Light Up the World foundation

Provide self-sustainable lighting systems to poor and remote villages around the globe. The Caravan of Light will be installing a number of these light systems in remote villages to benefit literacy and health.

Iridium Satellite

Provides worldwide satellite telephone coverage and internet access. Both remote and close to home service. Iridium makes it possible for the Caravan of Light to send journal entries, photos and responses to our student internet expedition members around the world–all from the back of a camel. Iridium is helping turn an adventure into a classroom.

Nevada Camel Company

Open desert camel rides and safaris. The owner, Gary Jackson, is an organizer of the Virginia City Camel Races, a 40-year tradition in Nevada. Gary has introduced Jim to camel riding and is an advisor in the area of camel training.

Exofficio

Makers of Buzz Off clothing. Keeps mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and other bugs at a distance without having to apply insect repellent.

Pelican

Pelican boxes are the water tight, dust proof, rust proof, bang-it-all-you-want boxes that protect your equipment when traveling. We've used them for everything from delicate camera gear to SCUBA gear. If it is worth protecting, it is worth a Pelican. Pelican also makes rugged long lasting lights. We will use the combination LED/Halogen head lamps for desert night riding and working around camp in the evening.

Panasonic

Panasonic is providing us with the "Hummer version" of a laptop computer, the Panasonic Toughbook. During the course of our trip, this rugged computer will experience drops, drips, dirt, and dromedaries. The Toughbook will enable us to maintain an educational website classroom from the back of a camel traveling across desert, through jungle, and over the Himalayas.

Real Goods

A catalog company with sustainable energy alternatives and products that go easy on the environment. Real Goods is providing discounts on the solar and rechargeable battery equipment to keep our expedition powered up. We are using the Power Dock solar system to provide electricity and NiMH rechargeable batteries to store electricity for computer and lighting needs.

Mountain Safety Research

MSR produces Miox water purifiers, tents, and dromedary water bags that will be used on the expedition.

Best American Duffle

The name says it all. When you need rugged duffle that can take you to the remote places in the world or you simply want the best, this is the one to choose.

Deer Crossing Camp

A wilderness summer camp located in California's High Sierra. It has an active outdoor program that includes rock climbing, windsurfing, sailing, backpacking, kayaking, canoeing, orienteering, survival, and leadership training. It's the perfect training environment for the young adventurer.

Mardale

Specializes in alpine adventure clothing made to exacting standards in the United Kingdom. Every product is designed with stronger, warmer, lighter, dryer and pack smaller in mind. Jim and Dan will be wearing Mardale when they take their camels over the Himalayas.

Mindjet

Manufacturers of MindManager–a visual tool for brainstorming and planning, offers business professionals a method to electronically capture, organize, and communicate information and ideas. Mindjet is contributing to the purchase of camels for the caravan.

A new volunteer-based non-profit organization. We are seeking to bridge the gap between Nepal and the world with direct person-to-person and person-to-institution connections, involvement, and support.

Based in Christchurch in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. A multi-element high and low ropes course that incorporates a mix of fun activities and team building challenges.

With a local centre at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, England, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has several bases around England. Each one is a protected reserve for wildfowl and other migratory species. Ideal for family or the dedicated ornithologist.

S.E.A. designs and produces solar powered equipment for such varied applications as civilian expeditions, military use, sailors and aid agencies. Often tailor made to meet the needs of an individual, S.E.A systems are hard wearing and designed to supply reliable power in the remote areas of the world.

As Dans' former secondary school, STRS is always an excellent source of support. This time, STRS provided the school lecturing facilities for Dan to run fundraisers for the trip.

A small computer company with a surprisingly large customer base and variety of expertise in computer workstations for business and home use.

Belinda is a practitioner of Shiatsu, Indian Head Massage, and Tibetan Singing Bowls. She runs sessions out of the Pilgrims Centre in Gloucester, England. For more information on a total relaxation experience, call her at 07833 957077.

Dr. S.C. Mehta, MVSc, PhD, is a senior scientist at the National  Research Center on Camels in Bikaner, India. Among his research interests are genetic studies on camels for which he has written papers with such titles as "Genetic differentiation of Indian camel breeds (Camelus dromedaries) using random oligonucleotide primers." He is a regular contributor to a number of scientific journals. Dr. Mehta has taken time from his schedule to answer our questions about camels and is assisting us in some of the important aspects of the journey.

Dr. Ward is a physician in general residence in England. He is providing on-call medical advice for pre-trip planning as well as during the expedition.

Dr. Gould is providing dermatological advice before and during the expedition.

Dr. LaFrom is providing dental advice during the expedition.

Alexandra Kurland is a leading authority on the use of positive reinforcement clicker training on horses. We are using a modified version of her clicker training program from the book, The Click That Teaches, for training the camels we purchase in India.

Dr. Fowler, retired, was formerly head of the exotic animals division at the University of California, Davis.

Steve Troy is helping with advice on sustainable living.

Digital Divide Project Coordinator, Evan Thomas is assisting with technical aspects of the expedition related to solar installation in remote locations. Dan Wright, co-leader for the expedition, is a volunteer member of EWB.