High School Outdoor Education Programs in South America

Everything went extremely smoothly on my son's program in Peru with his teacher and classmates from York Prep. The greatest benefits were exposure to a new culture, camaraderie with classmates, teachers and host family. The pre-departure documents provided were excellent as well. Thank you Arcos!

The trip started of amazing, as I went on it got even better with us going all across Ecuador learning the culture and eating different foods. The favourite highlight from the trip was especially the butterfly farm and being able to have that experience of being surrounded by such beautiful butterflies.

This program is a great opportunity! A key benefit was staying in a foreign country and having to speak a different language. While getting sick was a challenge, I would advise future students to be mindful of what they eat and drink. I wholeheartedly recommend this program.

Arcos provided a wonderful study abroad experience! The directors were great. The overall benefits, like seeing Machu Picchu and meeting my host mom, were highlights. I wholeheartedly recommend Arcos. Be genuinely interested in the country's history and be adventurous!

I highly recommend this program for the opportunity to experience new cultures. A constructive tip is to spend more time exploring the city of Lima. Just be mindful of your food choices. This program truly has a lot to offer to see sights like Machu Picchu.

I highly recommend going to Peru with Arcos! My homestay experience was wonderful, and I absolutely loved my host mom. The activities were divese and engaging and gave a lot of insight into Peruvian culture. Overall, it was a truly beneficial experience.

Alzar school high school semester was amazing because I got to do something different with four months of my high school career. I met the most amazing people and went to the most amazing places. It was such a lucky feeling to go kayaking after school, backpacking on the weekends, or skiing for a few hours. The campus in Cascade is beautiful- I miss living in my Yurt so much. It was so warm and cozy. The food was really good and had a lot of variety. I learned a lot of material that is helpful in the real world in my classes, and also got to take some first aid courses. The adults in the program were all incredibly professional and hard-working with a love for learning and the outdoors. The specific focus on leadership was especially interesting, and the 10 elements of leadership are things I still use in my everyday life. The sense of community that we built will stay with me forever, and I am still in contact with most of my semester, months later. This was such an empowering experience because of where we went in nature. I learned to kayak, to cook, to carry heavy things, and how to appreciate my surroundings. The rivers we went on were beautiful with big campsites, and the backpacking trips were pivotal moments in my, and many of my friends' lives. Alzar School is a once and a lifetime experience that I would hope every child had the opportunity to do. It changes lives.

The Alzar School provided me with real-world leadership skills. After attending in the fall of 2015, I have sought out leadership programs at other schools, and none compare. Alzar helped me learn that I have a lot to gain from the knowledge and experiences of others and that asking for feedback is a good thing. I also learned that I can handle extremely difficult situations, especially when others are depending on me. I learned to communicate with my peers through constructive feedback and small group expeditions in the backcountry. These communications skills carried over to my interactions and relationships with friends and family back home, and also in conversations with professionals when searching for jobs. I carry myself taller, trust in my own strength more, and have no fear to ask for help and support from others after coming back from the Alzar school. It is truly a life-changing experience. I conquered my fear of kayaking after years of being horrified of it, and created memories I will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you Alzar!!

During my experience with Alzar I learned that it is okay to push yourself. I learned to accept challenges and apply my knowledge to those challenges because they help better the situation. As a leader I grew in my abilities to communicate and be inspiring. These are two aspects I never knew you needed to have as a leader and I now think they are two of my strongest aspects as a leader. I hope to apply my leadership skills to my group of friends and school. I want to be a positive leader who can lead the groups to success. I am normally on student council and I hope I will be able to do this again next year and apply all the skills I have learned at Alzar. Overall, my Alzar experience was the best experience of my life and I cannot suggest it enough. Alzar equips students during the semester to become future leaders of the world. Each opportunity and challenge students are faced with help grow and shape them into outstanding leaders, friends and peers.

Before coming to Alzar, I was hoping to get a sense of independence from my family and the routine that I live at home. I wanted to hone my leadership skills, make lasting friendships and apply my backpacking skills. I also wanted to explore the brand new realms of spanish and kayaking. At Alzar, I learned that I am able to broaden my definition of a leader from just being someone that people liked, and who knew the plan. I am now able to define many other types of leadership other than my own, and work with people to understand where my assets work best. I hope to be a better leader in my own home, communicating and being fair to my siblings, and also doing a good job of helping my parents around the house. Anyone is lucky to experience a semester at this special place.

At Alzar, I was hoping to have a fun experience with amazing people, and I achieved this! The expeditions were amazing because of the challenges and bonding with friends. Kayaking is amazing! I learned so much about why/how I make decisions. I also learned what I like about leaders and what I want to do with my life!

Alzar is a fantastic opportunity for young people of all ability levels to spend time with a uniquely motivated group of peers exploring the world and developing their leadership skills. My favorite part of my time with Alzar was living in Coyhaique, Chile. The new Base Patagonia campus is specifically selected to be close to the larger town, but nestled in a smaller village to facilitate conversations and community work. I feel like we had enough structure to build comfort, but ample freedom to explore what we found interesting and meet new people. It was a step outside of my comfort zone with the opportunity to engage fully in Spanish. Time in Chile also built our independence as we shopped and cooked largely for ourselves. This fostered a deeper connection between our group and the local community.

TFT gave me such an incredible opportunity to experience personal growth, meet inspiring people, challenge my comfort zone, and form long lasting bonds with families and students that live across the globe from me. It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I went on the Peru, Ecuador, and Galapagos service trip that I can honestly say changed my life. From working with local preschoolers, living with host families, and picking up trash from sustainable farms to exploring Machu Picchu and swimming off the shores of beautiful white sand beaches in the Galapagos, I had an unforgettable experience. All the people I had met, both in my travel group and locals, have become dear friends and people I will forever share a special bond with. TFT is one of the most amazing programs I have ever been a part of, and I am sure you will discover the same.

This summer was my favorite summer yet. I had the chance to spend a week on the Galapagos Islands and two more weeks in the numerous amazing places in Ecuador. I was able to snorkel with sea lions and sea turtles, learn about Charles Darwin's research, and help out the local community to maintain the island's sustainable practices. The Galapagos were incredible, but I could not wait to go to the Amazon! Not many people can say that they hiked through the Amazon to get to a lodge and shortly after, go piranha fishing, and top off the night with a night-walk to spot giant tarantulas. The adventure did not end there. We hiked up Cotopaxi, one of the tallest volcanos in Ecuador. The views were unbelievable! We finished off the trip but relaxing in natural hot springs, standing in the middle of the world (on the equator), and going on the best ziplining course I've ever seen. This was a truly unforgettable trip, and I have found another country to add to my list of places to re-visit!

The Galapagos easily one of the biggest and most important things I've ever done. It was beautiful and I loved everything we did and saw. We saw the most friendly and amazing wildlife in the world, and saw beautiful mountains, deserts and the ocean. The group was super friendly and helpful and taught us all about the islands. I wish I could go back because I've never been somewhere more amazing.

I had very few expectations for the trip since I didn't know much about it. I knew no one who had gone on the trip before and I did not do a ton of research on it so I went in with a very open mind about what was going to happen. The program exceeded my expectations because I had so much fun and never once regretted going on the trip therefore I would say it did not fall short whatsoever. Reaching the top of the Cotopaxi Volcano and living in the village for 2 weeks gave me then greatest sense of accomplishment. Climbing that volcano was the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life so reaching the top was a great feeling. When cleaning up in the village and packing up I felt really proud of myself for enduring those 2 weeks sleeping on a concrete floor with no hot water and complaining very little about it because I didn't think I would be able to adjust to something so extreme and not just adjust but enjoy it. I gained a newfound sense of perseverance and definitely learned some things about myself that I wouldn't know unless I embarked on a journey like this. The highlights were definitely the Galapagos Islands, Cotopaxi and the Hacienda we stayed in, and Otavalo. Those little weekend excursions were perfect breaks from the village that made the trip much smoother and more exciting. I wish we had more time to work on our independent projects because they felt a little rushed at the end of the trip but other than that I felt it was perfectly balanced. If I had spent any more time in the village I would have gotten really sick of it and same with the Galapagos so it was a perfect balance of service and fun.

I really didn't have any expectations, I knew I wanted to have fun, make friends, and have a great experience knowing that I made a difference in the community. The program certainly exceeded these expectations, I made friends for a lifetime, and had some of the best experiences of my life. I couldn't have asked for anything more. My greatest sense of accomplishment I think is from knowing how happy everyone in the village was to see us come back and to see our finished projects on the fence made me feel accomplished that I had played a part in it. Personally, I gained friends I know that will last for a life time, and memories that I will never forget. I was finally able to come out of my shell on this trip, and it made a huge difference on the emotions I felt when we were about to leave. The highlights of my experience was definitely being able to help out in the kitchen in the village, learn Spanish from the locals who taught me how to say things instead of laughing at me, snorkeling in the Galapagos, and being able to spend time with two of the coolest leaders ever. I think we could have spent more time on the projects, since I know that with three projects; the quesaria, the fence and the macheteing, not all of us had the opportunity to do all of them, however, I would have liked to be able to experience all three of the jobs, instead of focusing on macheteing and cheese duty.

I was expecting to learn a lot about myself and the culture that I was traveling to, but I wasn't expecting to meet so many awesome people. The program by far exceeded my expectations with the amazing things I learned and awesome experiences I got to have. Hiking Cotopaxi was definitely an accomplishment. Although the view from the glacier was not great because of the clouds, the sense of pride we all felt because of how hard the journey had been was worth it. Also, hearing Juliana speak in Spanish to the villagers and understanding the conversation completely was an awesome feeling, as well as stumbling through my own conversations with the adults in the village. Snorkling in the Galapagos, horse-back riding in Cotopaxi, and taking trips to Otavalo were among my favorite parts. Being with my new friends in the car and singing along to stupid songs on our way to the cloud forest was an unforgettable experience. I loved all the adventures and cultural exploration that we did on said excursions.

Going in I thought it was going to be nothing like I had every experienced before. I was going to live in conditions unfamiliar to me, sleeping on the floor, trying new foods, practicing Spanish, getting to know the villagers and helping them with the projects. The program far exceeded my expectations. Not only did I make amazing connections to my leaders and the group, but also the people in the village. Playing soccer with the kids and mixing the cement were some of the highlights of the trip. In the village as part of our fence building project, my and two other girls mixed cement by hand using shovels and it was easily the hardest thing I have ever done. We ended up missing lunch with the group and ate 30 minutes later because we were working so hard. We wouldn't stop working until the huge pile was all done and put into wheelbarrows. I remember the feeling when we finished that enormous pile and I felt nothing but pure happiness and accomplishment. It was initially this huge comprised of 7 wheelbarrows-worth of rocks and dirt and two bags of cement powder. I have never felt happier doing the work. I learned that if I put my mind to it I could really do anything and all I need is a positive attitude. When we hiked Cotopaxi, I really struggled and I relied on my friends and pushed myself through to do it. Before we added the water and began mixing, I first looked at the huge pile of rocks and dirt I didn't think I would be able to do anything with it as mixing cement is something I was very unfamiliar with, but I put on a smile and worked hard and I did it with the help of my friends. Playing soccer and teaching English to the local village kids was definitely a highlight of the trip. It was just so much fun and the kids seemed really interesting in learning both English and things about us. Just being around them made everyday so much better. The experienced mentioned above regarding working through lunch and mixing the cement was another highlight. I loved doing kitchen duty and taking trips into Otavalo getting food for the group. Dressing up in traditional garb and going to the San Pedro holiday parade and celebration was amazing. The villagers made us feel so welcome and took good care of us. We also met up with Community Service B and played a soccer game against them which was great. We really bonded as a group that day. Hiking Cotopaxi and riding the horses was also amazing. The entire Galapagos experience was incredible. I remember snorkeling at Kicker Rock and seeing a sting ray, shark, and sea turtle all in a five foot radius. I have snorkeled before but I have never seen anything like that. I thought it was a great balance. As I said before I would've like to spend a little more time on projects however we did spend a lot of time preparing lessons and teaching English and playing soccer with the kids which was awesome.

I would say the program exceeded my expectations. After doing the Costa Rica Program last year, my expectations were already supremely high for such an experience but the Ecuador trip just blew me away. I expected to become attached to another fantastic village and our Putney group, to thoroughly enjoy the Galapagos and the little weekend excursions, etc. Almost everything went above and beyond. Our group had some of the kindest, funniest, hard-working individuals I've ever met in my life. Four weeks with them just wasn't enough and I miss them dearly. Even our two leaders, Gregorio and Julia, were not just our guides, but our friends as well. They led with confidence and courage, but catered towards each individual thoughtfully and when they need it most. I loved our village. The kids were fun to play and chat with and the adults provided deeper insight into their community and who they were as individuals. I can't really compare this village to the village in Costa Rica because each community is different. It's like apples and oranges. I love both fruit, but for very different reasons. The Galapagos just blew me away. I was expecting a sort of tropical resort vibe from the Galapagos but the eco-friendly attitude left me speechless as well. The ability to be so close to some animals in their most natural environment and behavior was incredible, and the snorkeling expeditions, beaches, private tours, etc. were all gems. There was not a single moment in the Galapagos where I was bored or waiting for something to happen. The other weekend excursions were fantastic as well. They were gorgeous places with an insightful history and deep knowledge of the surroundings. Gregorio and Julia also gave us plenty of free time to explore and cater to our own needs. Although a select few abused this, the rest of us loved freely walking around Ecuador. The highlight for me was Cotopaxi. I absolutely loved every moment of the day when we climbed Cotopaxi, every moment. The only thing I would say didn't meet expectations was the food. In Costa Rica, every meal in the village and in the rest of the country was excellent. There were varying textures, meats, side dishes, etc. to fill our stomachs after a long work day or after travelling around the country. However, in Iltaqui, our group often had to have soups for lunch and dinner with three side dishes that rotated on a daily basis. After awhile, our group tired of these same meals (the soups were differing in flavors, but not by a lot) and we wanted something to sink our teeth into. The food outside the village, however, was good. The food had a major Ecuadorian theme with hints of an American touch that reminded us of home when we needed it. The climb of Cotopaxi. Our group had been doing various hikes throughout the trip to prepare for this gargantuan climb but we were well prepared. At the base of the climb, there were strong winds and rain/snow pelting our faces. Everyone pushed through the grueling and freezing weather as a unit. Later on, everyone went at their own pace but when I first reached the refugee camp (since I was the first one in the group, not trying to brag...), I had an immense sense of accomplishment knowing that I pushed myself physically and mentally and it proved to be worth it. The feeling I got was indescribable, but in words, I guess it would be sky-high happy. I wanted to share this feeling with the other students, so I ran inside dropped most of my sweaty gear off, and headed back out into the freezing cold. Since I was so hot, the cold didn't bother me. But, I partially went back down the mountain to further cheer on my struggling companions. I cheered them on and gave them motivation and when everyone else reached the refugee camp, I felt closer bonded to the group. It was phenomenal. After a bit of warming up, a majority of the group decided to climb up to the glacier. The glacier hike was harder than the first part of the hike but what a reward we got. Reaching the topmost point that we could go just gave a huge confidence boost to the already insanely giddy group. Everyone was insanely happy and me and a few of my friends experience a runners high. Everything was just perfect that afternoon. I gained an immense sense of unity and strength in numbers. I found that being a cheerleader to my weary friends wasn't a monotonous task, it was enjoyable. It gave them that little edge to finish and push themselves mentally. I got immense satisfaction out of that. Along with this, my group members began understanding why I pushed myself as hard as I did (Through work and now the climb of Cotopaxi) and I became closer friends with everyone as a result. As mentioned above, the climb of Cotopaxi was a clear highlight. Literally the perfect day for me and nothing was wrong or bad. The day we snorkeled at Kika (Kicker? The rock that looks like a shoe/sleeping lion) rock. All the activities that day were an incredible amount of fun (The snorkeling, private beach exploration and swimming), the animals we saw and interacted with were phenomenal and the group I was in (We were forced to split into two separate groups) had a phenomenal time talking on the boat, rocking out to songs and so on. The last highlight was our final evening meeting. Everyone revealed their highlight of the trip and that they were saddened to leave and loved everyone so much. Though there were a lot of tears, it signified that our trip may be over, but our friendship certainly isn't. I think the program was overall balanced. The only thing I would've liked was more diverse projects, but I can understand why Gregorio and Julia elected to do one main project. We poured all our budget on making the canals on the side of the road in Iltaqui because it was the most beneficial project to the community.