sleep on our rooftop terrace under the stars if they find their rooms too warm. It does get hot in the day and it is recommended to walk in the early morning or evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Is hot water available all day?
Yes, hot water is available all day thanks to a new and improved solar water heating system.
Benefits
- Travel for less. The program is designed to provide plenty of time to experience the Jordanian culture.
- Exclusive teaching materials written by GeoVisions that you can print out and take with you.
- Live, personalized help with lesson plans through our Help Me Teach desk. Having lesson plans is important and the most frequently requested assistance we receive. Some tutors just don't know where to start. We are here to provide that assistance FREE.
- Tip the advantage to you by enhancing your resume by becoming a Conversation Partner. Job: "Private Language Tutor." References: Global. It just doesn't get any better than that.
- Join our Facebook page and begin the conversation now.
- Join our Online Community and the Jordan subgroup and read our volunteer's journals, view their photos and watch their videos. It's a great way to find out what the program is really like from those "on the ground" now.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Share your language with the staff of Feynan on a daily basis. Your primary reason for being there is to provide conversation in your language.
- Using GeoVisions' teaching materials that you download and bring with you, and your free Internet subscription to the online ESL Lounge along with your creativity, provide creative, fun and informative language sessions. If you get stumped and need specific help, our live and personalized Help Me Teach desk is always there for you to use.
- Keep your lodge private room tidy and clean and respect the Lodge's rules and habits. Sleeping late everyday, spending your days in your room and not being accessible to the staff is not respectful.
- Manage your own personal expenses (telephone bills, clothing, entertainment and spending money).
What You Get For Your Program Fee
- Personalized Volunteer Placement through our Partner in Jordan.
- Airport transfers and transport to Feynan Ecolodge.
- Orientation in Amman before going to Feynan.
- A comfortable, safe place to live at Feynan Ecolodge, including three meals per day when you are at the lodge.
- An experienced U.S. based GeoVisions Program Manager who will serve as your coordinator and liaison with our in-country staff in Jordan.
- In-country basic language assistance.
- Professional, locally-based staff to provide orientation, supervision and guidance throughout your stay.
- Extensive medical, accident and dental insurance along with emergency evacuation insurance. Our insurance covers you up to $250,000 and carries a $0 deductible and is good for the entire duration of your program.
- Pre-departure materials, orientation information, full access to GeoVisions' Community Pages for in-depth information and access to former and current Conversation Partners.
- A toll-free 24-hour emergency hotline in the U.S. Call collect from Jordan. Our emergency line is manned for true emergencies.
- Our own manual, A Tutor's Guide--Teaching English To Families and Children, which you download and take with you to Jordan.
- Premium online membership at the ESL-Lounge for access to game, flash-cards, worksheets.
- Access to GeoVisions' exclusive Help Me Teach desk, to assist you with ideas that relate to your situation.
Where Does My Money Go?
- In Jordan, Feynan lodge does receive some funds to pay for your food and to pay room staff to clean your room. But it costs a lot of money to maintain a program like Conversation Partner where GeoVisions must coordinate the needs and timing of tutors to the needs and training of the lodge staff.
- The money you pay for this program partially covers:
- Your insurance package. The insurance was specifically designed for Conversation Partners. We want you to be fully covered for sickness as well as accident, and to the extent that you are not a financial burden on your hosts.
- On Call / SearchLight service for you 24/7. This covers lost documents like Passports and airline tickets, where to find a local doctor or other services you may need. This service is used a lot, and much more often than the insurance.
- Liability insurance coverage. If something unpredictable happens, you need to know we're behind you.
- Support costs in Jordan, as well as 24/7 manned phones in the U.S. and the training of those operators.
- Materials such as our teaching ideas manual, which you will download. That also includes other materials, the cost of maintaining our Community Pages and the subscription to the ESL Lounge.
- Support from our Help Me Teach desk, providing you individualized support and ideas when you need them.
- Fees to translate documents to English and to Arabic, when necessary.
- Credit Card processing fees, international wire fees to send your money to Jordan, and legal fees.
- The costs to prepare your extensive packet of materials to send to your host family and salaries for people to do that.
- Marketing costs we pay to GoAbroad, GoOverseas, TransitionsAbroad and elsewhere to find more tutors like you, and to marketing costs in Jordan.
- Maintenance of this website.
- Costs to set up and maintain a program like this in Jordan.
- Staff training, salaries and overheads. Support to you from enrollment to departure.