Past Programs > Spring Break 2008
A Patagonian Adventure in Sustainable Development
Academic Credits: 2 credits in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources, 1 in Service-Learning
Location: Patagonia, Chile
Instructor: Trace Gale
Facilitator: Nathan Harlan
Dates: March 20 – April 1
Cost: $3,000 covers the cost of this course, tuition, excursions, lodging, food, materials, etc. Additional costs include airfare, gratuity, and tourist visa. You should plan to spend approximately $4,700, in total.
Program Description: There's lots of talk these days about sustainable development – about "eco" and "social" responsibility – about saving the incredibly special places that are disappearing daily in our world. In this course we're going to move beyond all the talking about a more sustainable world and start actually building it. During the spring 2008 semester you will be learning about the Aysén region of southern Chile; an area known around the world as "Patagonia". Conservation International has deemed this area a "biodiversity hotspot", one of the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth. You'll learn about the area, its culture, its landscapes, and its challenges. And then you'll head out to see it for yourself.
During your spring break learning adventure, you will work and play alongside a group of locals who are associated with a non-profit initiative called "The Guide's School of Patagonia". Together, you will plan and carry out a back-country expedition through the Cerro Castillo National Reserve. You will learn proven methods for expedition planning and management which will assist with protection of endangered plants and animals and take some of the pressure off the reserve.
After you complete the planning and experiential components of expedition preparation, you will carry out your expedition, in partnership with guides from the School, through the mountains of the reserve, where you will experience the rugged mysteries of the Patagonian terrain and the intensity of its weather and resources. And once the hike is completed, you’ll have the opportunity to partake in some of the other amazing experiences Patagonia has to offer! You'll experience local culture and customs and learn about how people of the region are maintaining their heritage and preserving the beauty and pristine nature of their places – in a region they call "Aysén, Reserve of Life".
Through provocative readings, engaging discussion and direct experience, you will learn about global citizenship, service, leadership, outdoor adventure, teambuilding, and sustainable development skills. Successful completion of this course will earn you a certificate of Expedition Planning and Leadership from the Guide’s School of Patagonia. This 3-credit program begins on March 5, 2008 and finishes on May 10, 2008. Both undergraduate and graduate credits are available.
This course requires strenuous physical activity. The trip will involve backcountry hiking for approximately 40 miles with a backpack weighing approximately 40 pounds. The terrain is considered to be wilderness, with rough trails. Additionally, we will be biking and fly-fishing in a variety of backcountry conditions. Approximately ¾ of the time, we will be sleeping on the ground in tents. The climate in Chile is temperate rainforest. We will experience rain, changes in temperature and weather conditions throughout our time in country. In order to participate, you must be willing to assume responsibility for the risks involved in the trip and be in physical shape to endure the conditions and activities included. You must obtain a doctor's endorsement that you are prepared for the physical requirements of the course.